The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory - Gawker Comments

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

iplaudius — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:18:57 EDT

@HyphyForLifey: LOL. I hope you’re kidding, because I was trying to make a joke!

iplaudius

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

dietcokeandfries — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:36:30 EDT

I am strangely turned on by all that technical mambo jumbo.

Does the "Nefarious O Value" theorist want to meet me for a drink? Gawker is a dating site, right?

dietcokeandfries

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

arirang — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:35:34 EDT

no one was searching for me I feel so unloved :*(

arirang

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Jhonka — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:14:41 EDT

@CaptainFantastic:

Peter is user #2401357 on Facebook. Easy URL hack.

Facebook changed their search friend listing thing yesterday, as I saw it with a bunch of random friends. Now you only see an alphabetical list of names (by first name).

Jhonka

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

HyphyForLifey — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:10:19 EDT

@iplaudius:

wow. i get it now. you're smart.

HyphyForLifey

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

DonPardoCalrissian — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:53:42 EDT

Def related to autocomplete. If you had your list of five up and started typing it would change the list to five potential names from your friends list that might fit what you're typing. But the orginal five, that is the 0 value he is looking for, right? The mystery which endures. The stone in the shoe of state.

DonPardoCalrissian

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

nelsonfigueroa — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:32:25 EDT

the id # in the example he gave should be redacted too...leads you right to him...

nelsonfigueroa

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

zrzero — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:20:08 EDT

While the . thing was still working, I was able to check this feature out and the top 5 people that showed up were people that I'm reasonably sure have searched for me recently. I'm saddened that it's no longer the case...

zrzero

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

sample032 — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:18:39 EDT

@SneakingThroughTheAlleyWithLalley: the "." thing is news to me.

sample032

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

SneakingThroughTheAlleyWithLalley — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:01:27 EDT

@sample032: Ok, now on my facebook when I type in "." and hit the down arrow my first 5 friends, alphebetically by FIRST name, appear. What is going ON?

SneakingThroughTheAlleyWithLalley

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

hypocriteoath — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:55:30 EDT

@BK_KT: yeah, that's all I was getting at.

hypocriteoath

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

sample032 — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:46:18 EDT

Now the question is why would Facebook remove the feature if it didn't leak anything?

sample032

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Smirk — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:37:58 EDT

I always use the "o" value to figure out which names should come first -- namely, me!

Smirk

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

SneakingThroughTheAlleyWithLalley — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:34:31 EDT

He has 138 messages in his inbox- can a man like that be trusted?!

SneakingThroughTheAlleyWithLalley

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

BK_KT — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:26:33 EDT

@hypocriteoath: Sadly, I am no longer an M-Town resident, but there's nothing like a handle of Dubra and a 30 rack of Busch Lite to get those memories feeling real.

BK_KT

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Mike_Jahn — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:24:10 EDT

IT guys do this to discourage you from taking them away from GTA 4. It's like the old Latin mass. What the fuck was the priest saying after "donuts and biscuits?" I only know one person who speaks Latin, and she's a Jewish athiest. The IT guy delivers this lecture and then if you ask another question you get the look that says "I'm trying real hard not to talk down to you."

Mike_Jahn

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Fugees-and-Funyuns — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:56:19 EDT

Because that list of 5 was tied to the search field, you kind of have to assume it was compiled based on a stat tied to the search field. And what other relevant stat could they show besides who you search the most or who searches for you the most?

Since I never use the search field to find people I'm already friends with, I'd guess it shows the latter...but who knows. Why am I still thinking about this? Damn you and your mysterious ways, facebook.

Fugees-and-Funyuns

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

iplaudius — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:51:05 EDT

OK, so the dude traced the AJAX transaction and found

- a list of friends being passed
- for each friend there is a numeric value, which gets assigned to the variable o
- five of the o values appear to be ranked 0–4 (i.e., 1–5)
- now we want to know how they came up with the top 5

Makes sense!

iplaudius

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Fugees-and-Funyuns — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:46:24 EDT

@McMurphy: Don't think so. I don't share any of the same favorite music, movies, etc. listings as those who were in my five -- in fact, a few of them don't even have those fields filled out.

Fugees-and-Funyuns

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Un Chien Andalou — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:43:49 EDT

@CodePink:
latah weel have makeup sex cause fileens closed and you lack the class to work at Zales sellin zirkoneum and you'll need the money to go to Hampton Beach. I fixed youah facebook page with your real pictcha. love you.

Un Chien Andalou

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

McMurphy — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:40:14 EDT

I'm almost positive that the o-value is compiled based on the music, movies, TV and books you list in your profile. We know facebook tracks this data, and the ability to stalk anonymously is so important to their traffic that only a rogue programmer would compromise it.

Either way, the feature served as a kind of ink blot test. We saw five random names and automatically assumed they were stalking us.

McMurphy

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

lucidether — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:34:13 EDT

Cyclone in Myanmar, Quake in China, Fires in Florida, and the Vanity of cross-bred Gawker/Facebook users, details at 11:00...

lucidether

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

hypocriteoath — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:33:02 EDT

@BK_KT: yeah, but still Dubra right? just making sure.

hypocriteoath

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

fingerfingerfinger — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:19:52 EDT

@Clare: Dibs on Debs? NEVER.

fingerfingerfinger

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

fingerfingerfinger — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:18:40 EDT

@CaptainFantastic: Nah! Peter's in whoever the anon-tipster's "o" score. He's already getting laid--right in the top 5. Or he's desperately trying to get laid by setting the anon-tipster's profile as their Firefox homepage, therefore driving up the o-score. Oh god, Zuckerberg's mixed messages are back for us to parse once again!

fingerfingerfinger

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

UnreliableNarrator — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:16:54 EDT

I roomed with Nefarious O'Value in my second year at prep school. Never seen an Irish kid so good with computers.

UnreliableNarrator

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

BK_KT — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:12:28 EDT

@hypocriteoath: I think I would prefer the serenity of a secluded aisle at the CT Beverage Mart.

BK_KT

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

blogissuchanuglyword — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:09:01 EDT

i really think he made an attempt to dumb that down, so people like me could understand. i do not. i agree 100% though and will repeat this theory to anyone who brings this topic up

blogissuchanuglyword

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

TheNewBlack — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:08:34 EDT

1100001 0101100 0011 0011

100110!!!

TheNewBlack

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

MyMuffinTop — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:07:32 EDT

My head hurts.

Although, clearly, this fellow/lady knows a thing or two.

MyMuffinTop

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Phyllis Nefler — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:07:10 EDT

@vulturesquadron: I am not satisfied with my Top 5 list. I want to see Top 50! And then I want to call each and every one of them and tell them exactly who is better friends with me than they are.

Phyllis Nefler

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

hypocriteoath — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:06:52 EDT

@BK_KT: dubra? metro liqours? classy.

hypocriteoath

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

CodePink — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:06:43 EDT

@Un Chien Andalou: Look, asshole, fahkin Fileens is a good job, I make 9 bucks an hour there and sides where else do you know that's got both a Sbarro's and a Chinatown Express in the same food cot. Your somethin else, you think you're gettin a gift cahd to the ahcade again this yeah you got anothuh fahkin think comin ya prick. Go ask Shelly Coulier to blow ya tootsie roll dick cuz I'm thru I sweah to fahkin gawd.

CodePink

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

vulturesquadron — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:04:10 EDT

So, by extension, one could use this o-value to determine the rankings of every friend. It's still a total question mark how the o-value is determined.

vulturesquadron

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

CaptainFantastic — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:03:31 EDT

This is obviously a clever ploy by Peter [whoever] to get laid. Good luck, Peter!

CaptainFantastic

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

BK_KT — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:02:31 EDT

Just tried to read that like 4 times. Didn't get past the {. Head hurts. Hate vodka. Hate Facebook. Where can I take nap?

BK_KT

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Un Chien Andalou — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:02:01 EDT

whaddyah snitch on me for @CodePink:
now I got detention so get your own ride to the mall for your cureer job at Fileens..

Un Chien Andalou

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Chaim Gnadelstein — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:01:36 EDT

You had me at ","i":2401357,"u":"http:\/\/

Chaim Gnadelstein

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Unfun — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:01:32 EDT

Showoff.

Unfun

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Shariahpants — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:18 EDT

Still, I am lost. Someone sent us up the bomb.

Shariahpants

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

CodePink — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:59:06 EDT

@Un Chien Andalou: Yeah that's some bullshit right dere. Next time 'e does that smack him in his face and take away his chahlie cahd.

CodePink

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

werewolf — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:57:27 EDT

@Mary Mouse: Beep beep boop. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

werewolf

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

KarenUhOh — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:55:50 EDT

I wish you hadn't told me this. I thought Facebook cared about me.

KarenUhOh

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

zaky — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:55:16 EDT

Geek.

zaky

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Clare — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:52:35 EDT

@fingerfingerfinger: Dude, I already called dibs!

Clare

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

lawyergay — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:50:53 EDT

Does not compute. Initiating self-destruct sequence.

(Optional: read to self in robotic, computery monotone.)

lawyergay

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Zorica — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:49:56 EDT

When you do the ". down arrow" thing now it just gives you your first five friends, in alphabetical order.

Zorica

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Un Chien Andalou — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:49:21 EDT

@CodePink:
Awways fawkin cheatin codey, whether it be on me or in class on some nerdy guy for his notes.

Un Chien Andalou

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

fingerfingerfinger — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:48:39 EDT

I've peeled away the mumbo jumbo: PETER DEBELAK. NORTHWESTERN. Someone set up the facebook dragnet.

fingerfingerfinger

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

pureblarney — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:48:09 EDT

Captain Laurent, do translate.

pureblarney

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Mary Mouse — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:47:35 EDT

Beep boop beep?

Mary Mouse

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Clare — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:47:21 EDT

@Clare: UPDATE: I did just Facebook stalk him, and he's cute.

(Dibs.)

Clare

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

City_Dater — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:47:17 EDT

My head hurts and I need to lie down.

City_Dater

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Un Chien Andalou — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:47:09 EDT

just wanted to give someone else a chance to answer Professor Gawker.

Un Chien Andalou

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

Clare — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:45:59 EDT

Unless you want us all to Facebook stalk him, maybe you want to redact the name of your astute reader?

Clare

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

CodePink — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:45:04 EDT

I blindly believe that person!
Though I don't know what he/she means!

CodePink

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

LadlySack — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:43:34 EDT

Took long enough.

LadlySack

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

ratherbesleeping — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:43:25 EDT

HUH?

ratherbesleeping

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

flossy — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:43:24 EDT

I guess the my look of shock at the names that appeared was my "O" face. Too easy? Still drunk?

flossy

The "Nefarious O Value" Facebook Stalker Theory

scroll_lock — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:41:42 EDT

Sounds techy-jibberishy enough to be valid. Sold.

scroll_lock