Here’s a 21st-Century question, friends: Do you burn the midnight oil typing people’s names into that handy-dandy little thing called Google, staring for hours at the glowing light of the computer screen “oooohing” and “ahhhhing” over each new discovery?
Maybe you do. Maybe you don’t. Maybe you don’t want to admit it either way. But one thing is clear: Google has permanently etched its way into the English lexicon. It’s no longer a Web site. It’s a verb. People Google. And usually, people are googling other people.
Now, I’ll admit that I’m a pretty big fan of Google when it comes to love. Googling is like watching preview before a movie. The previews don’t necessarily give anything away, but it also doesn’t leave you completely in the dark either. At the very least, it’s an efficient way to weed out the good from the bad. And while you probably won’t discover the guy’s entire life story with a few clicks of the mouse, you’ll find out the important parts (read: the OMG red flags) – depending on your level of Googling skills and your understanding of synonyms and word permutations. 
Translation: you’ll get the perfect snapshot, like whether he has a criminal record, is wanted in another state (or country), whether he’s married or even whether he was once a she. Consider it the best form of pre-date contraception, a way to ward off the unwanted consequences of a not-so-great guy.
So, friends, tell me: Who do you Google the most? Your boyfriend? Your best friend? Your coworker? Yourself?
[Photos via Le Love
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Fashion, Art and other fancies says
Interesting question. I don't google unless it's fashion related. I use the library for all things research related.
a displaced floridian says
I google EVERYTHING. But I must say… I don't google people. I guess I don't socialize enough to meet new people to google haha.
Jenny in Ohio says
I don't generally google people…I googled my fiance when we first started dating, and when I was still dating around, I would google those guys. But I don't do it at all now!
HiLLjO says
I could scare people with my google research abilities… but I think that part of being in love is leaving the jadedness behind… I've never googled my husband. Myself? A bajillion times.
Internet can be wrong or without context; it's an adventure finding out that kind of stuff first-hand.
Eleanor at Mirror Of My World says
i dont google friends but i would say i google about issues/ things im interested in and sometimes very occasionally celebs as well.
Melissa Blake says
HiLL, we should have a Google-off hahaha!!
p.s. i google myself all the time too!
Stephanie says
Haha, I have never googled myself! Is that weird? I google historical stuff a lot…I'm totally a nerd about it.
silverthoughts2 says
A few years back, a guy I had started dating said something to me that flew up a red flag. Without even stopping to consider, I immediately plugged in his name into Google and found out that he he had a criminal record. It wasn't something that I typically did but if you have a feeling that something isn't exactly kosher-Google him. It'll save a lot of heartache later.
Melissa Blake says
yikes, silver! good thing you found out! xoxo
Melissa Blake says
stephanie, speaking of googling historical stuff, i always wonder if encyclopedias will become outdated one day.