At least once a week, the NYT Styles section prints an article that raises the same question within the inquisitive minds of readers coast to coast. "Is [quirky social habit identified in the article] a genuine trend, or did the writer just get the idea from some guy/girl he/she knows from [fancy liberal arts college that wait-listed me]?" To explore this question, Fishbowl decided to juxtapose a recent article with an internet-aided reconstruction of the writer's social milieu. The results are interesting. Forget "follow the money." Follow the Friendster! Here goes:

Last Thursday, the Styles section ran this article by Zoe Wolff, about the supposed trend of young couples visiting relationship therapists before getting married. We noted this paragraph:

Erica, 30, a screenwriter in Manhattan, who, like others interviewed for this article, asked not to have her full name published out of concern for her privacy, has been in therapy with her fiance since last fall, only a year after they met at a fund-raiser for Senator John Kerry and six months after they became engaged. She credits therapy with breaking what had become a fighting cycle.

Let's turn to Friendster, the craigslist of our generation. Zoe Wolff's Friendster page is linked to someone named 'Erica'. Now, granted, this Erica claims to be a 28-year-old Angeleno, and the Erica in the article is identified as a 30-year-old New Yorker. But what's a couple years and forty-something flyover states in the scheme of things?

Fishbowl decided to test the hypothesis that these two Ericas are one and the same. The results? Very interesting. Our Friendster trail almost leads to the White House. Seriously. Details after the jump.

Here's the thing. Both Zoe Wolff and the mysterious Erica are linked on Friendster to someone named 'Scarlet.' This 'Scarlet' is a thirty-one year old 'directress and some such' from Boston. One of Scarlet's friends is 'Andre', who, judging from his photo and information, appears to be Andre Heinz, step-son of John Kerry.

Wait! John Kerry? Why does that name sound familiar? Go back to the 'Styles' piece that began this line of inquiry (our bold):

Erica, 30, a screenwriter in Manhattan, who, like others interviewed for this article, asked not to have her full name published out of concern for her privacy, has been in therapy with her fiance since last fall, only a year after they met at a fund-raiser for Senator John Kerry and six months after they became engaged. She credits therapy with breaking what had become a fighting cycle.

Interesting. Now compare the biographical information about 'Scarlet' (31 year-old director from Boston) with Alexandra Kerry's bio. Could 'Scarlet' in fact be Alexandra Kerry?

Again, let's see where this hypothesis takes us. Does Alexandra Kerry have a screenwriter friend named Erica? Why yes, according to this Elle profile. Plug this Erica's name into Friendster and you get the 'Erica' that both Zoe Wolff and 'Scarlet' are linked to.

Of course, we can't prove anything. But all of this is kind of interesting if you read the NYT Styles section or browse Friendster looking for pseudonymous bold-face names. (Which we get paid to do-- what's your excuse?) And remember, if you read about a trend in the Styles section that sounds a little un-trend-like, it may not actually exist beyond the author's coterie of pals.

(UPDATE: Several readers have written in suggesting that Zoe Wolff attended Bard College with an 'Erica' of the approximate age and profession of the NYT/Friendster/Elle Erica(s?). This Bard Erica has had professional ties to a Massachusetts-bred young actor who spent some time during the election season campaigning for Alexandra Kerry's father and getting photographed with her sister Vanessa. The circle is complete! Hypothetically.)