Comments on kenneth in the (212): Pry-vacy

Reason why I refuse to have a "face"book or any "m...

2008-08-16T13:05:00.000-04:00

Reason why I refuse to have a "face"book or any "my"space.

My life is private - so I make sure to keep it that way.

FunMe

I might do the research just as a way help offset ...

2008-08-16T07:04:00.000-04:00

I might do the research just as a way help offset my shyness at being brought to a party of strangers and give me an idea of what to talk about, but I certainly wouldn't try to play mind games. As ml said, "intent" matters.

How rude to smack the host in the face like that.I...

2008-08-15T21:40:00.000-04:00

How rude to smack the host in the face like that.

I google any and everyone, but that doesn't mean I have to let them know it.

There's no crime in checking up on people online, ...

2008-08-15T20:31:00.000-04:00

There's no crime in checking up on people online, this just sounds like a case of poor manors. This guy obviously doesn't know how to conduct himself in a social arena and thought it would be clever to bring up potentially embarrassing facts about the host. When in fact he should have been grateful to have even been invited, seeing as how his dance card is so empty he has time to research people he doesn't even know.

Chalk this one up to your friend not picking the right plus one for the occasion. I'd confront him and let him know that he's tacky as all get out and that he probably won't be invited anywhere else any time soon.

There's nothing wrong with Googling someone, but i...

2008-08-15T13:39:00.000-04:00

There's nothing wrong with Googling someone, but in a casual situation like the one you describe, it seems tacky to CONFRONT the person you've Googled with what you've discovered. That's my two cents.

Hmmm, this plus one guest sounds like a loser.It's...

2008-08-15T12:20:00.000-04:00

Hmmm, this plus one guest sounds like a loser.

It's one thing to do a background check on a blind date, but in this situation, really, other than trying to show off to the host - at the risk of the host's embarrassment, what else could his actions have achieved?

Indeed, it would be interesting to hear this guy's rationale.

Since she now knows that this acquaintance doesn't share the same kind of discretion that she has, I think she has 2 options:

a. If she feels it's worth it, she can gently tell this acquaintance that such indiscretions, however well intentioned, may be potentially embarrassing (for both parties I might add).

b. She can treat this as a valuable lesson learned and only take friends she knows well as guests going forward.

Great blog by the way! :)

Did your friend know that her +1 had horrible mann...

2008-08-15T10:03:00.000-04:00

Did your friend know that her +1 had horrible manners before she invited him along? Just because the information is available doesn't mean that someone needs to use it, especially in a "gotcha" type way.

Intent seems to be the point here. You want to fin...

2008-08-15T09:48:00.000-04:00

Intent seems to be the point here. You want to find out more about someone because you're interested in their work, fine.

If, however, you sniff around in a stranger's life just to have "gotcha" dirt on him, then you're just a stray dog digging through garbage. "You used to drive a cab" is a weird factoid to bring to a party. What reaction was he expecting -- shock? Embarrassment? Anger? This dork needs to get an life of his own so he won't find the life of a former cabbie so riveting.