Now I can undertand news stories asking for help finding a killer . . .

[ET Awful]

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=128540

But what kind of dumb ass newspaper would publish the freakin' friend's physical address?

"Higgins could not be reached at her apartment at 2785 Broadway - not far from the diner made famous on the TV show Seinfeld - yesterday or her family’s West Roxbury home. She was cooperative with police, sources said."

Leave it to a rag like the Herald to endanger the friend by giving away her home address.

[zalinda]

1. They're not the only ones

my local news told of a story of an old woman who lives alone, someone broke into her home at 123 Oak St and she is now going to have to spend a few days in the hospital.

I was furious, and wrote them about it. The didn't see any harm. I bet if the victim had been rich and white, it would have been a different story. You wouldn't tell a burglar that a rich white person's house is going to be empty and unattended for a few days. I just hope that the poor woman still had something of value left, when she got back from the hospital.

zalinda

[rocktivity]

2. And they can't proofread, either.

"The body of (the)...24-year-old Boston Latin School alumna...was found dumped near a Brooklyn highway Saturday night...She was the victim of a viscious sexual attack before she was strangled and suffocated..."

:eyes:
rocknation

[lauren_victoria]

3. I understand the right to

free press, but is it really necessary to publish the address in full?
because the entire address isnt necessary or "news worthy" to the readers.
why not just a county?

[ET Awful]

4. We're talking NYC here, even just saying the burough would be

plenty of information, heck even saying "midtown" or "upper east-side" is fine. That covers a huge territory and isn't specific enough to put her at any risk of any kind.

[dysfunctional press]

5. actually, it's not the full address-

they didn't give the unit number, and it's probably got a lot of them- maybe even a doorman...and if somebody REALLY wanted her address or phone number- the internets makes it pretty easy to find out.

[ET Awful]

7. And? It has an entrance and an exit which is easily watched.

Personally I wouldn't want MY building address given out in such a situation, and I live in a building with over 100 units.

[dysfunctional press]

9. and what about the internets?

if somebody REALLY wants to find someone- it's pretty damn easy.

[ET Awful]

10. So you don't consider it irresponsible of a newspaper to scream it

from the rooftops?

Sorry, but you're talking two entirely different things. Not everybody knows how to find information on the internet, but a criminal will typically read published news reports of themselves.

So, are you saying you wouldn't mind if someone published your home address in the paper when you were a potential witness in a murder case where the perpetrator was still on the loose?

It's only easy to find information on the internet if you know how, the majority of the population doesn't even know that it's easy, let alone how to do it.

For instance, go ask an average person on the street, pick one at random, go ask them if they know how to find someone's home address on the internet. Let us know the response you get after asking say 10 people. I bet it'll be 1 in 10 or none.

[dysfunctional press]

11. scream it from the rooftops?

i hadn't realized that it was part of the banner headline.

but if they're going to print my name, they might just as well print my address- because i'm in 'the book'...and i'm pretty certain that the majority of the population knows how to use telephone listings.

:eyes:

[ET Awful]

12. Most telephone listings don't list addresses.

You did know that right? Also, most people are aware that they can easily have an unlisted number (I do).

Once again, go take your own little survey, ask 10 people if they know how to find someone's address and other personal info.

Let us know the results.

Meanwhile, why don't you post your home address here on DU for everyone. You seem to think that's fine.

[dysfunctional press]

13. huh?

when's the last time you picked up a phone book?

addresses are MOST CERTAINLY listed.

[ET Awful]

14. Mmmmmhmmmm.

What was that address again?

Where are those survey results?

[dysfunctional press]

17. 264 south weston.

is my address.

see- no problems.

[ET Awful]

20. I see, and I notice you didn't list the city and state as the article

obviously does because it describes Manhattan.

Bye bye, discussing this with you is a waste of time, you are obviously more concerned with being "right" than with protecting a young woman's privacy who just lost one of her best friends.

Nice to know your stance though, enjoy your day.

[dysfunctional press]

22. oops, sorry-

elgin, IL.

satisfied?

[ET Awful]

25. Good, now have you been a potential witness in any murder cases lately?

Been around the scene of any major felonies for which someone may wish to silence you?

I'm happy to know you care so little for your fellow human beings.

Don't bother replying, I'm through reading anything you have to say.

[dysfunctional press]

26. most people trying to silence witnesses are smarter than you-

THEY most likely know that phonebooks list addresses.

[dysfunctional press]

15. ok- i've just asked 12 people how to find someone's address-

i got about 4 different replies- but they're all feasible options, and all 12 people knew where to start.

[ET Awful]

16. Suuuuuuure you did.

I believe I said random people, not calling up all your buddies that you know are net savvy.

What was that address again? You say you're fine with having your address published, where is it?

Little hint for you, you won't find my address in the phone book, hell you won't find my phone number in the phone book. The most popular internet service turns up an address that's 3 years out of date.

[dysfunctional press]

18. no- you didn't say "random"...

but i didn't call anyone- i asked the people around me.

[dysfunctional press]

19. and by the way-

they were ALL smart enough to know that addresses are DEFINITELY a part of a phone book listing- what's your excuse?

[ET Awful]

21. I didn't say random? Now you're just lying. My exact words:

"For instance, go ask an average person on the street, pick one at random, go ask them if they know how to find someone's home address on the internet. Let us know the response you get after asking say 10 people. I bet it'll be 1 in 10 or none."

Thanks for playing.

BTW, go back and ask those same people if they would object to having their name and address published in a newspaper article pointing to them as a potential witness in a murder trial.

Oh, and even if the name is in the phone book, have you ever looked at a Manhattan phone book? Once time? There are almost no names that appear only one time. Especially common names like "Higgins". A mere newspaper article just narrowed the number of "Higgins" from dozens to 1.

[dysfunctional press]

23. your EXACT words from the post i replied to:

"Once again, go take your own little survey, ask 10 people if they know how to find someone's address and other personal info."

:eyes:

[ET Awful]

24. So, do the words "once again" not register with you, or do you just

choose to ignore them because you want so badly to be right?

You are now attempting to pretend you never read the original request.

Truly a complete waste of time.

[dysfunctional press]

27. like i said- the post i replied to didn't say random-

i didn't notice in the other post, because i hadn't read it all the way through- but i'll make sure to do a random survey at lunchtime...

AND- i'll even ask a bonus question- "are addresses part of a listing in a phonebook?" (wanna bet that most people are smarter than you on that one?)

[AlCzervik]

6. When i was a kid the Herald was a broadsheet, they lost any credibility

they had when they got turned into an easy to read tabloid.

[chopper]

8. asdf

my GF graduated from GW with her, and goes to john jay studying graduate forensic psych as well. she's super-freaked out right now.