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Googling For Dates?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the look-into-the-past dept.

JAK writes "The New York Times' down-to-earth ethicist Randy Cohen writes on the moral implications of searching for a date's past on Google. He suggests that the practice is ok (even admitting to doing it himself) but warns against jumping to conclusions based on a quick search or confusing someone for others with the same name. He also writes that "the verb ''to Google'' is now a familiar neologism" (neologism: a new word, usage, or expression, I looked it up). You can read about it The Times (free reg blah blah)"

4 of 421 comments (clear)

  1. Google -- NYTimes -- Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
    Google News provides a reg-free link to the NYTimes article on Google:

    Is Googling OK?

  2. instead of googling ... by r0b0t+b0y · · Score: 3, Informative

    try googlism.

    usually more fun (but less accurate/informative).

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    i do not use drugs, i AM drugs -- Dali
  3. I'll answer that by The+Tyro · · Score: 3, Informative

    As long as the person never finds out about it, you are A-OK. It's not illegal to do research; it's what you do with that research that makes or breaks you.

    Most anti-stalking statues have a clause or two about putting the "stalkee" in fear, emotional distress, or causing intimidation. You typically also have to show a pattern of such behavior... a single incident does not a stalker make.

    Think about all the drooling britney spears fanboys out there (like 95% of slashdotters... cmon, it's cool to hate her music, but ALL of you geeks secretly want her body... admit it). They are not guilty of stalking simply because they plaster their room with pictures, and constantly google the 'net for new britney sites.

    Stalking implies much more than just a google search.

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    Even if a man chops off your hand with a sword, you still have two nice, sharp bones to stick in his eyes.
  4. Challenge to illustrate a point. by Kris_J · · Score: 3, Informative
    10 points to the first person to find my first usenet post (which I have found and confirmed in the Google Groups cache). I'll even spot you my name; Chris Johnson.

    With such a common name I have no idea how people think they can find out anything about a person on-line unless they've specifically made it available.