We have all seen them. A post that begins, "Can you help me find my old friend? I have a Zip Code..." or whatever. We have all seen people jump in and help them try to find this person.
Here is my question -
Has anyone stopped to think that you might be helping a stalker? Or a violent ex-husband? Or a gang member looking for a witness to silence? Or a rapist? Or a child predator?
How do you know you are helping a harmless person do a good thing?
Would you feel any responsibility if the person you helped ended up hurting or killing the person you helped them find?
Best Answer
|
This is an important and valid point, and I agree. That's why I avoid these types of questions, because, like you said, you have to take so many possibilities into consideration: who am I helping, and what am I helping them to do? I've seen these types of questions many times since I've been on AP, along with askers leaving personal information that should never be posted in a pubic forum. The main things is: you DON'T really know if the person asking these questions is legitimate. That's what sends red flags up with me, and that's why I don't volunteer to help these people, because the thought of putting someone in harm's way, or unkowingly assisting someone with dark or dangerous thoughts or ideas--I'd be haunted for the rest of my life, and that's not a place I even want to go. Sometimes it irks me that questions of this nature are even allowed to be posted here. Until the day that they are banned, I intend to ignore them. This is a great message your sending out to the AP Community.
Compliments from
|
All Answers
|
Good question!
Yes, I have noticed this myself and I do agree! If I choose to answered these type of questions, I suggest that they hire an investigator.
I don't know who is behind that computer..A lot of possibilities goes in my head...These people could be ex-spouses, child molesters, hitman, etc...We don't know..
Sometimes I think we forget what our purpose is on this site..
Compliments from
|
|
That's the risk. There is a 50/50 chance that this is also a legitimate search. I think that if the person was really interested in stalking, and that they found this site, they most likely would have used the online search engines already. Just about everyone knows how to Google someone.
I, personally, have never actually attempted to locate the missing people. I only refer them to Google, Anywho.com or any online search engine that they might find useful. When these people show up with personal information, I usually admonish them to not do this, as it is a violation of privacy and puts that person at inreased risk for not only identity theft, but personal danger as well. I don't help those people.
It's tough to know who's legitimate and who is not. This is no different than some of the questions we get on here that are so stupid as to make one wonder if it isn't just a gag. We can't read minds and sometimes I wish that we could.
I personally don't like these questions very much and believe me, the thought that the information might be put to bad use has definitely crossed my mind.
Compliments from
|
|
I must say, this has crossed my mind too, they can spin that line 'an old friend', so easily. Thank you for highlighting this.
Compliments from
|
|
Answered Question
|
4 Answers |
190 Views |
2 Compliments |
|
adw61
Level 16 Middle School
|
|
|
Comments (1)
Loading...