Have you ever encountered someone interesting, intriguing, and then decided to seek to learn more about that person by doing internet searches? Yes, it’s intrusive and embarrassing and suggests a mild form of stalking behavior, but what the hell. We’re all just human, right?
Recently, I read a posting from a Facebook friend telling the world she and her husband had bought a house near Washington, DC. The have lived in England for quite some time, but he is (apparently) being reassigned back to the US. At any rate, she posted photos of the house they are buying (sight unseen, I might add), that included a house number. And it included an image of the “for sale” sign, which revealed the realtor’s phone number, company name, etc. I decided to see if I could find out the new address of this Facebook friend I’ve never met, based on her comments and the photos she posted. It took me all of 15 minutes, probably less, to discover the address.
I sent my Facebook friend (we really are VERY distant FB friends…we don’t “talk”) a message, telling her I was able to identify her new address from the information she had posted on Facebook. To date (and it’s been a day or two), she has not responded. She probably thinks I am a stalker. That bothers me…I don’t want her to have the wrong idea. My intent in sending her a message was simply to let her know that the information she revealed made it very easy to find out more than she may have intended to reveal.
This incident made me think I probably divulge more than prudence dictates. I shall endeavor to be less forthcoming.
You did her a favor. I am so afraid of identity theft. I have this insane fear that terrorists are downloading my photos, gathering information on me, and then one day will invade and assume my identity and live in my house. Isn’t that crazy?
Gee, I think you did her a big favor, John. Hope you finally hear back from her in the spirit that was your intention. Just to bad that we live in a time when there is so much distrust, often times with good reason, but also, it can overshadow a good action…bummer.