The New Millenium Question: To Google or Not to Google
So, I Googled my husband before our first date. And I also Googled the guy before him. And the guy before the guy before him. The guy before the guy before the guy — you get what I’m saying. Googling begets Googling to the point that I never even considered NOT Googling after I Googled my first date upon advice received by Marie Claire (or was it Cosmo?) in 2002. In fact, I’d often get annoyed when a guy had such a simple name and job that it made him impossible to Google.
In another fact, I still judge the guy that had an uncommon name and NO Google footprint sort of harshly. How does one make so little impact as to not have a Google footprint at all? I mean I could understand if he was purposefully living off the grid — that would have been cool — but he wasn’t. So freaky, right?
So, given my history, I was a little taken aback by last weekend’s New York Times Modern Love column in, in which the writer relates a horror story of a first date that she went on with someone she had Googled heavily beforehand. Basically, it caused all sorts of problems because she couldn’t keep straight what she had learned on Google and what he had told her when they first met at a bar.This all ended in much embarrassment and her vowing to never Google a date beforehand again.
Having met my husband at a bar, I actually recognized the situation. I Googled him before our first date, and it seemed like I was pretending not to already be privy to the information he was slow-feeding me — some of it major — for months and months, so as not to come off stalkery.
So to Google or not to Google that is the question:
I say, yes, go forth and Google. It’s basic research and shows that you care. Also, if you have an uncommon name that yields a ton of results (like Ernessa T. Carter) then it only seems fair that you get to Google everybody else. But, Joanna Pearson, the chyck from last weekend’s Modern Love column would beg to differ. So read her take on the issue here. And let me know what you think in the comments below.
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Sometimes I Google myself to make sure that I appear to be relatively cool and successful to other people that may Google me…
Sometimes I Google myself to make sure that I appear to be relatively cool and successful to other people that may Google me…
I not only google myself, but if I am meeting a new business associate I always google them as well. Now I am married, but if I was still dating then I would most definitely google potential suitors.
I not only google myself, but if I am meeting a new business associate I always google them as well. Now I am married, but if I was still dating then I would most definitely google potential suitors.
I Google myself, I Googled my husband before our first date, I Google candidates I interview at work. I think it’s expected in our modern world. Not unlike meeting a friend for drinks — now you are expected to be up to date on their lives via their blog, Facebook updates, Twitter, etc. so the conversation bypasses all ‘catch up’ — on a first or second date, I think you expect the other person has looked you up and knows the basic facts of your life. I just own up to it and as long as you don’t go into photogenic detail, you won’t seem like a stalker.
I Google myself, I Googled my husband before our first date, I Google candidates I interview at work. I think it’s expected in our modern world. Not unlike meeting a friend for drinks — now you are expected to be up to date on their lives via their blog, Facebook updates, Twitter, etc. so the conversation bypasses all ‘catch up’ — on a first or second date, I think you expect the other person has looked you up and knows the basic facts of your life. I just own up to it and as long as you don’t go into photogenic detail, you won’t seem like a stalker.
Back before google and even the internet I met my husband.
I asked other people about him. (But the same basic rules would apply.)
Back before google and even the internet I met my husband.
I asked other people about him. (But the same basic rules would apply.)
A single gal needs all the tools she can get her mitts on when it comes to dating. Thank sweet Jeeeeeezis for Google.
A single gal needs all the tools she can get her mitts on when it comes to dating. Thank sweet Jeeeeeezis for Google.
ahahah I so agree with Kelli. A friend of an old friend of mine was talking with a guy on the internet and she Googled him after spending several weeks enjoying her conversations with him and they got to the point they were ready to meet in public. Well turns out he was married! You also need to Google yourself to see what kind of information about you is popping up. I started working in the technology industry and found it harder and harder to avoid having an internet presence so now I just try to make sure I am accurately represented but not god forbid attracting stalkers!
ahahah I so agree with Kelli. A friend of an old friend of mine was talking with a guy on the internet and she Googled him after spending several weeks enjoying her conversations with him and they got to the point they were ready to meet in public. Well turns out he was married! You also need to Google yourself to see what kind of information about you is popping up. I started working in the technology industry and found it harder and harder to avoid having an internet presence so now I just try to make sure I am accurately represented but not god forbid attracting stalkers!
I google myself and those around me, particularly new relationships. Looking for myself is not as easy as it used to be given my married name is more common than my maiden name, but I still find me. It’s helpful to have some background information on who I’m doing business or developing a friendship with (currently and previously) – to see if they are for real and to understand how to work the relationship from a networking standpoint.
I google myself and those around me, particularly new relationships. Looking for myself is not as easy as it used to be given my married name is more common than my maiden name, but I still find me. It’s helpful to have some background information on who I’m doing business or developing a friendship with (currently and previously) – to see if they are for real and to understand how to work the relationship from a networking standpoint.