Just as I was beginning to think I was putting too much personal information out into the social media world, something taught me that may not be the case.
Last Sunday, my laptop was stolen out of Peter's car. Either the doors were unlocked, or someone picked the locks. Either way, this person not only broke into the car, but actually went into the trunk and took out my suitcase. Nothing else was missing.
While this was happening, I was at Sidney's house eating brunch before I headed back to New York. And it was there I received this very cryptic e-mail from a man on my iPhone:
"Jessica, We found your bag near our house. Are you missing it?"
I read it out loud to everyone and there was mixed reactions as to whether this was a scam or not. I decided to email him back. I quickly asked why he thought it was mine and how he found my name. Then, I thought nothing else of it.
A couple hours later we're heading toward Georgetown to watch football and I get an email back. He writes there was a luggage tag on the suitcase and lists my name and address. Naturally, I start to freak out. I make Peter pull over the car and look in the trunk. My suitcase is missing. It's the only thing missing out of the entire car.
I ask the man to call me immediately. He does and tells me that he was walking home past the alleyway near his house and saw a bag on the ground, with clothes scattered everywhere. So, he decided to put everything back in the suitcase, saw my name, searched for me online, and found me on Google+. Yes, Google+.
I was stunned. I asked if he also found a laptop, and not surprisingly, he said no.
I quickly drove back to his place, he gave me my stuff back and showed me where the thief threw everything.
I was devastated. Everything was gone. My computer wasn't locked. And now, some DC crackhead has all my documents and iTunes library. That bastard.
But, in the midst of all my anger and sadness over losing a laptop, I realized how nice it was for this guy to do this for me. He could have easily walked by and left it. He literally had to pick up my clothes, make-up and shoes from an alleyway and put it all back in a suitcase. How many people would have done that? I really don't think that many.
My friend, Ali, recently wrote a post about random acts of kindness, and what this guy did for me was definitely one of them. It didn't completely counteract my laptop getting stolen, but it helped restore my faith in mankind just a little bit.
And this whole ordeal made me think about my online presence. He was able to find me and message me through an online networking site. And while I use different email addresses and sign-in IDs for many of the sites I use, I am glad there is at least one where someone can find me in an emergency.
So, the moral of this story, social media isn't always so evil, scary an intrusive. Oh, and don't leave your laptop in the car on the streets of DC.
Last Sunday, my laptop was stolen out of Peter's car. Either the doors were unlocked, or someone picked the locks. Either way, this person not only broke into the car, but actually went into the trunk and took out my suitcase. Nothing else was missing.
While this was happening, I was at Sidney's house eating brunch before I headed back to New York. And it was there I received this very cryptic e-mail from a man on my iPhone:
"Jessica, We found your bag near our house. Are you missing it?"
I read it out loud to everyone and there was mixed reactions as to whether this was a scam or not. I decided to email him back. I quickly asked why he thought it was mine and how he found my name. Then, I thought nothing else of it.
A couple hours later we're heading toward Georgetown to watch football and I get an email back. He writes there was a luggage tag on the suitcase and lists my name and address. Naturally, I start to freak out. I make Peter pull over the car and look in the trunk. My suitcase is missing. It's the only thing missing out of the entire car.
I ask the man to call me immediately. He does and tells me that he was walking home past the alleyway near his house and saw a bag on the ground, with clothes scattered everywhere. So, he decided to put everything back in the suitcase, saw my name, searched for me online, and found me on Google+. Yes, Google+.
I was stunned. I asked if he also found a laptop, and not surprisingly, he said no.
I quickly drove back to his place, he gave me my stuff back and showed me where the thief threw everything.
I was devastated. Everything was gone. My computer wasn't locked. And now, some DC crackhead has all my documents and iTunes library. That bastard.
But, in the midst of all my anger and sadness over losing a laptop, I realized how nice it was for this guy to do this for me. He could have easily walked by and left it. He literally had to pick up my clothes, make-up and shoes from an alleyway and put it all back in a suitcase. How many people would have done that? I really don't think that many.
My friend, Ali, recently wrote a post about random acts of kindness, and what this guy did for me was definitely one of them. It didn't completely counteract my laptop getting stolen, but it helped restore my faith in mankind just a little bit.
And this whole ordeal made me think about my online presence. He was able to find me and message me through an online networking site. And while I use different email addresses and sign-in IDs for many of the sites I use, I am glad there is at least one where someone can find me in an emergency.
So, the moral of this story, social media isn't always so evil, scary an intrusive. Oh, and don't leave your laptop in the car on the streets of DC.
