Ever hear someone talk about “a real Sherlockian”? I think that Don and/or I have touched on that subject in these little essays at some point. Nothing too unusual there.  But what about the unreal Sherlockians?

They’re out there, and they have been from almost day one. Sherlockians who don’t exist . . . and yet they do. They write for our journals. They send us letters. They do everything but show up at our dinner parties and scion society meetings. Well, except for the fact that they’re usually at those same functions, just reporting for duty under a different name.

Just as Sherlock Holmes felt the need on occasion to show up for work as “Altamont” or “Captain Basil,” so too has it been a longstanding tradition for Sherlockians to occasionally take pseudonyms in their dealings with one another. Even The Baker Street Journal, our most august and honored periodical, has a long history of aliases in its pages, some with the editor’s knowledge, some without.

The internet has brought us to a new level of pseudo-Sherlockians, however. Once, when we were dependent upon the U.S. Postal Service, with it’s reliable post-marks upon envelopes, a hoaxer had to find a way to mail one’s work from a city that no one associated with the sender, using a friend or relative as a drop. These days, however, all you have to do is create a new e-mail address with one of the numerous free services, and “Voila!” – you’re untraceable.

Of course, as that great user of false personas, Sherlock Holmes, also said, “It is always awkward doing business with an alias.”

If you’re completely taken in by their e-disguise, there’s no problem. But if you aren’t . . . .

It’s a bit like dealing with someone at Halloween who insists in staying in the character of their costume. I mean, you know they’re a fraud, but their insistence upon making you a character in their impromptu stage play can be a bit awkward if you’re not in the mood for fantasy at that moment. (Or bad theater.)

The internet has offered us so many new opportunities for self-expression, and in each of them, we’re always having to learn just how far is too far, what works and what doesn’t. I suppose the realm of pseudo-Sherlockians is just one more area where we have to do that, too. If nothing else, it will sure make it seem like the Sherlockian populace is on the rise.

Your humble correspondent,

Brad Keefauver