Please Rob Me

[slipperyslope]

Has anyone been reading all the buzz in the press about this site or heard of it?

If not, it's worth knowing about.

http://pleaserobme.com/

Please Rob Me highlights the ridiculous oversharing people do on social networking sites, and does so by telling the world when people are not home and most likely left an empty home behind. It's good passive commentary on this whole social internet thing and pretty funny.

[mackro]

I rip on this site here:
http://mackro.tumblr.com/post/411440993/oh-no-i-wuz-a-next-victim-on-pleaserobme-com-help

[gravy boat]

Similarly, I've known two people whose recently deceased relatives' home were burglared during the funeral, after the newspaper obituary listed the date and time of the funeral.

Boy, the more things change...wait, that's not right.

Hey, isn't Erika's house in Baltimore empty right now?  Ahh screw it, there's too much snow to burgle.

[slipperyslope]

I rip on this site here:
http://mackro.tumblr.com/post/411440993/oh-no-i-wuz-a-next-victim-on-pleaserobme-com-help

I read your post. I like the cut of your jib.

I think you're reading too much into things though, and the media attention explosion thing isn't helping. It (the site) is what it is, nothing more, nothing less. And doesn't claim to be.

[mackro]

I rip on this site here:
http://mackro.tumblr.com/post/411440993/oh-no-i-wuz-a-next-victim-on-pleaserobme-com-help

I read your post. I like the cut of your jib.

I think you're reading too much into things though, and the media attention explosion thing isn't helping. It (the site) is what it is, nothing more, nothing less. And doesn't claim to be.

If you're saying that the site is more of a "wink wink yeah we know" type thing and not a "you suck deal with it" type thing, then I do understand a bit more now. Still, I just didn't like the whole claim to spreading awareness, when the people who need the awareness the most are the ones kept in the dark as a side effect, or lack of effect.

That said (annoying habit of bold/italicing every other word aside that I should stop), I definitely agree with you that the recent media attention has not been productive in any way.  This segues into a whole other kinda depressing topic on media today, insert here.

[slipperyslope]

I rip on this site here:
http://mackro.tumblr.com/post/411440993/oh-no-i-wuz-a-next-victim-on-pleaserobme-com-help

I read your post. I like the cut of your jib.

I think you're reading too much into things though, and the media attention explosion thing isn't helping. It (the site) is what it is, nothing more, nothing less. And doesn't claim to be.

If you're saying that the site is more of a "wink wink yeah we know" type thing and not a "you suck deal with it" type thing, then I do understand a bit more now. Still, I just didn't like the whole claim to spreading awareness, when the people who need the awareness the most are the ones kept in the dark as a side effect, or lack of effect.

That said (annoying habit of bold/italicing every other word aside that I should stop), I definitely agree with you that the recent media attention has not been productive in any way.  This segues into a whole other kinda depressing topic on media today, insert here.

I think it's a bit of column a and a bit of column b. I read it as a passive toungue-in-cheek commentary on the new status quo, and think it got blown up inadvertantly beyond it's intended viral meme thing. But who knows.

And yeah... media. I think "they" are like gullible chocolate addicts, them news hounds. They'll believe there's chocolate anywhere if you leave enough crumbs. Er...news. And then they have to really sell it, don't they?
There was a time recently, for instance, when a news article about "Bono" saying "file sharing is bad" was on the front page of one of Canada's most important news sites. They went into it with all sorts of fervor as if it was exciting and interesting, and as if it was news. (yes, this was in 2009/2010...not 1997 or whatever)

[Sarah]

Hey, isn't Erika's house in Baltimore empty right now?  Ahh screw it, there's too much snow to burgle.

Chris L. and Dorvid, don your burgling suits!

[erika]

Hey, isn't Erika's house in Baltimore empty right now?  Ahh screw it, there's too much snow to burgle.

Ah, but it was *never* empty. House-sitters are a gooood thing.

(Otherwise we never post anywhere when we're going to be away. We even come and go from the back door on big trips because our neighbors are shady.)

[Sarah]

Uh oh.  I've directed CL and D into a trap.  Sorry, fellas.

[erika]

That's right! I've set ALL the booby traps!

[Chris L]

Someday I'll get to burgle. 

[samir]

Chris, if you ever need counsel, my rates are very reasonable.

[Chris L]

Chris, if you ever need counsel, my rates are very reasonable.

That's a generous offer, Samir, but thankfully

I WILL NEVER BE CAUGHT! 

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

So here's what I don't understand and am too lazy to investigate: how do the people on this site know where the Twitterer's home is to begin with?  I tweet when I'm out all the time, but I never put my home address anywhere online, including Facebook.  Do people do this?

[erika]

Some do. You can also look them up online with first and last name and a few location things.

Stalkers could certainly find out when you're not home. But what would be the point then, eh?