Some of you know that my Meebo is logged in all day – my office is experimenting with being available to members via IM, to encourage our libraries to try it.
This afternoon, around 5, I got a message from someone I didn’t know, on my old AIM account, and since I am kinda “out there” on the ‘net, and I do get messaged by librarians all the time, I feel comfortable disclosing my name:
[14:05] Stranger: hey
[14:05] me: [screen name]… do I know you? 🙂
[14:06] Stranger: I doubt it. How’s it goin’?
[14:06] me: ok… 🙂
[14:06] me: what’s up?
[14:07] Stranger: Nothing really. Who are you? You’re on my buddy list for some reason…
[14:07] me: *lol*
[14:07] me: Beth Gallaway, gamer librarian
[14:07] Stranger: Gamer Librarian?
So, at this point, I am still thinking I am talking to another librarian. Then her buddy icon resolves itself, and it is a photo of a teenaged Asian girl.
[14:08] me: i’m a librarian, working as a trainer and consultant to libraries now
[14:08] me: and I am writing a book on games and libraries
[14:08] me: 🙂
[14:08] me: ring any bells?
[14:09] me: I teach classes in library topics for Simmons, CT state library, and talk at a lot of library conferences.
[14:09] me: and I used to work in [Town], and sometimes gave out this AIM there to library patrons 🙂
[14:09] me: who are YOU? *g*
[14:09] Stranger: Nope. I live in [Town, State].
[14:10] Stranger: I am [First name, Last name] possibly the best person you’ve ever met.
[14:10] me: most definitely.
[14:10] Stranger: Not to sound cocky.
So. Within 5 minutes, this young person gave me their town and full name. We shook virtual hands, and I just knew it had to be a kid… a bit later, after explaining what I do, I asked what do you do, work, school… she replied, “school” and that she had the day off due to the extremely cold weather.
We exchanged some game links (I gave her Set Game and she sent me to Flash Flash Revolution). And I suggested Teen Second Life and she immediately set up an account and gave me her screen name THERE. I gave her my account name and told her to visit the Eye4You Alliance Island.
Before logging off, I couldn’t let go of the fact that she gave personal information to a complete stranger within five minutes of talking for the first time
[14:29] me: just a sidenote:
[14:29] me: you gave me your full name and location within 5 minutes of meeting me…
[14:29] me: and i am totally legit *g*
[14:29] me: 32 yr old female librarian
[14:29] me: BUT
[14:29] Stranger: Ooh. Wow. Yeah.
[14:29] me: i would be remiss not to slap you on teh wrists!
[14:30] me: bad girl
[14:30] me: my myspace is informationgoddess29
[14:30] me: and if you DO get into second life, look me up
[14:30] Stranger: okay
[14:30] me: and keep sending game links 🙂
[14:30] me: take care!
[14:30] Stranger: I will
[14:30] Stranger: lol
[14:30] Stranger: you too
[14:30] me: 🙂
Should I have asked why? If she did it all the time? What her parents would think? Should I have tried to google her name and location, or looked her up on Facebook or MySpace to further prove my point? What do you all think?
I still have no clue how I got on her buddy list. Maybe we can play six degrees of separation if she messages me again.