Hide and Seek

You know the movie "I Know What You Did Last Summer?" I think they need to make a sequel called "I Know Where Everyone Lives."

In my reporting class today my professor showed up the Dallas appraisal website that can direct you to anyone in the Dallas area's address. So say for instance you wanted to find out where that professor who gave you an "F" on your midterm lives, all you would have to do is type in his or her last name, and VOILA! The address pops up. The site is even knind enough to connect you to Mapquest directions, leading you from one doormat to the next. Ya... creepy.

When I first saw this, I thought it had to be illegal, but apparently home owner's records are public records. This means ANYONE can access where you live if they know your last name.

Now what about that physco ex boyfriend from high school who still calls you? Ya, bad news, he can find you too!

But wait, it gets even better! There's a website that can also give our your phone number. Someone could type your phone number in, and up pops your full name and address (map directions included).

So why doesn't the government do anything about this? My professor explained that this is all public information, and once you buy a house, apartment, business complex, whatever, that information is fair game to the public.

I've always been relatively careful about giving my phone number to people, but rarely do I give out my address. It's not exactly a relief to know this information is already available online if the person knows my name. I guess in such a technology dependant industry, we can't be too surprised that all this information has leaked... but what I want to know is, what can we do? I guess I can have my number blocked... but people would still have it. I can move... but my new address would shortly be available.

I guess in today's world we just have to adjust to this new wave of available information, and accept the fact that our whereabouts are constantly being narrowed down.