Too much information and not enough privacy? Where does one draw the line?

May 12, 2006 6:29 PM

To etiquette/policy: How bad is it to have posted a full name with some work history while asking AskMe for help in finding that person?
posted by snsranch to Etiquette/Policy at 6:29 PM (19 comments total)

Is there a link? Posting personal details is not very cool in just about all circumstances I can envision on a public noticeboard.
posted by peacay at 6:37 PM on May 12, 2006

I asked Matt to delete it. I thought that what was posted was public record anyway, that's why I'm curious as to how bad it really is/might be.
posted by snsranch at 6:45 PM on May 12, 2006

A lot of people obviously have personal details available on the internet which are at least a search away. I've read the etiquette here as being that it is always better to leave it one step away - rather than the personal information being posted, individuals should have to go to the extra effort themselves to find it, if they are so nosey/stalkery/interested. As I think it should be.
posted by peacay at 6:52 PM on May 12, 2006

And how bad? 6.4 dreegels on the old weiznerask scale of badness. Please post your home address so we can come reedumacate you.
posted by peacay at 6:59 PM on May 12, 2006

Here's the question. I dunno, it doesn't seem like a total invasion of the person's privacy.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:10 PM on May 12, 2006 [1 favorite]

*shoots*
posted by mds35 at 8:22 PM on May 12, 2006

I thought it was uncool, and I flagged it when it was posted.

In the recent stalking thread, at least one person replied that he was extremely careful about keeping all of his personal information off the Internet. I don't go that far, myself, but it's not an unreasonable position and plenty of people probably agree with him. If you don't know where someone stands, better safe than sorry. It's simply not your decision, whether or not John Doe will make himself known via Google; in fact, short of computer fraud and theft, I think posting another person's info is just about the worst act you can commit online.
posted by cribcage at 9:09 PM on May 12, 2006

I dunno, it doesn't seem like a total invasion of the person's privacy.

think some more.
posted by 3.2.3 at 8:16 AM on May 13, 2006

I assume that, seeing as he was a middle school teacher, the man in question's name and career are already a matter of public record.
posted by maxreax at 9:03 AM on May 13, 2006

3.2.3 writes "I dunno, it doesn't seem like a total invasion of the person's privacy.

"think some more."

Seems like it's the sort of thing that would show up on a staff page (well, maybe past staff) for a school anyway.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:03 AM on May 13, 2006

Yeah I dont see how this is an invasion of privacy any more, as pointed out, than a "Our Staff" page at any company or institution.

Arent there people out there who set up entire pages full of people whom they hope will find their name on Google and get back in contact? How is this different than that?
posted by vacapinta at 10:46 AM on May 13, 2006

It doesn't seem like a "total invasion of privacy" to me, either — but it seems to me, that's not my judgment to make. As for staff listings posted online: There are myriad differences between consenting to allow your employer to list your name on its website — a listing which, presumably, will be removed if you choose to leave the company (or request its removal) — versus having a stranger post your personal info onto a high-ranking website you have no connection with, and suddenly being surprised by that fact when someone mentions that he Googled you.

Arent there people out there who set up entire pages full of people whom they hope will find their name on Google and get back in contact? How is this different than that?

It's not. That's not OK, either.
posted by cribcage at 12:27 PM on May 13, 2006

Not to disagree with 3.2.3's well thought out and thoroughly convincing argument, but it really isn't a big deal. There've been previous links to people finding resources posted in AskMe, this is basically the same thing.

Frankly, the intentionally erroneous and libelous Google-bombing of spammers that happens here seems like a far more dangerous and hurtful invasion of privacy to me than posting some guy's name.
(mediareport sums up my sentiments quite well here.)
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 2:27 PM on May 13, 2006

Well, what if we generalize to older media: say there was some radio or TV call-in show where people could ask all sorts of questions, and there were vast arrays of experts standing by with the Super Ultro-Tronic Computing Machine 2000; together, they answered the world's questions.

Now, if someone called in and asked, "I'm looking for [blah blah full name and details]", do you think the hosts would freak out and bleep it and quickly cut to the next question?

It just doesn't seem like much of a big deal.
posted by blacklite at 1:24 AM on May 14, 2006

I don't think this is a big deal at all - you've basically just asked for information that, in a perfect world, you would have been able to get from the phone book.

Now, if you knew that the person didn't want to be found, had an unlisted number on purpose, etc. it would be different.

I'm very pro privacy, but even in Canada (with what I think is the world's best privacy law: PIPEDA) your name, address and telephone number don't count as personal information in terms of privacy protection.

That said, I go out of my way to ensure my web site is the number one google result for my full name, so I can't claim to represent the totally reclusive or shy.
posted by tiamat at 3:00 AM on May 14, 2006

...your name, address and telephone number don't count as personal information in terms of privacy protection.

Snsranch was asking about etiquette, not whether he'd broken a law — and yes, I suppose there are people who feel that anything and everything is fair game unless specifically prohibited by statute, but I don't think we want to emulate them.
posted by cribcage at 8:47 AM on May 15, 2006

jeeze cribcage, my point was that even by the MOST analy high standards of privacy (or as I said, "world's best privacy law") what he did would not be considered a problem.

I wasn't saying 'aha you found a loophole in the law' (especially since I doubt he's in Canada). Read the comment for content next time.
posted by tiamat at 9:29 AM on May 15, 2006

Then your point was addressed and summarily disproved halfway up the page. Read the thread for content next time before asserting an argument that's already been dismissed.
posted by cribcage at 4:30 PM on May 15, 2006

I can honestly not figure out which comment or exchange you're referring to.
posted by tiamat at 9:38 AM on May 16, 2006