#ThatAwkwardMomentWhen: A twitter follower actually calls the place you've checked in on @foursquare
It's funny, having done this now for almost 3 years I no longer have a lot of firsts. For reals, there is no difference between online/ offline - I work my butt off with this brand to create an experience with you all in some capacity because it really means a lot to me.
That being said, I do everything that I can to encourage you guys to come and kick it with me. Since 2009 I've been OBSESSED with the location based social media service Foursquare. I know you all have seen it before - but it's an app on your smartphone that allows you to "check-in" to places.
Why would you EVER want people to know where you are?
A couple of reasons ...
Foursquare is an EXTREMELY passive social site. All I do is live my little life and check in to wear I am and if my friends are near by, they might swing by.
But isn't that creepy?
Nope. To-this-day I have yet to have a bad experience with it. I check in 24/7 too - and ::poof:: nada.
Also, my favorite part about Foursquare is the tips. Everywhere I go, new or old place, I can see what other people have liked and recommend; it's information when I need it.
What about stalkers?
I currently have 4 stalkers with restraining orders, and oddles of well, "excited" online followers and all that I know about legit stalking is that it is psychological. They want to taunt you by saying, OOOOOHHHH I just saw you over there ... bet you didn't know I was watching!!!
For me, by saying, here's where I am 100% of the time, always - it makes me the WORST person to stalk ever. I already KNOW that I'm putting myself out there for the world to see so should they want to find me, great! Let's have a convo!
Also, do you know how hard it is to actually track someone down via Foursquare? You'd have to already be in that person's neighborhood hoping that they checked in as they were sitting down and not leaving. Really. Really. Really. difficult to do, and by using it - it is of my humble opinion that I've negated a lot of potentailly weirder shit online.
This was of course, all my previous understanding. Then, Monday night happened. I was reviewing the movie Magic Mike for GoFobo.com and after I got hit up by my twitter buddy Tiffany saying she was in town and asked if we could get a drink and talk about personal branding. I got pretty excited since I can talk about this schtuff 24/7 so I said sure, and we agreed to meet up at a little bistro in WeHo that is one of my personal favs based on the awesome people watching.
We get there, and she and I get into talking ... nothing unusual ... then about 20 minutes into our diet cokes I hear, is there a Jen Friel here?
Having just had lunch there as well I wondered at first if I had left a card here or something.
Um, I'm Jen Friel, I say sheepishly.
There is a phone call for you, ma'am, says the server genuinely confused.
Wait, I say ... a PHONE CALL?
I laugh knowing that not 5 minutes prior I had checked in on Foursquare so if nothing else this HAD TO HAD TO HAD TO be a twitter follower.
The server then laughs saying this has never happened to him in all of his years working there.
People don't call restaurants anymore, who are you?
I run a website, I said, and I have some uber excited readers.
I then walk over to the phone excited to at least say howdy to the person on the other line for a second or two.
As we walked over behind the counter, the server notices that the caller had hung up.
Oh, they are gone, he said.
AAWWW! That's pretty hilarious actually that someone called.
What was their name, I ask? I want to tweet something out.
He then shows me this piece of paper ...
So, the guy's name was "Roy" - but check out the description ...
1) "big white smile?" really? that's TOTALLY not creepy.
2) "brown hair?" this HASSSS to be a twitter follower and someone I've never met IRL because everyone tells me that in my twitter avatar pic my hair looks brown not jet black (like it is in real life). It's the same exact color today as it was when that picture was taken, but I'm sure it was just the lighting that made it look lighter.
I then tweeted out thanking Roy for the call, but kinda thought about it at the same time ... I really genuinely don't think I'd be mad at readers of the site calling restaurants or places I check in at. I have zero problem giving a few more extra seconds out of my day to you guys ... so there! I implore you all to reach out even more at this point, and should you really want to just talk for 20 seconds - I'd be happy to say howdy!
Unless you're a crazed stalker, or a person that owns a windowless white van. I'll never go back into that white van ...
#thatisall
