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Googling For Prospective Date Unmasks Fugitive

pgrote writes "So you're a guy on the run - you decide to switch towns, put down some roots and start dating again. But if your special new friend happens to be someone who checks her potential dates by searching on Google, you're in trouble. Seems that LaShawn Pettus-Brown was caught by his date's discovery of him on an FBI site of fugitives, even after local Cincinnati news media couldn't find him. Score one for the Internet."

91 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. phew!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow. That's even worse than finding your wifes picture on a dating site!!!

  2. What if she finds out... by nmoog · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...that I post to slashdot. Oh dear.

    1. Re:What if she finds out... by TiggsPanther · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, chances are that unless she, herlelf, is a geek, she won't know what slashdot is.

      Then again, you might get the "Oh so you're the guy I modded '-1 offtopic' last week" treatment.

      Tiggs
      --
      Tiggs
      "120 chars should be enough for everyone..."
  3. rofl! by f13nd · · Score: 5, Funny

    owned by a geek-chick

    --
    www.necroticobsession.com
  4. Technology is a double edged sword.. by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


    1980: Do you have Herpes?

    1986: Do you have AIDS?

    1995: I have pepper spray.

    2004: I have Google.

    Oh well.. at least RealDolls can't use search engines.. yet..

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by thdougherty · · Score: 5, Funny

      Oh if only I knew of RealDolls before I got married...

      They're so lifelike!!!

    2. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by kfg · · Score: 3, Funny

      Don't be silly. They never say a word.

      KFG

    3. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by CoolVibe · · Score: 3, Funny
      And how exactly is that a bad thing? If only some women in my life had a mute button.

      (I am trying to be funny here, no disrespect, just brainless male bushido)

    4. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by Dukael_Mikakis · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I guess it's just a sign of the times. Previously, it seems that nobody had to worry about diseases and a criminal history and everything (well, diseases because we didn't know many of them existed), but this is certainly because people wouldn't travel as much and tended to know their dates for a long time before they began dating.

      Now, people are dating others whom they haven't even met, and who might be only telling lies to them, so clearly there's a need for this.

      It's like an incorporation of romance and love. If you're running a small business or a small store, you will very likely know your customers (and employees) very well and be able to trust them without too many problems, but when business scale up and become increasingly large, there's no way that you can account for all of the people, or know them personally, and so there's record-keeping and spying and every such thing.

      Obviously with online (or more anonymous) dating you have access to so many more potential mates, which improves selection and makes things somewhat easier, but all the anonymity and deception makes me wonder if this whole trend is actually a good thing or not.

      But all this doesn't affect me. Joining slashdot is like taking a vow of celibacy.

    5. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

      I am trying to be funny here, no disrespect

      Well, yes, and none taken. But that was my joke. :)

      Another reason aren't lifelike is because they don't make you put them through college, buy them a new car and then take your house away from you.

      No, I'm not bitter. What makes you think that?

      KFG

    6. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by Plugh · · Score: 5, Interesting
      I'll throw my US$0.02, what the hell. Maybe my story is worth something to somebody:
      Obviously with online (or more anonymous) dating you have access to so many more potential mates, which improves selection and makes things somewhat easier, but all the anonymity and deception makes me wonder whether if this whole trend is actually a good thing or not.

      In my personal experience, it's just like globalization and open markets: real scary if you are engaged in deception, and absolutely fantastic if you want lots of choice.

      A few years ago, in my early thirties, I decided it was finally time to find a wife. I was (finally) ready to commit. My parents urged me to "shop around". So I did, using means an admittedly very shy geek can do: online sites (ie, match.com) and personal-intro services (ie, Table For Six).

      To make a long story short, I met a lot more women in a few months than I had in the previous 10 years, despite my introverted nature. After dating a few of them, I wound up marrying a very nice woman. And -- please forgive me, I cannot resist saying this -- she's a stunning blonde, tall, gorgeous, busty, and has a degree in mathematics. Ca-Ching!

      Probably I shouldn't post this and probably most people will assume I'm an ad-bot, but the 2 or 3 people who know me that read slashdot know I'm on the level.

      Anyway, I'm all for improving selection and making things easier. Go for it. If you're introverted like myself, it could be the difference between passing along your genes or not! Hell, we desperately need smart people to procreate...

    7. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Can you please show off and post a picture of your wife? I think you should be less introverted and be proud of the great person she is. Thanks.

      P.S. Don't forget the picture. Thanks.

    8. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by Darken_Everseek · · Score: 3, Funny

      eh ... just brainless male "code of the warrior"?

      I suppose that's -one- way of looking at pissing off a large group of females. Really though, I think Hari-kiri might be the better term for that activity though.

    9. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by Cipster · · Score: 2, Funny

      And that's a bad thing????? Oh the money I'd pay....

    10. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by squaretorus · · Score: 2, Funny

      please forgive me, I cannot resist saying this -- she's a stunning blonde, tall, gorgeous, busty, and has a degree in mathematics. Ca-Ching!

      I have a good friend who insists HIS woman is a gorgeous busty blonde with a comp-sci degree. She certainly has a degree, and she is certainly a BIT blonde.... and so long as HE thinks shes gorgeous he's happy. In fact - she's rough as hell. Bung her onto hotornot and test your taste! Anything less than an 8.9 and your deluding yourself and should trade up!

    11. Re:Technology is a double edged sword.. by LittleGuy · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Now, people are dating others whom they haven't even met, and who might be only telling lies to them, so clearly there's a need for this.

      This has been going on since at least the mid-16th Century, complete with their version of Photoshop.

      --
      Mod Karma -1: I sed bad wurds. If I cep my mouf shut, I wud be at riyses.
  5. Major Major Major by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Man, I bet this guy is wishing his parents had given him a more common name than "LaShawn Pettus-Brown"...

    1. Re:Major Major Major by robbyjo · · Score: 5, Funny

      I bet this guy is wishing his parents had given him a more common name

      Yeah, like... Anonymous Coward... That would score 138K hits in Google

      --

      --
      Error 500: Internal sig error
  6. IQ test by Lurkingrue · · Score: 3, Insightful

    OK -- now how stupid is a fugitive for giving his real name to anyone?

    1. Re:IQ test by sirsnork · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Espcially when you're 6 foot 7.. how many people would there be in the world that have that name and are that tall

      --

      Normal people worry me!
    2. Re:IQ test by rosie_bhjp · · Score: 4, Informative

      Even more stupid is the City of Cincinnati. They gave this guy $180k+ in loans without doing so much as a background check. A brief background is here. As a citizen of Cincinnati, I've been following this case and I am absolutely dumbfounded at the ineptness of all the people involved. It really is mind-boggling. They were so concerned about cutting through the bureaucratic red tape they forgot the red tape was there for a reason.

      --
      A radio maverick jumps to internet only. The Future of Rock n Roll
    3. Re:IQ test by eric2hill · · Score: 5, Funny

      I called our phone company at work and asked if they sold Caller IQ because, as I explained, there are many idiots at our office and I would like to screen my callers based on their IQ. The sales person didn't have it available yet. Dammit.

      --
      LOAD "SIG",8,1
      LOADING...
      READY.
      RUN
    4. Re:IQ test by HoldenCaulfield · · Score: 4, Informative

      The theater thing is a black eye, but man, did it have potential. The movie Traffic was set in Cinci, and supposedly the scenes where she's walking down the street to get some cocaine or what not were filmed on Vine. The part of Vine where the theater is located is the kind of street where you'll have cars crawling along, crowds on the sides of the street, and people yelling out "what you need? what you need?" as you drive on by. I've never had any one actually approach my vehicle with a bucket of dirty water and a rag, but that's the kind of feeling it has.

      It's an area that could really use some development, besides the stores selling gold chains, caps, and clothing with wrought iron grates in their windows and doors. The theater was pitched as a venue that would start the revitalization process and bring more business to that part of town. (Sort of like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the new baseball stadium helped downtown Cleveland.)

      Maybe I just bought into Brown's hype, but I really did think there was potential - the building is a classic old theater, that still has it's marquee outfront. I could have seen it becoming a nice concert venue - I think because of the large marquee outfront, I always envisoned it becoming something like the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.

      Of course, it could have ended up like Bogarts and Short Vine, but I'd say that's much better than the feeling one has driving down Vine . . .

    5. Re:IQ test by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

      Pardon me sir, but do you have a license for the parent poster?

      KFG

    6. Re:IQ test by Ironica · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They were so concerned about cutting through the bureaucratic red tape they forgot the red tape was there for a reason.

      People always forget this. Usually, about the time they start going off about how government should work more like private enterprise, so it can be more "efficient." Trouble is, the government is seen by too many people as a set of deep pockets with disinterested shareholders (yeah, that's you and me, folks). So the tape isn't just there because it's pretty (after all, if that were the case, it would be silver, not red), it's there to keep oversight.

      Granted, it could use an overhaul now and then, but it needs to be carefully thought out.

      --
      Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
  7. You have to wonder by nizo · · Score: 5, Funny

    If your potential date discovers you sell penis enlargement items on the internet for a living, will that help or hurt your chances?

  8. OK, geeks... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 2, Funny


    That's why you know it's best not to date.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  9. Hrm by iswm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I would think getting your name changed would help quite a bit. Seems kind of silly to post your real name in the google personals if you're wanted by the FBI.

    --
    Buckethead
  10. That's not me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's just someone with my name... and my picture... and my fingerprints.

  11. All backwards! by Complicity · · Score: 3, Funny
    ...was caught by his date's discovery of him on an FBI site of fugitives...
    Hmmm, I wonder how many people use the FBI Fugitive List in order to find potential dates...
    --
    - c -
    1. Re:All backwards! by bilbobuggins · · Score: 2, Funny
      Hmmm, I wonder how many people use the FBI Fugitive List in order to find potential dates...

      i would.
      but for some strange reason my last copy of the fugitive list didn't have any phone numbers or adresses with the pictures...

  12. I had a similar experience by TekZen · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When I was in the market for my first house (9 months ago), I thought I had found the perfect house.

    Then I searched Google for the address and learned that the previous owner had died in the house.

    He was in the attic working on the electrical when a small fire broke out. He got the fire out but died from the smoke.

    His father was selling the house.

    It was all a little too much for me.

    -Jackson

    1. Re:I had a similar experience by weeboo0104 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      So did my neighbor. He had just graduated High School and wanted to buy a car. He and his dad found one listed in the local paper and went to check it out. His dad noticed the car had been repainted recently with a different color when he looked inside the doorframes. The seller said it was because of "hail damage" but my friend and his dad didn't buy the story (or the car). The checked the VIN on the Internet and found that the seller was the father of a man who had killed a couple of girls in the area, one of which was a girl my friend and I went to school with. The father was trying to sell the car that his son had hidden the girls bodies in the trunk!

      True story. The killers name was Leslie Allen Williams and I believe within the next couple of years, he was killed in prison.

      --
      It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglass
    2. Re:I had a similar experience by wass · · Score: 4, Interesting
      If you're not superstitious or spooked by that sort of stuff, it's a great way to get a cheap house. This girl I know just bought a rowhouse at about half the market value because the previous owner hung himself. The fact wasn't announced, but she happened to ask the listing agent why the price was so low, so they were required to answer.

      The awkward thing is that one one of her friends, while helping her move in, took a swig from the 7-Up bottle in the fridge. Turns out that bottle of 7-Up was part of the dead former owner's last meal.

      --

      make world, not war

    3. Re:I had a similar experience by AvantLegion · · Score: 4, Funny
      If you're not superstitious or spooked by that sort of stuff, it's a great way to get a cheap house.

      Not to mention the Coolest House Evar.

      Charge goths and New Age geeks to hold seances there every Thursday night. Pretty soon, the already-cheap house will pay itself off!

      Built-in excuse to keep away unwanted guests! "No, mother of my wife, I don't think you should stay, because our house reeks of death."

      Great for scaring children and keeping them out of the flower beds! "Yes Billy, the owner of the house before the Johnsons really did die in there".

      The possibilities are endless. There need to be real estate websites with these sort of listings! Heck, when the next Dot-Com era comes, I'll start one!

  13. Double edge sword by cybermint · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The internet has great power, indeed. But this power is not without detriment, namely to privacy. While I may sleep a little better knowing a fugative has been brought to justice, I am also worried about how my own personal information may be widely available to those who would use it maliciously. Not trying to make any conclusions here; just food for thought.

    1. Re:Double edge sword by Ironica · · Score: 2, Informative

      While I may sleep a little better knowing a fugative has been brought to justice, I am also worried about how my own personal information may be widely available to those who would use it maliciously.

      But, generally speaking, you can control what gets out on the internet about you.

      I just did a search on all three of my names (Yes, on my second husband at the tender age of 30). For my original name, there's exactly ONE hit... not surprising since I used my parents' last names hyphenated together, and one of them was uncommon. (It's actually me... some costume work I did on some show sometime to help a friend that someone posted the program, and it's still out there.) For my first husband's surname, the second hit is my GIS homework. Ooooo. I could take it off the web if I wanted to hide that, and could have used an image for my name if I was real paranoid. For my current name, nothing shows up that's actually me.

      If your real name shows up all over the internet, you might just use it a bit too freely... or, you're (in)famous, which might be good or bad.

      --
      Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
  14. Or more brains by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    At least enough to not use it once it's been soiled .

  15. Darwin Award potential here by John+Jorsett · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Only a moron would use his real name when he's on the lam. I can go to several locations in my city and come away with an authentic-looking drivers's license, social security card, whatever. Hell, I can even get a Mexican Matricula Consular card, even though you can read in the dark by my skin color. This woman deserves a reward for removing this guy's genes from the pool, even if temporarily.

  16. I guess I'm safe by G-funk · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I used to be the top result from google, but now it's some tennis player. I'm on the first page, but it's not my homepage, just something I posted to a PHP mailing list a thousand years ago.

    Seriously tho, anybody who dates somebody off the internet without at least having a go at googling their name, is nearly as stupid as anybody who's got an outstanding arrest warrant and gives out their real name.

    --
    Send lawyers, guns, and money!
  17. Re:BE CAREFUL OF LINK! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Porn? It's not porn! It's just a website where lonely geeks can find a friend who is rather...easy to burst into flames if too close to a fire. That's discrimination, brother!

  18. damn by CAIMLAS · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh, damn. Here I was, thinking google was starting a new dating service - called Fugitive. :)

    It'd probably be immensely popular. "Check to see if this man is a fugitive? Yes | No"

    --
    ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
    1. Re:damn by I+Be+Hatin' · · Score: 2, Interesting
      It'd probably be immensely popular. "Check to see if this man is a fugitive? Yes | No"

      As popular as amiafugitiveornot.com?

      --
      I know god exists. I read it on the internet, so it must be true.
  19. Unbelievably cheap bastard by SysKoll · · Score: 5, Funny
    From the article: The city lost more than $184,000 on the project after investing heavily in Pettus-Brown's failed plan to rehabilitate the 90-year-old theater on Vine Street. The FBI has said that nearly $93,000 of the money the city paid Pettus-Brown is missing.

    So the guy steals about 100K and invites a date to freaking Applebee?! EIther he's really a cheap bastard or he already spent it all.

    Men these days. You cannot even get a French restaurant date out of a rich thief anymore.

    --

    --
    Mad science! Robots! Underwear! Cute girls! Full comic online! http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/

    1. Re:Unbelievably cheap bastard by WuphonsReach · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You left out a possibility. He's a moron who thinks Applebee's is classy.

      Given the circumstances of his arrest. . .


      What? It's not? Gee, that'll be news to the local residents around these parts... but then, that's what I get for living in a town where a $10/head meal is considered expensive.

      --
      Wolde you bothe eate your cake, and have your cake?
  20. Hey, read the article! by marnanel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If the Cincinatti media had googled him, they'd have found exactly what they already knew: that there was a warrant out for his arrest. The only sort of person who could have found both halves of the story by googling is the sort of person who did: someone who knew him and his whereabouts personally, but needed Google to tell her that he was a fugitive.

    --
    GROGGS: alive and well and living in
  21. Googling for dates? by artemis67 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hmmm... could be interesting... lemesee...

    +blonde +thirtysomething +"blue eyes" -kids +"36 24 36" -smoker +5'11" +model +"into geeky guys"

    Wha? Zero results?

    1. Re:Googling for dates? by utahjazz · · Score: 4, Funny

      Afer triimming this down to "+blonde, +"blue eyes" - kids - smoker +model +"into geeky guys", Google said:

      Do you mean "+blonde, +"blue eyes" - kids - smoker +modell +"Greek guys"?

      My God that's dissapointing, Damn racist computer program engine favors some crappy island over it's own maker.

      I think Captian Kirk had something to say on the subject. Can't...find...link....

    2. Re:Googling for dates? by leftie_hater · · Score: 2, Funny

      Guess you're not "feeling lucky" then, eh?

      --

      ---------
      George W. Bush in 2004!
  22. LaShawn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is a little offtopic, and a trifle condescending, but do we care enough about children not to give them asinine names?
    How many Trawandas, DeLeroys, and Yasomethins do we need?
    When you're thinking about naming your twins Orangello and Lemonjello , you should first consider whether or not sharing your genetic information is wise.
    True, sex feels great, but consider the ascetic pleasure of knowing that you chose not to pass on a taste for absurd names to your progeny. Europe is clearly leading in this area.
    I don't know if this is becasue the women are just too chic to consider motherhood, the men are too busy planting their seed where it cannot grow, or they are simply given to better taste.
    Regardless, please do us all a favor and get a proper book of names, and don't give a child a name that is going to raise hackles for their whole life.
    There are far better ways to express individuality than naming a poor infant LeDeZeppelin.
    Thank you for your attention.
    FINEX RANTEX

    1. Re:LaShawn by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Insightful? Balls

      How would it be different if he had been named Shawn Brown, instead of LaShawn Petus-Brown? He'd still be 'wanted', there would still be numerous news articles about him, including his picture, and she still might have called the FBI to check him out.
      The only difference is that there would have been more hits on that name.

      When I was a little kid, a little girl named Emma would have been snickered at. That was an 'old lady' name. Today, that's a very common girls name.

      Times change. Names change. Live with it.

    2. Re:LaShawn by Ironica · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Regardless, please do us all a favor and get a proper book of names, and don't give a child a name that is going to raise hackles for their whole life.
      There are far better ways to express individuality than naming a poor infant LeDeZeppelin.


      Have you taken a look at a baby name book lately? They're full of all kinds of crappy names that will turn a reasonable set of DNA into a watchtower-dwelling rifle toter.

      The Social Security Administration's web site has a pretty neat feature... for the last 12 years, they've kept statistics on the 1000 most popular baby names each year, for boys and girls. They've got all kinds of features, such as searching on a particular name for its rankings, top five names in each state, and so on.

      When my husband and I were mulling over children's names, for the boy's we started at 40 and read down the whole list to get ideas. For girls, we started at 300. (Though we ended up picking a girl's name from another source.)

      Names go through fads. Jennifer was the number one girl's name from about 1969 to 1987. And couldn't I tell, when half the girls I went to school with were Jennifer, Jen, Jenny, Jennie... right now, the fad is kinda weird, but we'll get to a point (in about 60 years) when those will all be "old lady" or "old man" names.

      --
      Don't you wish your girlfriend was a geek like me?
    3. Re:LaShawn by warrantyVoidIfRemove · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's not hard, Skip and Chuck and Randy they are all _verbs_ m'kay

      I was just thinking how long its been since I gave someone a good randying...

      --
      Guns don't kill people - people kill people. And monkeys with guns kill people.
    4. Re:LaShawn by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This is a little offtopic, and a trifle condescending, but do we care enough about children not to give them asinine names?
      How many Trawandas, DeLeroys, and Yasomethins do we need?


      How are those any different from Steven, Michael, or John -- other than that they don't come from your particular cultural background?

      As Frank Zappa once said about his children--whom he named Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emukkha, and Diva Muffin--"it's the last name that gets them in trouble".

  23. Re:IPO Coming, can Scroogol be far away ??? by I+Be+Hatin' · · Score: 2, Funny
    I wonder if they are planning to capitalize on it, maybe a reference service like Froogle, but for dating.

    If they're launching a dating service, they should call it "Go ogle". Dating services are already known to be meat markets...

    --
    I know god exists. I read it on the internet, so it must be true.
  24. When will people learn? by saskboy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If you are going to commit a serious crime these days, you'd better make darn sure that you know your way around a computer before using one on the Internet. The trails that we leave are beyond most people's comprehensions, and I would hate to think what could be done to me or any other ordinary person if someone set their mind to mischief.

    --
    Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
  25. Re:BE CAREFUL OF LINK! by kfg · · Score: 3, Informative

    No, it's a sex toy site. The sex toys just happen to look like naked women.

    Yes, some might well consider that pornographic. Others might simply consider it a display of wares.

    Yeah, it's not safe for work so your warning is valid. No, I'm not just being pedantic. I really thought your post might need a little clarifying.

    Yes, I've looked. Big deal.

    KFG

  26. Eluding the FBI for Dummies... by fatray · · Score: 2, Funny

    suggests that you not use your real name when you are on the run from the FBI. It might also be a good idea to steal more than $180k--that won't let you live it up for long in NYC.

  27. Re:What else would you expect? by rosie_bhjp · · Score: 2, Funny

    heh same here. Remember what Mark Twain said about Cincy...

    "When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati because it's always twenty years behind the times."

    --
    A radio maverick jumps to internet only. The Future of Rock n Roll
  28. Maybe it works the other way as well. by Karplusan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hmmm, so if girls check google on their guys... Say, how does one go about getting their webpage put in the top of Google? I was thinking of trying to register http://www.heisthebest.com/ and of course, put my name all over it. I see no flaws in my plan.

  29. Re:Now that's journalism by LanceTaylor · · Score: 3, Funny

    The newpaper editor Googling skills might have improved, but not their proofreading skills.

    Neither have yours... ;-)

  30. Re:BE CAREFUL OF LINK! by martinX · · Score: 5, Funny

    who the hell would look at naked dolls

    Ken?

    --
    When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
  31. Re:Now that's journalism by Awptimus+Prime · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If they would have done a google search on him, they just would have found news articles.

    His new home address didn't show up, nothing about his new home was there. This was pretty much left for anyone who had just met him to give 'em the google to find out he's in trouble.

    What this article demonstrates is quite easily summed up in one phrase: ignorant sensationalism

  32. Make sure they don't read /. by jaymzter · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you have a common enough name and **aren't** on the lam you might be okay. Just make sure she doesn't know your l337 /. name or you're dead!
    ...Oh shit, you're all heading for Google now...

    --
    If thou see a fair woman pay court to her, for thus thou wilt obtain love
  33. Re:Tsk, tsk... no using Googling as a verb... by TelcusFreshbreeze · · Score: 2, Funny
    Did you google for that?

    Woops, I mean did you search the Internet using a popular engine for that?

  34. There is a trait highly common in criminals by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They are dumb. Seriously. If all criminals were highly intelligent, we'd be in real trouble. Fortunately, most are pretty stupid. Hence, they make stupid mistakes, and those mistakes lead to their arrest and conviction. Real life is usually not like Law and Order where the cops have to untangle a complecated web to get at the truth, usually the criminals do something really dumb that leads right too them.

    That's not to say there haven't been some really smart crooks, the smartest of which we likely know nothing of, but 99.99% of them are dumb.

    So no, this is not at all supprising.

    1. Re:There is a trait highly common in criminals by ameoba · · Score: 2, Funny

      [blockquote]That's not to say there haven't been some really smart crooks, the smartest of which we likely know nothing of...[/blockquote]

      What do you mean? We voted them into office...

      Oh, wait. You said smart, not successful.

      --
      my sig's at the bottom of the page.
    2. Re:There is a trait highly common in criminals by blockhouse · · Score: 3, Insightful

      99.99% of them are dumb.

      99.99% of the criminals we catch and convict are dumb.

      Smart criminals are smart enough not to get caught. Heck, you never hear about the smart criminals, because no one suspects smart criminals of criminal activity.

  35. only in the 21st century... by NeoTheOne · · Score: 2

    D00D gO+ pWnED 8y @ Ch1Ck!!!

  36. They Never Caught Me by dbCooper0 · · Score: 2, Funny
    I use this moniker or a derivitive of it almost everywhere on line :) Gets me into some cool conversations like "how much of that $100k you got left" or "did you pack your own parachute?"...mostly from people in the Pacific NW.

    I do a Google for my real name, and it comes up with nothing even close - of course there are 21,300 hits when I use quotes!

    --
    db
    Cig:
    ôô
    /`
  37. next thing you'll know by Indy1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    you'll see him at http://www.writeaprisoner.com/

    --
    Lawyers, MBA's, RIAA? A jedi fears not these things!
  38. Re:Now that's journalism by MushMouth · · Score: 2, Funny
    Oh yeah, its slashdot. Nobody ever reads the articles.


    Not even the editors

  39. I did the same thing with a neighbor... by John_McKee · · Score: 4, Interesting

    After having some suspicions about a neighbor, I too decided to run her though Google. The search brought up this Article http://groups.google.com/groups?q=Katherine+Saddle r&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=199808 1213325800.JAA00250%40ladder01.news.aol.com&rnum=1 (Her name is Katherine Sadler), the relevent part being

    "Another accused hooker, Katherine Saddler, 35, answered the phone at Sunnymede.

    "When we have something to say, we'll say it," said Saddler, who was also
    charged with possession of nine bags of heroin. "

    Yep, that was my neighbor. A few more searches resulted in two open arrest warrents for her in NJ, time spent in prison, and several other convictions of assult and death threats. So the moral of the story is, if you have suspicions, it doesn't hurt to take 1 minute to run a quick google search.

    1. Re:I did the same thing with a neighbor... by bilbobuggins · · Score: 2, Insightful

      ffs, 1984 anyone?

  40. Gossiping coworkers by Neo-Rio-101 · · Score: 2, Funny

    My girlfriend did a search on my name on google, and on the first 3 hits she found some page out of a BBS where some of my co-workers were slagging me off. Needless to say I will be calling them by their internet handles at work from now on.

    --
    READY.
    PRINT ""+-0
  41. The Jerk 2k4 by n3tkUt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Look I'm in the google engine! -I'm finally somebody! I'm somebody! I'm in the google engine!

  42. SouthPark Refrence. by glk572 · · Score: 2, Funny

    halfy-"I Would."
    "oh shut up halfy you don't have any legs you coulden't screw anything."

    Halfie

    note, link is a clip from a different episode, but it has the same point.

    --
    Well art is art isn't it, but then again water is water; and east is east; and west is west; and if you take cranberries
  43. Just don't post it to Slashdot using your name by xixax · · Score: 4, Funny
    ... and several other convictions of assult and death threats. So the moral of the story is, if you have suspicions, it doesn't hurt to take 1 minute to run a quick google search.

    Just don't post the results to Slashdot using your real name in case your neighbours are also using Google to check you out.

    Maybe seed Google with your own bogus details, "John is Amish and does not own any consumer electronics worth stealing, he has a black belt in Karate and breeds rattlesnakes as a hobby..."

    Xix.

    --
    "Everything is adjustable, provided you have the right tools"
  44. Are you kidding? by raehl · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wife's picture on dating site = free pass.

  45. There's a common acronym for a SMART crook.... by raehl · · Score: 3, Funny

    CEO

  46. Oh, com'on, are you a leper? by raehl · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Seriously - in the online dating world, if you can write a complete sentence and don't look like a complete letter, you can find a date with a moderately attractive woman, assuming you target the age when they're finally sick of dating assholes. It's not that hard, really.

  47. It's all downhill after... by westendgirl · · Score: 2, Funny

    Once WKRP left the airwaves, baby, you'd just have to wonder, wonder what ever became of Pettus-Brown...

    --

    -- SYS 64738 --

  48. Found Out She's a Porn Star by Lordofohio · · Score: 2, Funny
    I googled a girlfriend a year ago and found out she's a British pornstar.

    I was relieved to see that it was just the same name, not the same person. Now when
    I look back however, I think of all the things that could have been..... :-)

  49. Data minning 101 by Felinoid · · Score: 4, Funny

    The problem with the search is it's way too spec.

    All a girl has to be is an inch off and the search fails.
    Also if she says "I'm into brainy guys", "I'm into nerdy guys" or "Geeks make me hot" the search fails... Not that I'd expect anyone to say "geeks make me hot" just giving an example...

    As for the "Into geek guys" forget it she's gone by now... Every Slashdot geek had sent her a preposal.... well ok I'm more a tweek thow.. (Diffrence between me and a geek? I've got less brains and I'm insain...).

    +blonde +thirtysomething +"blue eyes" -kids +"36 24 36" -smoker +5'11" +model +"into geeky guys"

    Ok let's try remaking this to be a more realistic search ok?

    +blonde This is fine.. Every "yellow" haired woman calls herself blonde.

    +thirtysomething Changes are you'll get her exact age why should she even bother with the term "thirtysomething" strike it..

    +"blue eyes" ok... A bit exssesive but the search would work...

    -kids This is vage enough it will block all "with kids" it will also knock out "Not ready for kids" or "can't stand kids"... But it's a reasonable filter we can knock it out later.. if needed.

    "36 24 36" Are we searching for a date or giving specs for a fembot? Human beings aren't going to fit an exact mold. Strike it...

    -smoker Like kids this filters "I am a smoker" and "I am not a smoker"... This is probably not the kind of thing you want to filter... Leave it in for first search.

    +5'11" Ahem.. So if she's 5'10" or 6'" your not intrested?
    +5' This will give you everyone who is 5 foot...

    +model Ahem.. are we searching for dates or phone sex? If she says she's a model she is eather lying or to busy to actually date.
    Strike it...

    +"into geeky guys" Way to detailed... She'd have to actually use that exact phrase.

    Try just +geek.. This will scoop up "I'm a geek girl looking for a geek guy"

    Now we have: +blonde +"blue eyes" -kids +5' +geek

    1,630 results.... Exelent...
    Now I can screen them by hand for... dear god no Huston we have a problem.

    +woman

    1,060 results... Good.

    Let's trim this down a tad +female. The search results still had to many guys "looking for a woman"... Just need to imprint on the search the importance of finding a FEMALE date..

    Ok to many unrelated results... Oh sure I like "Buffy the vampire slayer" but reading about how much fans like Spike dose not get me anywhere.

    +dating

    Well.. I'll ferther refine this but that will be to my personal tasts...
    Damn it thow.. I find a post on Japanise intrested in western and it's Japanise MEN looking for western wemen.
    Oh the +blond thing kinda makes that not happen anyway.

    I'm srapping "blue eyes" becouse I don't care about eye color.. Then add +California becouse that is where I live.

    424 results... I'll be refining this all freaking night...

    Well I found this nifty link and I can finish my search that way.

    And that is how you ue google to find a date.
    Oh dear god I'm pathetic... Finding dates by computer... I'm affrade I need to bash my self senseless now.

    --
    I don't actually exist.
  50. good new business to start by cheekyboy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey sounds like a great business to start, give IT/businesplans to criminals and such.

    Define their goal/problem and solve it with a powerpoint slide presentation define their solution and step by step guide on what to do and not to do so they can succeed.

    add in the papar
    "Are you a dumb crook, too stupid, left highschool at 15 and now are looking for quick bucks but dont want to be caught by FBI who left school at 18? Then call us , CRIMEDOESPAY(for 10% fee) , tell us what you dont or plan to do, and we will define a business plan to make sure you will succeed and not get 'trapped'. All details are highly confidential and all data will be destroyed after consultation and fees paid. Call 555-CRIME. or check us out online www.defeat-the-fbi-mmmkay.com " ;-)

    --
    Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
  51. sex offender database by humankind · · Score: 4, Informative
  52. Too much time at jailbabes by Dukael_Mikakis · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dude, I'm never double-dating with you.

  53. Re:BE CAREFUL OF LINK! by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Funny

    "(not that I looked ...)"

    I think your pants are on fire.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  54. I was once worrie about this... by Mantrid · · Score: 2, Interesting

    When I met my wife (via the internet, although we met IRL within a week), and realized that it would be a serious relationship I got a bit worried...you see one time one of my friends (and I think I might know who...) thought it'd be funny to post in my name on some pot growing site....okay so it would've been funny - but one day while googling for my own name - well let's just say that's how I discovered their joke!

    So I told my wife-to-be right away, and she thought it was funny also....still I have to wonder who else I know that might just google my name! >:(

  55. Googling bad eBayers and scammers by adzoox · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I often google problematic eBayers and scammers email addresses - I would say 1/2 the time I get good results and 1 in 10 I get VERY interesting results.

    For instance - one time I had an eBayer email me telling me I should be ashamed for selling a Bang & Olufsen turntable at the price I was selling it at. Turns out - it was HIS that he sold to someone in Charlotte (nearby) - they in turn sold it to a Pawn Shop - I bought it for a deal (under $100) - come to find out - he only got $35 for it on eBay - he had left negative feedback for the buyer because the buyer made him sell it to him (he didn't have a reserve. To make a long story longer - It turns out he starts harassing my bidders, telling them not to buy from me. I google and find something similar to this with his email address attached.

    Gay male looking in Colorado (Denver Area) for discreet meetings - no kinky stuff but very adventurous. Since he had bid in my auction (fraudulently) I instantly ended the auction and made him the winner by cancelling other bids. I threatened to post the information to several websites and his feedback. I never heard from him again.

    I have ALWAYS googled anyone's email address before I met them from match.com - although usually a girl's email address won't show up with any results.

    I occasionally google my email address and always get new stuff - usually 4-5 of my slashdot replies show up.

    --
    Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
  56. "You keep using that word..." by Valdrax · · Score: 2, Informative

    just brainless male bushido

    "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

    Perhaps, you meant machismo instead of bushido?

    --
    If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").