Don’t be a Twit About Home Security.
Thursday, February 18th, 2010There’s been a lot of talk lately about how services like Twitter, Forsquare or Google’s Buzz are a stalker’s dream if used (im)properly. Now there’s a new site bringing even more attention to it. Pleaserobme.com. A simple specialized Twitter search engine, it shows just how many people announce when they’re not home. Couple that with other services that show just where your home is, and you may as well hang up a sign that says, as the site does, please rob me.
This is part of a larger issue that I think we’ll be hearing more about. I’m sure the last thing some people want is for their bosses to do a Twitter or Buzz search on them. On the plus side, paranoid spouses have a way to keep track of their significant smothered (and yes, that’s a plus. Tracking anklets are expensive). Being the cute girl at the comic shop probably gets a lot more awkward when all the seedy guys* who keep staring at you suddenly know exactly when you’re there.
This is not a doom-and-gloom “BURN YOUR GPS ENABLED DEVICE”. Technology is not the culprit on this one. Indeed, you don’t even need a mobile device to leave this particular door wide open. What it is (to this blogger, anyway) is a call to common sense. If your address is out there, don’t announce when you won’t be at it. If you’re pretty sure your address isn’t out there, tweet away.
In the meantime, if anyone needs me, I’ll be in my Panic Room. Watching you blog.
*No, I am not saying all guys at comic shops are seedy. I’m talking about a specific type. The skeevy guys who think that handing a girl a Neil Gaiman comic means she’ll fall in love with them.
