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The Urban Name Effect

The strange experience of finding your relatively uncommon name in the Urban Dictionary with a very specific definition that seems to relate to your life. A modern-day horoscope of sorts, finding your name on Urban Dictionary and thinking "haha yeah that's me," then considering if the entry could have actually been made for you. A form of cognitive bias in the digital age... or is it?

Alano: Hey, look at this entry in the Urban Dictionary. I wonder if it's actually about me!
Friend: No way, there are probably tons of other Alanos. You're just getting hit by The Urban Name Effect.
Alano: I can't believe my name's also used as a euphemism for Alcoholics Anonymous, damn it.

by CkajLanoa January 23, 2021