this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2024
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Legend has it that each of these would hold a book with everyone's name and home address, for anyone who wanted it. (lemmy.world)
submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (3 children)

Phonebooks with home addresses? I don't remember that existed. Which country is that?

I mean, sure... names and area-codes made it relatively trivial to figure out the home address, but it wasn't printed in them.

Edit: ugh, I think I just misremembered. Getting old sucks.

[–] [email protected] 40 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Oh yeah, it was normal in the US for a while.

In fact, it's used as a plot device in lots of old movies where detectives (or the Terminator) are trying to track someone down.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Emmet L Brown - Scientist

[–] [email protected] 13 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I was totally coming to mention how much of a security risk these were if you had to run from Terminators.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Assuming Terminators have internet access, they’ll find you way easier now.

[–] jballs 3 points 7 months ago

Yeah if that movie was made in modern times, Sarah Connor's roommate would have tagged her in some thirst-trap pics on Instagram with geotagging trackers. She'd never stand a chance.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Grew up in the seventies and eighties in the US. Phone books definitely had your home address. You had to pay extra to opt out.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

Same in the 00's when i grew up. It was the easiest way to find your friend's address if they had a unique last name.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

Hmm maybe I misremember. Has been probably 30 years since I last touched a phonebook.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

They did in Canada. Here's a weird example from winterpig