Today’s thread is inspired by Naomi Klein’s Doppelgänger, and, yes, I did just reopen it on my Kindle the confirm the author name. The book, which is arguably true crime-adjacent, begins with how frequently folks would confuse Klein with once-respected feminist author Naomi Wolf. I can’t look down my nose at any of the people who — to Klein’s face — confidently assert that she is the other; I have made the same mistake.
I also make the same mistake when it comes to some major cases, blunders that Sarah usually saves me from (and if she misses a pre-send edit, one of y’all frequently catch). Which Peterson was accused of which crime — was it Drew who went down for killing Laci? Is Scott the best-selling author played onscreen by Colin Firth? No, and no, but my brain —again, Mandela-level certain — disagrees.
It made me wonder how many of you all suffer from similar doppelcase confusion, and if so, which cases get mixed up in your brains. Do you say “Carmine Galante” (shot at Joe & Mary's) when you mean “Albert Anastasia” (shot at the Park Sheraton)? Have you described the details of the Andrea Yates case, then realize you’re actually explaining the Susan Smith trial? I think you know where we’re going with this, so let’s hear your personal true-crime conflations in the comments. — EB
I need to tell my cousin that it's a good thing her last name is Petersen with an "e" because they are all inherently suspicious to me. Mostly because I can't tell them apart.
Other, more niche ones. For some reason it's stuck in my head that the David Milgaard conviction and the Helen Betty Osborne cases are linked when they most certainly are not. Maybe it's the lack of justice and the late 60s/early 70s prairie dystopia of both of the cases.
I'm about a third of the way through "Doppleganger," and yes, for a while, before Wolfe went wacko, I definitely did confuse the two in that I just assumed that Wolfe had gone on to right "Shock Doctrine." But once I figured out the difference, AND Wolfe went off the deep end, I was able to keep them straight in my head. But man, I am still just sad and shocked about Wolfe's trajectory. "The Beauty Myth" was so seminal to my 20's! I trust none of it now!
Oof for me it's Robert Blake and Phil Spector. Who was in the car? Who was in the mansion? Who got acquitted? They in no way resemble each other! What is wrong with my brain?
Doppelgangland
I need to tell my cousin that it's a good thing her last name is Petersen with an "e" because they are all inherently suspicious to me. Mostly because I can't tell them apart.
Other, more niche ones. For some reason it's stuck in my head that the David Milgaard conviction and the Helen Betty Osborne cases are linked when they most certainly are not. Maybe it's the lack of justice and the late 60s/early 70s prairie dystopia of both of the cases.
I'm about a third of the way through "Doppleganger," and yes, for a while, before Wolfe went wacko, I definitely did confuse the two in that I just assumed that Wolfe had gone on to right "Shock Doctrine." But once I figured out the difference, AND Wolfe went off the deep end, I was able to keep them straight in my head. But man, I am still just sad and shocked about Wolfe's trajectory. "The Beauty Myth" was so seminal to my 20's! I trust none of it now!
Oof for me it's Robert Blake and Phil Spector. Who was in the car? Who was in the mansion? Who got acquitted? They in no way resemble each other! What is wrong with my brain?
I'm horrible with faces so I usually dont even try and the Petersons are completely muddled in my head. So yeah, I get it.