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Twitter: The @rvp who is not Robin van Persie | Twitter: The @rvp who is not Robin van Persie |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Over-excited Manchester United fans hoping to congratulate hat-trick hero Robin van Persie have inadvertently bombarded a 52-year-old IT consultant in India with Twitter messages. It's a classic case of mistaken identity. | Over-excited Manchester United fans hoping to congratulate hat-trick hero Robin van Persie have inadvertently bombarded a 52-year-old IT consultant in India with Twitter messages. It's a classic case of mistaken identity. |
Ravi Visvesvaraya Sharada Prasad isn't used to being a star. | Ravi Visvesvaraya Sharada Prasad isn't used to being a star. |
But a cursory look at his Twitter handle over the last 24 hours shows he has - at least on Twitter - become one. | But a cursory look at his Twitter handle over the last 24 hours shows he has - at least on Twitter - become one. |
"Congrats @rvp!!" is one tweet. "@rvp You really made the difference for us this season, well done," is another. | "Congrats @rvp!!" is one tweet. "@rvp You really made the difference for us this season, well done," is another. |
"Great scenes as @RVP celebrates winning his first title at United... Well done mate" and "@rvp hey Robin, that was a fantastic hat trick...can you send me a shirt please," are others. | "Great scenes as @RVP celebrates winning his first title at United... Well done mate" and "@rvp hey Robin, that was a fantastic hat trick...can you send me a shirt please," are others. |
It's not difficult to see how the mix-up came about. | It's not difficult to see how the mix-up came about. |
Robin van Persie's correct Twitter handle - @Persie_Official - may have the word "Official" in the title, but the 52-year-old software and communications consultant's handle - @rvp - has the 29-year-old football star's initials. Fans often refer to the Dutchman as "rvp". | Robin van Persie's correct Twitter handle - @Persie_Official - may have the word "Official" in the title, but the 52-year-old software and communications consultant's handle - @rvp - has the 29-year-old football star's initials. Fans often refer to the Dutchman as "rvp". |
Then there's the immediacy of Twitter. People can see what other people are tweeting, and hashtags can trend within minutes. Tweeters also tend to multi-task. | Then there's the immediacy of Twitter. People can see what other people are tweeting, and hashtags can trend within minutes. Tweeters also tend to multi-task. |
As soon as Prasad, from Delhi, realised what was going on, he tried to rectify it. | As soon as Prasad, from Delhi, realised what was going on, he tried to rectify it. |
"RVP is the account of Ravi Visvesvaraya Sharada Prasad, a telecom & infotech consultant in India. RVP is NOT the account of Robin van Persie," he tweeted. | "RVP is the account of Ravi Visvesvaraya Sharada Prasad, a telecom & infotech consultant in India. RVP is NOT the account of Robin van Persie," he tweeted. |
"This is NOT the Twitter account of Robin Van Persie. Please do NOT mention @rvp if you mean Robin Van Persie," he added. | "This is NOT the Twitter account of Robin Van Persie. Please do NOT mention @rvp if you mean Robin Van Persie," he added. |
But this only spurred some fans to retweet his tweets and jokingly praise Prasad for his part in Manchester United's success. | But this only spurred some fans to retweet his tweets and jokingly praise Prasad for his part in Manchester United's success. |
"Congratulations to @RVP you fully deserved it. Incredible since you are a part time footballer & info tech consultant. #CHAMPIONS2013," tweeted one. | "Congratulations to @RVP you fully deserved it. Incredible since you are a part time footballer & info tech consultant. #CHAMPIONS2013," tweeted one. |
"He consults when he wants, He consults when he wants, Ravi Visvesvara Prasad, he consults when he wants, dont you @rvp," tweeted another, imitating a football chant. | "He consults when he wants, He consults when he wants, Ravi Visvesvara Prasad, he consults when he wants, dont you @rvp," tweeted another, imitating a football chant. |
But while the confusion may have been a source of entertainment for some, for Prasad - who says he's had more than 10,000 mentions in the past 24 hours - it hasn't been a laughing matter. | But while the confusion may have been a source of entertainment for some, for Prasad - who says he's had more than 10,000 mentions in the past 24 hours - it hasn't been a laughing matter. |
"I'm a fan of Robin van Persie, so I understand people wanting to congratulate him, and most of the messages or mentions are nice. | "I'm a fan of Robin van Persie, so I understand people wanting to congratulate him, and most of the messages or mentions are nice. |
"But it's a real nuisance for me. I keep having to tell everyone I'm not Robin van Persie and blocking unwanted followers," he says. | "But it's a real nuisance for me. I keep having to tell everyone I'm not Robin van Persie and blocking unwanted followers," he says. |
Prasad says he spent about 10 hours blocking between 4,000 and 5,000 new followers he amassed during, and after, the Aston Villa game. | Prasad says he spent about 10 hours blocking between 4,000 and 5,000 new followers he amassed during, and after, the Aston Villa game. |
"I sent lots of people messages explaining who I was. My email account is clogged too - I think people have been trying to hack into my Twitter account as I keep getting messages referring to a forgotten password." | "I sent lots of people messages explaining who I was. My email account is clogged too - I think people have been trying to hack into my Twitter account as I keep getting messages referring to a forgotten password." |
The furore is not the first time Prasad has been confused with the Dutch footballer on Twitter. | The furore is not the first time Prasad has been confused with the Dutch footballer on Twitter. |
He says he started getting messages for Van Persie about 18 months ago, but they became more frequent after the footballer's £24m move from Arsenal last summer. | |
Now he gets them every day and regularly resorts to posting messages pointing out his true identity. | Now he gets them every day and regularly resorts to posting messages pointing out his true identity. |
"I've written on Manchester United's and Robin van Persie's Facebook and Twitter accounts too, but never received a reply," he says. | "I've written on Manchester United's and Robin van Persie's Facebook and Twitter accounts too, but never received a reply," he says. |
His @rvp account is so sought after, he's even received offers from fans to buy it. | His @rvp account is so sought after, he's even received offers from fans to buy it. |
Prasad isn't the first person to be the victim of a mistaken identity on Twitter. | Prasad isn't the first person to be the victim of a mistaken identity on Twitter. |
In 2010, Ashley Kerekes, from Massachusetts, made headlines after she was bombarded by cricket messages sent to her Twitter account which is named @theashes. | In 2010, Ashley Kerekes, from Massachusetts, made headlines after she was bombarded by cricket messages sent to her Twitter account which is named @theashes. |
Cricket fans mistakenly assumed her account referred to the Ashes contest between Australia and England, prompting the then 22-year-old to respond "this is not the account of the cricket match. Check profiles before you send mentions, it's incredibly annoying and rude". | Cricket fans mistakenly assumed her account referred to the Ashes contest between Australia and England, prompting the then 22-year-old to respond "this is not the account of the cricket match. Check profiles before you send mentions, it's incredibly annoying and rude". |
Her fame led her to be flown out to Sydney by an Australian airline to attend the fifth Ashes Test. | Her fame led her to be flown out to Sydney by an Australian airline to attend the fifth Ashes Test. |
But even now, her Twitter account reads: "I'm not a freaking cricket match!". | But even now, her Twitter account reads: "I'm not a freaking cricket match!". |
Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy also found himself the victim of a barrage of Twitter abuse from Tottenham Hotspur fans raging against referee Chris Foy, after a game with Stoke City in December 2011. | Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy also found himself the victim of a barrage of Twitter abuse from Tottenham Hotspur fans raging against referee Chris Foy, after a game with Stoke City in December 2011. |
The cyclist seemed to take the tweets in good spirit, tweeting back to confirm that he wasn't in need of glasses and did not lead a double life as an English official. | The cyclist seemed to take the tweets in good spirit, tweeting back to confirm that he wasn't in need of glasses and did not lead a double life as an English official. |
Prasad would still like to clear up the confusion. | Prasad would still like to clear up the confusion. |
"I'm a great fan of Robin van Persie, and I'd really like to meet him or get his autograph. | "I'm a great fan of Robin van Persie, and I'd really like to meet him or get his autograph. |
"But I'd like him to make it clear that my Twitter account isn't his - that it's a coincidence," he says. | "But I'd like him to make it clear that my Twitter account isn't his - that it's a coincidence," he says. |
You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook | You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook |
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