http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/ Switched Comments for Stalker Alert -- 53 Percent of Adults Google Others http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Feb 7th 2008 7:18PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Feb 12th 2008 12:02PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Feb 21st 2008 8:29PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Mar 11th 2008 11:04PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Mar 12th 2008 9:19PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Mar 14th 2008 2:22PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/
When I returned to my office, I looked on my calendar and realized that I had a conference in SF in 3 weeks. With the limited information that I knew about her (first name, she was a dancer and had taught in Chicago), I was able to find her through the magic of Google.

I contacted her, informed her that I wasn't a stalker, and asked her out her out to dinner while I was there. She accepted and long story short - we got married this past spring and we're expecting our first child early next year.

So not all of us out here Googling (that's a word, right?) others are creeps. I think some of us are actaully using our Google powers for good, not evil. ]]>Dec 19th 2007 2:13PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/
It sure seems like "searching for old friends and family members" is much more apropos, based on the numbers and the relationships you cited.

This is a perfect example of the sensationalistic media trying to create a negative story with a false and misleading headline.

Shame on you!]]>Dec 19th 2007 2:45PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Dec 19th 2007 3:01PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Dec 19th 2007 3:18PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/I had been curious about internet privacy (oxymoron!) and so checked on myself. I was shocked to see that ANYONE can find out your address, AGE!, family members, and probably lots more if they're so inclined.
As for "googling," I am a songwriter, VERY unskilled at self-promo, but eventually I'll HAVE to make sure I'm googlable. It's no longer an option. It's a de rigueur part of a resume. You don't EXIST in the music world unless you exist in cyberspace. Sad, but true. Some clubs won't even ACCEPT a CD if you walk in and try to hand it to them. It's more REAL if it's downloadable. (And these words I have to make up just to talk about this stuff...)
So, "self-centeredness" is more or less being forced on us by the commoditization of art and identity.]]>Dec 19th 2007 3:41PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Dec 19th 2007 3:50PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/
I have the standard rule: if you can find someone with a little detective work by going through Google (or wherever) without spending money or spending more than 30 minutes, that's OK. After that, it's stalking. Not sure why 30 minutes is allowable - because actually you should be able to find anyone that you've lost touch with in about 10 - 15 minutes - but more than that seems to me to be verging on the creepy side... maybe because after a half hour you would really have to be obsessive to continue looking.. ]]>Dec 19th 2007 4:13PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Dec 19th 2007 4:13PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Dec 19th 2007 4:17PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/
So I Googled his name+attorney+the city where he lived. And guess what? He was facing charges there for soliciting a minor (12 y.o.) over the Internet. This "girl" was a detective, so nothing happened to a child. Maybe that is entrapment, I'm not sure. The point is, he is a potential pedophile! At the very least he likes little girls.

My suspiciouns were right. All I did was pull up newspaper articles from his former hometown because he dodged simple questions. Thank God for Google is all I've got to say.]]>Dec 19th 2007 4:39PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/]]>Dec 19th 2007 5:38PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/
So not all of us out here Googling (that's a word, right?) others are creeps. I think some of us are actaully using our Google powers for good, not evil."

Mark -- that's a great story.

]]>Dec 19th 2007 5:49PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/Dec 20th 2007 7:59PMhttp://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/stalker-alert-53-percent-of-adults-google-others/
I think another thing to consider is.

Spending time going places talking, getting together to present to each other one on one is important aspect of communication.

What is communicated by others is opinion."

Not in all cases, Tom. It is better to be safe than sorry. I realize that what I described above is a rare exception to the general rule. However, the technology is there. I say utilize it.

If you watch TV for an hour, you see how many people get swindled by the lies of others. There is no reason in the world why a person shouldn't watch his or her own back. Frankly, it's stupid not to in this day of identity theft and everything else that goes on.
]]>Dec 19th 2007 6:16PM