Is googling strangers on the bus weird?

giftgrub · 31-10-2013 12:19AM #1

On the bus today two people in the seat in front of me were having a rather loud conversation. I tried drowning it with headphones but in the end just ended up listening.

After being reminded about an article on Slate about national security issues being discused on a train I started taking mental notes and googling

After about a half an hour, i knew both of their first names, one of their boyfriend's names, what line of work they were in, what school they went to.

Armed with that I found their LinkedIn profiles and their Facebook pages...which were both open to to anyone so I could have a right old nose around their photos, i also found one email address

I felt a bit weird after that.

michellie · 31-10-2013 12:20AM

Of course it's weird.

It's also weird that you found out their surnames, who says there surnames in conversations with friends? Normally doesnt come up in conversation.

Nodin · 31-10-2013 12:20AM

giftgrub wrote: »

On the bus today two people in the seat in front of me were having a rather loud conversation. I tried drowning it with headphones but in the end just ended up listening.

After being reminded about an article on Slate about national security issues being discused on a train I started taking mental notes and googling

After about a half an hour, i knew both of their first names, one of their boyfriend's names, what line of work they were in, what school they went to.

Armed with that I found their LinkedIn profiles and their Facebook pages...which were both open to to anyone so I could have a right old nose around their photos, i also found one email address

I felt a bit weird after that.

....as long as you didn't sneakily try to shoot the load into their hair, you've no reason to feel odd.

MonkstownHoop · 31-10-2013 12:21AM

Weirdo

El Weirdo · 31-10-2013 12:22AM

MonkstownHoop wrote: »

Weirdo

Yes?

31-10-2013 12:23AM

Creep

irish bloke · 31-10-2013 12:24AM

giftgrub wrote: »

On the bus today two people in the seat in front of me were having a rather loud conversation. I tried drowning it with headphones but in the end just ended up listening.

After being reminded about an article on Slate about national security issues being discused on a train I started taking mental notes and googling

After about a half an hour, i knew both of their first names, one of their boyfriend's names, what line of work they were in, what school they went to.

Armed with that I found their LinkedIn profiles and their Facebook pages...which were both open to to anyone so I could have a right old nose around their photos, i also found one email address

I felt a bit weird after that.

Why would even have an interest in doing something like that..

Tiz mad what goes through some peoples heads.

wazky · 31-10-2013 12:26AM

Not weird as long as you visit their home address and apologise.

BillyMitchel · 31-10-2013 12:26AM

You complete focking oddball!!

beks101 · 31-10-2013 12:26AM

Nah, good journalistic skills I would say.

You should have shot one of them a creepy facebook message to shut them up, like "I'm enjoying overhearing this private conversation you're having with Emma/Susan/whatever, as has the whole bus. Though disappointed to hear you have a boyfriend"

B.A._Baracus · 31-10-2013 12:28AM

Is it weird? yes it is :pac:

But it just goes to show that you shouldnt talk to much about yourself in a public setting. I would even apply that to on here! :P

Fox_In_Socks · 31-10-2013 12:29AM

beks101 wrote: »

Nah, good journalistic skills I would say.

You should have shot one of them a creepy facebook message to shut them up, like "I'm enjoying overhearing this private conversation you're having with Emma/Susan/whatever, as has the whole bus. Though disappointed to hear you have a boyfriend"

"I posted on his wall, with some Fafa beans and a big Chianti"

ffffffFFFFFFFFFFffffffffff

creep · 31-10-2013 12:30AM

Creep

The Backwards Man · 31-10-2013 12:32AM

I do that all the time.

I know more about everyone on this thread than your own mothers' do.

Rho b · 31-10-2013 12:37AM

Jake1 wrote: »

Creep

Great song and appropriate to OP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkzRNyygfk

MadsL · 31-10-2013 12:41AM

Bubbles

giftgrub · 31-10-2013 12:42AM

Well it seemed fair game to me...and none of the info wasnt anything that wasnt public on the web anyway.

I was bored....back in the car next week anyway, so it'll be back to mobile porn in traffic

Pai Mei · 31-10-2013 12:44AM

I'm more surprised you had the dedication and commitment to go through with all that :P I woulda just got bored after a while lol

Mesut Ozil · 31-10-2013 12:45AM

You should get a job in the NSA.

MadsL · 31-10-2013 01:23AM

MadsL wrote: »

Bubbles

This summoning users lark doesn't work....let me try again

Whoopsiedaisydoodles!

lkionm · 31-10-2013 01:26AM

MadsL wrote: »

This summoning users lark doesn't work....let me try again

Whoopsiedaisydoodles!

You summoned the wrong code. That's mine.

Vito Corleone · 31-10-2013 01:27AM

Not weird at all. You'd have been weird not to.

Mint Aero · 31-10-2013 01:29AM

giftgrub wrote: »

Well it seemed fair game to me...and none of the info wasnt anything that wasnt public on the web anyway.

You're dead right. I use same tactics online dating and the chicks go spare

it's fair game like they put it up there the weirdos.

Eathrin · 31-10-2013 01:41AM

Interesting to hear that you found them online based on that info but what could you possibly gain from doing so?

giftgrub · 31-10-2013 02:09AM

Eathrin wrote: »

Interesting to hear that you found them online based on that info but what could you possibly gain from doing so?

the Slate piece got me thinking really. I didn't get off on it. I was just surprised at how much i could find out about these people simply by knowing a few things about them and then making some
guesses on google

beks101 · 31-10-2013 02:15AM

giftgrub wrote: »

the Slate piece got me thinking really. I didn't get off on it. I was just surprised at how much i could find out about these people simply by knowing a few things about them and then making some
guesses on google

Yeah it's fascinating really. I'm a journalist so stalk people for a living, and it never ceases to amaze me how public people are with their personal info - with most people all you need is their first name, general location and line of work. A few google guesses will reveal facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, any personal website, blog or recent articles/photos they've featured in. Depending on how open their profiles are, you might even get access to 1,000 odd personal photos and a personal mobile number or email address.

Equally I've had people "find" me online just by knowing my profession, location and first name.

Kind of scary.

Rho b · 31-10-2013 02:17AM

beks101 wrote: »

Yeah it's fascinating really. I'm a journalist so stalk people for a living, and it never ceases to amaze me how public people are with their personal info - with most people all you need is their first name, general location and line of work. A few google guesses will reveal facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, any personal website, blog or recent articles/photos they've featured in. Depending on how open their profiles are, you might even get access to 1,000 odd personal photos and a personal mobile number or email address.

Equally I've had people "find" me online just by knowing my profession, location and first name.

Kind of scary.

And your posting here on AH!!!!!!!

wretcheddomain · 31-10-2013 02:18AM

Don't worry, they're all at it over in the Commuting and Transport Forum, it's practically a part of their charter to share your experiences of it.

beks101 · 31-10-2013 02:19AM

Rho b wrote: »

And your posting here on AH!!!!!!!

"you're"

Rho b · 31-10-2013 02:30AM

beks101 wrote: »

"you're"

Apparently not as hung up as you are regarding grammar

RobbingBandit · 31-10-2013 02:35AM

Serial Killer in the making, btw were either of them lookers.

Is googling strangers on the bus weird?

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