The first person i started writing to, i knew all about her case because it was all over the news here when it happend and when her trial was going on..... the other 3 i am writing to, i know what they were convicted of, but not the details and circumstances, and i dont want or need to know unless they explain more about it in theire letters, which 1 of my pals did. I wouldnt judge someone because of theire past mistakes, and i am more interested in the person they are now, not the person they may have used to be.

Seriouspal - are you saying you trust what she has on her Facebook page? I could set up a Facebook page today claiming my name is X, that I live in Y and that I am married to Z. Some women set their Facebook profiles to married to ward off any unwelcome attention from those who use it as a dating service. I wouldn't be harsh on your pal if she states on Facebook she's married (and what should it matter whether she is or isn't if you are just her penpal or are you hoping for more?) when the page may not have been updated for several months or years (she may well have been married at the time) and when there is no requirement on any part to be truthful on Facebook. It's just a bit of fun. If she's "lied" on there she isn't the first to do so and certainly won't be the last and given that she's in prison I'll wager that she has already done something far more significant than lie on her Facebook profile.

Originally Posted by Silas Sydenham

I have said it before on other similar threads.
I think it is the height of discourtesy to google (or research in any way) someone's past without having first asked their permission.

I told my PP after a few letters that I had Googled him before I wrote, and he thought it was good, then I could just make sure that what he had told me in his letters was true and he hade nothing to hide.
He was most happy that I had written even though I knew about his background.

I have asked him about his past, but now we talk about the future instead, I don't feel that I need to know more about what happened then.

Didn't we just have a thread about this? Yes, I remember it well.

The choice to Google or dig into someones past for any reason is each person preference. Some people may see it as disrespectful, some not. My pen pal in Texas did not have a problem with it at all. Neither did my pen pal in Illinois. In fact, I found his myspace page and he was horrified that it out there and asked me to help him get it deleted so his Mother didn't find it.

I agree with FM that sometimes things aren't what they seem. At one time I put "in a relationship" on my Facebook page because I was sick and tired of seeing the dating ad for "senior people meet" LOL. Unfortunately, now that I am 50 I'm starting to see the AARP ads

Exerpt from WAP web page - precautionary measures

9) Why do you post the inmates' crimes on their profile, and is this information verified?
We post the crimes so that pen-pals have full disclosure about the person they are writing. This information is supplied directly by the inmate and verified by WriteAPrisoner.com when that option of verification is available to us. Complete information can always be obtained by contacting the prison directly. The crime we place is generic and rarely includes all offenses. Its purpose is to give the viewer an idea of the crime. However, for full disclosure, viewers are encouraged to visit the DOC, Federal, or County website using the link provided on each inmate's profile.

The full link can be found here. WriteAPrisoner.com - Precautionary Measures Taken

I urge everyone to make their own decision on whether or not to Google your pen pal. You are the one that is writing to them.

- - - Updated - - -

Didn't we just have a thread about this? Yes, I remember it well.

The choice to Google or dig into someones past for any reason is each person preference. Some people may see it as disrespectful, some not. My pen pal in Texas did not have a problem with it at all. Neither did my pen pal in Illinois. In fact, I found his myspace page and he was horrified that it out there and asked me to help him get it deleted so his Mother didn't find it.

I agree with FM that sometimes things aren't what they seem. At one time I put "in a relationship" on my Facebook page because I was sick and tired of seeing the dating ad for "senior people meet" LOL. Unfortunately, now that I am 50 I'm starting to see the AARP ads

Exerpt from WAP web page - precautionary measures

9) Why do you post the inmates' crimes on their profile, and is this information verified?
We post the crimes so that pen-pals have full disclosure about the person they are writing. This information is supplied directly by the inmate and verified by WriteAPrisoner.com when that option of verification is available to us. Complete information can always be obtained by contacting the prison directly. The crime we place is generic and rarely includes all offenses. Its purpose is to give the viewer an idea of the crime. However, for full disclosure, viewers are encouraged to visit the DOC, Federal, or County website using the link provided on each inmate's profile.

The full link can be found here. http://www.writeaprisoner.com/precau...res-taken.aspx

I urge everyone to make their own decision on whether or not to Google your pen pal. You are the one that is writing to them.

you can not always trust court transcripts either, i had 2 sets of the same transcripts and they were different in many parts..
@Silas how come it was ok to google your PPs cellie then? if its the height of discourtesy or did he ask you too? im just asking.
I always google if my gut feelings dont feel right.

Its really simple if people want to google they google if people dont they dont! Its not right its not wrong it totally depends on the person. I can say this much there isnt one person in the world that doesnt do something that someone disagrees with. Perfection doesnt exist.

Originally Posted by ashy

Its really simple if people want to google they google if people dont they dont! Its not right its not wrong it totally depends on the person. I can say this much there isnt one person in the world that doesnt do something that someone disagrees with. Perfection doesnt exist.

Can't like THIS post enough!

Originally Posted by ashy

Its really simple if people want to google they google if people dont they dont! Its not right its not wrong it totally depends on the person. I can say this much there isnt one person in the world that doesnt do something that someone disagrees with. Perfection doesnt exist.

So very true!!!!

Originally Posted by ashy

Perfection doesnt exist.

umm. I am proof that it does.

I think it's up to yourself wether you google someone or not.
I didn't google my pp for his crime - but I do check what's said on their wap.com profile. Since I coudn't write to people that commited a special crime. (but that's just me)
But I do look on facebook for my pp, but it's just fun. And I don't want to be friends on facebook either