Foursquare

Here is my rather blunt response to the smartphone application Foursquare: stupid. It’s stupid and dangerous. First of all, it’s clearly an invitation for a stalker. It’s a stalker’s dream. The website even shows users’ updates (http://foursquare.com/) to anyone who looks at the site whether they’re a Foursquare user or not. You’re basically giving him or her a map with the way to you highlighted and starred.
I’m pretty sure everyone has times when they don’t want to see certain people (or anyone they know for that matter). If you want to avoid someone, it’s pretty dumb to let the world know your exact location. Foursquare makes some amount of sense for celebrities to use when they’re at an event that they want everyone to come to, but not if they want their privacy. Overall, Foursquare is creepy.
As far as reviewing places (restaurants, etc.), there are a lot of other ways to do so. There are online reviews and there’s also this ancient practice often referred to as “word of mouth.” I know, I know, it’s so outdated.
So to Foursquare I say, “No thank you.” Actually, what should I thank it for? How about, “Forget it!” The internet is plenty invasive without me checking in everywhere I go. One word that often comes to my mind when I think of Foursquare is idiotic. Harsh? Yes. But sometimes the truth hurts (so cliché, but so fitting).