I never thought I would need to worry about someone pretending to be me but, as of today, it may have happened.  Well, not really -- but there is potential for it to go very badly.

A few weeks ago, my mother asked me a question about Twitter and, during the conversation, she mentioned a Twitter account name that I didn’t recognize.  I recognized it somewhat because it was my name.  But what I didn’t recognize was my full name being used as a Twitter account.

I pulled out my trusty phone and pulled up my mother’s “following” list and was horrified to discover that indeed someone had registered @shanebirley and it appeared to have been registered for a while (a few weeks at least). 

At first, I thought it must be an account I must have registered at some time in the past and had just forgotten.  A quick password request fixed that notion as I didn’t receive any password request via e-mail.  I decided after that to forget about it as no one was using it.  That decision lasted all of twenty minutes as I began to have all sorts of horrifying thoughts about what someone may do with the account.  I mean, it is my name, after all.  I have never found anyone with my name which leads me to believe that I am unique!  (Finally, I can say that out loud!  I am ME and there is only one  ME!  Thanks, Interwebs.)

So, here I am.  A guy without his real name as a Twitter account.  For now, just know, that account is not me.  I will relate my story as it unfolds.