Facebook is creepy. Use it.
Catherine Grace
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: Opinion
"I apologize if this phone call is odd," the woman said. Inside, I was screaming over the undeniable creep factor, but I told her I appreciated the open communication.
Not an hour before this conversation, I was being a typical college student perusing Facebook. I didn't imagine anybody of consequence would see I had left a comment on one of Congressman Pete Visclosksy's (D-IN) rather infrequent status updates.
When I glanced at my phone several minutes later, I had a voicemail left by Visclosky's Merrillville office.
"Catherine, I was actually calling to follow up on a message we received online," said an office worker. "I wanted to see if there was anything the Congressman's office could do to assist you."
I immediately wondered how the office found my cell phone number, since it is not on my Facebook profile, but I remembered giving my information when previously calling about legislation.
In an effort to contact a concerned constituent, the office worker must have looked me up by name in their database to find my telephone number. I would have been just as pleased - and a lot less creeped out - had someone simply replied via Facebook.
This occurred before when I wrote a comment on Congressman Mike Pence's (R-IN) Facebook status. Again thinking nobody would really read, I wrote I was part of a university newspaper and was curious how Pence might answer a question. Within a few hours, Pence himself wrote back and gave me a private number to call. Without even trying, I landed an interview with the third-ranking Republican in the U.S. House.
Even last Saturday, I went to an event where the newly-elected Lake County GOP Chairwoman, Kim Krull, knew me from a Facebook group. I could hardly spit my whole name out in introduction before it clicked in her mind; and there I stood, known by name to a "somebody" before I even met them.
I often think of the Internet as a vast of faceless, nameless people. We've all heard we have to be careful, because we never know what people will see. But be it your future employer trolling your account or your representatives listening to you, Facebook can be a net positive with the right approach, despite its potential for creepiness.
Use this spotlight to your advantage. If one can make a bad name on the Internet, one can make a good name. Someday, as what happened to me Saturday morning, you may be introduced to someone who remembers the impression, good or bad, you made and the reputation you built on the Internet.
Not an hour before this conversation, I was being a typical college student perusing Facebook. I didn't imagine anybody of consequence would see I had left a comment on one of Congressman Pete Visclosksy's (D-IN) rather infrequent status updates.
When I glanced at my phone several minutes later, I had a voicemail left by Visclosky's Merrillville office.
"Catherine, I was actually calling to follow up on a message we received online," said an office worker. "I wanted to see if there was anything the Congressman's office could do to assist you."
I immediately wondered how the office found my cell phone number, since it is not on my Facebook profile, but I remembered giving my information when previously calling about legislation.
In an effort to contact a concerned constituent, the office worker must have looked me up by name in their database to find my telephone number. I would have been just as pleased - and a lot less creeped out - had someone simply replied via Facebook.
This occurred before when I wrote a comment on Congressman Mike Pence's (R-IN) Facebook status. Again thinking nobody would really read, I wrote I was part of a university newspaper and was curious how Pence might answer a question. Within a few hours, Pence himself wrote back and gave me a private number to call. Without even trying, I landed an interview with the third-ranking Republican in the U.S. House.
Even last Saturday, I went to an event where the newly-elected Lake County GOP Chairwoman, Kim Krull, knew me from a Facebook group. I could hardly spit my whole name out in introduction before it clicked in her mind; and there I stood, known by name to a "somebody" before I even met them.
I often think of the Internet as a vast of faceless, nameless people. We've all heard we have to be careful, because we never know what people will see. But be it your future employer trolling your account or your representatives listening to you, Facebook can be a net positive with the right approach, despite its potential for creepiness.
Use this spotlight to your advantage. If one can make a bad name on the Internet, one can make a good name. Someday, as what happened to me Saturday morning, you may be introduced to someone who remembers the impression, good or bad, you made and the reputation you built on the Internet.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Farrokh Bulsara
posted 11/02/09 @ 7:49 AM CST
I totally agree with you. While it's nice to know there are politicians who actually seem to care and reach out to their voters...or at least the people working for them do, you would think they would want to address the fact that tracking someone down via phone after a facebook comment is a bit creepy. (Continued…)
Kim
posted 11/02/09 @ 8:29 AM CST
I think that is the most thoughtful thing for a congressman to do. Wow...how many politicians actually reach out to you? When you do post on a public forum, you have to expect people to react in some ways. (Continued…)
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