They are weird, aren't they?
I've just tightened up my security settings to virtual invisibility after the following:
- I was part of a panel of three interviewing for a trainee at work this week. One young man, near the beginning of his interview, informed us that the had googled all of our names and made a special point of informing me that he knew that I was very good at tennis and went to X university! Nothing about the firm, just the individuals. When he left, we just sort of looked at each other, speechless.
- I have a small flat from my pre-marriage days which I let out and have been doing viewings for new tenants. One tenant came round and everything seemed to be going well, until he said that he had "looked me up on the internet and couldn't find anything about me as a landlord, as if it were some kind of accusation. Oh yes, he said, he had searched and searched and he hoped I was registered properly. I am, under my maiden name, but I felt quite harangued.
- A work colleague told me she had met someone who knew me recently. She gave me his name and described him and said he knew all about me. I said I didn't know him. "But he was describing your dislike of public transport and how you enjoyed your last holiday in Spain". "Although he says he thinks you're a bit judgmental about people and opinionated". He must have been talking to a FB friend about me.
Is this normal? I'd be really embarrassed if I was caught snooping on someone I didn't know, never mind proudly boasting about it.