How to find a friend?

[cat_lover_4113]

I would like to find a friend who I knew from primary school, but have been unable to so far. I have tried White Pages, her old e-mail address (it didn't work), and don't want to sign up on one of those friendship boards because what if she doesn't then doesn't see me?

I have found a people search website where trained people look for you, but it was going to cost like $250 because our rules and stuff are so strict.

I have tried Google.com.au and Sensis.com.au and no sign, and could search the electoral role (she would be 18 or over by now), but I don't know if she lives in South Australia, and to search it I would have to travel to Adelaide, and to search the others I would have to go to each state or territory.

Does anyone know of any good Australian sites I can use to try and locate my friend?

[AXJ]

Facebook has found more old friends for me than anything else, really.

[Dwiesel McAllister]

There is a free people-finding site in the states called Zabasearch. I don't know if it has an Australian offshoot, though.
And Facebook is great for finding old friends. I've found people that I haven't seen since kindergarten.

[KeinesV]

Yeah, I would also say facebook is worth a try, everyone has one, soon facebook will make its make it's bid for power, and enslave puny humanity. Though, a lot of people use fake names on it, but commonly you will have groups of people based on what school they went to, or if that doesn't work, some blog giant like livejournal might be a good place to look. People can pick their school out from a list, and click the profile link, and see everyone else who has specified having come from that school.

[Thuriel]

People can pick their school out from a list, and click the profile link, and see everyone else who has specified having come from that school.
I looked at the list of people who had my high school about half-way through senior year... there were 14, and of them, one was also a senior. I read his blog some, decided I liked him, and decided to figure out who it was.

...Because fate has a sense of humor, it was the guy who'd had the locker next to mine for three and a half years and counting.

*cough*

Uh, yeah, I would suggest facebook, to be on topic. Though if that doesn't work I'm not sure what would. *shrug*

[cat_lover_4113]

My primary school isn't on Myspace, I can't search FaceBook because I have to register, and I'm not doing that, and my friend isn't listed on either.

I need something that isn't these two internet things, because I have searched a few friends and none of them are on either.

[Dwiesel McAllister]

Did you try searching for free people finders online? Basically, it runs the name and comes up with addresses. Of course, depending on how old your friend is, you might have to look up her parents' names.

[cat_lover_4113]

I have tried White Pages and have got nothing, which has me thinking she has a private number.

I have tried looking up free ones, but I have just put your phrase 'free people finder' into Google and got some new websites.

My friend would be either 18 or 19 now, and I know her parents names. I should look those up as well.

Thank you Dwiesel

[Dwiesel McAllister]

Also, if she doesn't have a credit card or anything, she might not show up on a people finder. I don't have one, so my parents buy my online purchases and I pay them back. As a result, I don't show up on zabasearch. Also, her old address may pop up. I searched my mom once and I got an address for my grandpa's house that was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. Apparently she had something shipped there once.

[Chrisell]

I can't search FaceBook because I have to register, and I'm not doing that,

Just curious, and no pressure implied, but why not? Facebook doesn't bite :) It's free and you really don't have to put in many details to register. If you don't want to use your surname, put your middle name in the surname slot. It doesn't have many compulsory fields, and you can lock down your profile so that only trusted friends can see any contact details you enter. You can be very private if that's your concern.

I'm a bit of a Facebook junkie so if your concern is anything other than privacy, tell me and I'll try to assuage it :)

[Thuriel]

If you don't want to use your surname, put your middle name in the surname slot.
Or just use the first letter. (So, to tweak your username just for fun, you would be "Cat L" on facebook.)

To be honest, it seems kind of silly to me to restrict your search just because you don't want to register for facebook. You don't have to do anything with it once you're there... if you have a good reason, that's fine, but it seems like you're just being a little stubborn. *shrug* You could even register, look, and delete so you won't leave behind something that would make other people think you're active there.

[Dwiesel McAllister]

Another plus about Facebook, Cat_lover, is the new...

CATBOOK!

http://apps.new.facebook.com/catbook/

Ridiculous, yes, but fun. Maybe you could friend people as your cat...

[cat_lover_4113]

I don't use facebook or myspace because i don't update things a hell of a lot. Plus the small little comment box on each profile? The thread of what you're talking about can get lost quickly. I prefer forums like these where you can see what has been talked about before and keep up with a conversation.

And that link isn't working Dwiesel :(

[Dwiesel McAllister]

Bummer! :( I made profiles for like, 12 of my cats. Majorly amusing! :)

Yeah, I kinda know what you mean. I have a MySpace, but I never use it because I SUCK at html. I really couldn't figure out the format.

Facebook, on the other hand, I find quite enjoyable. If you actually want to have a real conversation with someone on FB, though, it's a lot easier just to message them than to talk to them on their wall just for the reasons you've listed. Plus, they've totally redone their format, which could be another turnoff.

Any luck with the people finding sites yet?

[Thuriel]

Hah, the new facebook format. I'm not using it. I don't like it.

[TwistedFirestarter]

Good luck...they're going to abandon the old one soon.

What I don't get is why everyone is complaining now when they've been beta testing this for months and it was extremely easy to get into the beta test.

[schultzie]

what beta test? >.>

and I don't like the new format, but whatever.

I didn't like it when NiH changed either for the first bit so... yeah.

[cat_lover_4113]

Any luck with the people finding sites yet?

No. I know the Salvos here can search for family for you, but I don't know if they search for friends.