# GoogleMap Shows the Fronts of People's Houses!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 18, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804 "2008-12-18T20:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/41 "2008-12-19T10:04:46Z")
> [@torie](#): > > Do you live in Traralgon? I’m American, but my father was contracted to work at the Loy Yang power plant, so we lived in Traralgon for a year and a half. I haven’t had a chance to get back since I left when I was 13, so it was nice to see the pictures. I sure do! What a small world 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/42 "2008-12-19T10:10:07Z")
I remember hearing some noise about Streetview up here, which may have something to do with why it doesn’t exist in Canada yet. Regardless, it’s still been fun to Streetview some of the cities I’ve visited on vacation, such as in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/43 "2008-12-19T10:17:20Z")
> [@Cazzle](#): > > I sure do! What a small world 🙂 Oh man. Now I want to go to Australia. It looks so summery. Also **Cazzle** is one of my Hopeless Doper Crushes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/44 "2008-12-19T12:13:46Z")
The Street View filming cars have been doing the rounds in Britain for some time now, but we still haven’t got the imagery yet ☹ I love the way that in Australia they have even filmed tiny country tracks in the middle of nowhere. I had fun retracing some of the [roads](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=post+office+place+traralgon&sll=-38.195367,146.542157&sspn=0.005734,0.013947&ie=UTF8&g=post+office+place+traralgon&layer=c&cbll=-41.008987,148.291493&panoid=oF8IRktJvG8di5is1jiKQw&cbp=11,284.60505059725403,,0,6.573676955059846&ll=-41.008921,148.291397&spn=0.179279,0.672913&z=11&iwloc=addr) I drove down in Tasmania, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/45 "2008-12-19T12:38:43Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > I remember hearing some noise about Streetview up here, which may have something to do with why it doesn’t exist in Canada yet. Regardless, it’s still been fun to Streetview some of the cities I’ve visited on vacation, such as in Europe. We can [see you](http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=42.016652,-69.56543&spn=0,338.466797&z=6&layer=c&cbll=45.015502,-73.084445&panoid=Cz09VzkYxsKGU3UCk9fMBA&cbp=12,6.979591836734642,,0,7.479591836734693), though, just past those barriers. And what do you think you’re doing with all those logs, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/46 "2008-12-19T12:39:27Z")
They’ve got our house on Street View. I couldn’t tell you when the pictures were taken, because the front of our house has _no_ time-defining characteristics at all. It’s not even a bin day because the bins are up under the car port! However, I can date the picture of my mum’s house to about Jan of this year, because it’s before she wrote off their Mazda in a crash, but after they’d installed a privacy wall across the front porch. So I’d have to presume the photo of my place was taken at a similar time of the year, given we live only about 8k away from each other. ---
**Author:** ![Taenia\_spp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@Taenia\_spp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taenia_spp)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/47 "2008-12-19T15:28:30Z")
You know what this means now? Russia can now see _us_! ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/48 "2008-12-19T15:43:48Z")
> [@Taenia\_spp](#): > > You know what this means now? Russia can now see _us_! In Soviet Russia, GoogleMap sees YOU! ---
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/49 "2008-12-19T15:51:52Z")
There are some people who \*did \*know when the Street View car was coming, and prepared [accordingly](http://www.switched.com/2008/11/07/google-street-view-becomes-a-stage-for-performance-art/). ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/50 "2008-12-19T17:27:02Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > :snort: That wasn’t MY house. Not even my state. What, you tink I is teh stupdiz? > > (so I don’t know what the blue thingie is, sorry) Darn. That is very near where I live, and even closer to my brother’s place. I was hoping you were another dopeneighbor Here’s my favorite: [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cannon+and+hurstview,+hurst,+tx&sll=32.904668,-97.236557&sspn=0.035382,0.054932&ie=UTF8&ll=32.852985,-97.176926&spn=0.008851,0.013733&z=16&layer=c&cbll=32.853079,-97.176919&panoid=\_WnFD47TwY7oCOIFc5C6mQ&cbp=12,266.36210629704874,0,5](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cannon+and+hurstview,+hurst,+tx&sll=32.904668,-97.236557&sspn=0.035382,0.054932&ie=UTF8&ll=32.852985,-97.176926&spn=0.008851,0.013733&z=16&layer=c&cbll=32.853079,-97.176919&panoid=_WnFD47TwY7oCOIFc5C6mQ&cbp=12,266.36210629704874,,0,5) ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/51 "2008-12-19T17:47:32Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > :snort: That wasn’t MY house. Not even my state. What, you tink I is teh stupdiz? So that’s not you blocking the sidewalk with your truck? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/52 "2008-12-19T17:57:32Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > I remember hearing some noise about Streetview up here, which may have something to do with why it doesn’t exist in Canada yet. Regardless, it’s still been fun to Streetview some of the cities I’ve visited on vacation, such as in Europe. Apparently Canada’s privacy laws require that Google blur out people’s faces on Street View. I imagine that’ll take some time. > [@Solfy](#): > > There are some people who did know when the Street View car was coming, and prepared accordingly. [Indeed.](http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.420916,-122.083822&spn=0.004686,0.011094&z=17&layer=c&cbll=37.420927,-122.083962&panoid=0JwQNpGw9ctY-fZ7BA0_dA&cbp=12,8.552781526516299,,0,8.564804308292667) ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/53 "2008-12-19T18:39:45Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > We can [see you](http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=42.016652,-69.56543&spn=0,338.466797&z=6&layer=c&cbll=45.015502,-73.084445&panoid=Cz09VzkYxsKGU3UCk9fMBA&cbp=12,6.979591836734642,,0,7.479591836734693), though, just past those barriers. And what do you think you’re doing with all those logs, anyway? Hey! Stop peeking across our borders, Snoopy-Snooperson! 😛 This whole Streetview thing is precisely why I spend long periods of time standing buck nekkid in front of the living room window at home. Or out on the lawn… ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/54 "2008-12-19T21:16:48Z")
Bill Gates can see backyards, too! EVERYBODY PANIC! 😃 (Click on “bird’s eye”). [Bing Maps - Directions, trip planning, traffic cameras & more](http://maps.live.com/Default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0#JndoZXJlMT01MTIrY2hlcm9rZWUrdHJhaWwlMmMrNzYyNDgmYmI9MzMuMDYyMTk3ODI1ODQ1JTdlLTk3LjA0MjkyMjk3MzYzMjglN2UzMi44MDg0MjgzNjE5MDA0JTdlLTk3LjQ2NzI2OTg5NzQ2MDk=) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/55 "2008-12-19T22:34:42Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > Apparently Canada’s privacy laws require that Google blur out people’s faces on Street View. I imagine that’ll take some time. Sounds like a good idea. Now that I think about it, I did see Google trucks around Montreal some time ago, although I didn’t notice any cameras. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/56 "2008-12-19T22:48:46Z")
In google earth the town I live in (which I graduated high school in as well) was updated in April 2003, according to the little text in the corner. I was able to figure out from the fact that cars were in the parking lot of the government center, very few cars were in the parking lot of my school, the number of cars in a few other businesses… that it was either a Monday or Tuesday at around 4 pm… Narrowing it down to one of 8 days more than five years ago. I’m sure with a little more thought and effort I could probably narrow it down to the specific day (just relies on knowing when places are busy or closed, really). ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/57 "2008-12-19T23:04:50Z")
No street view of my house, but the satalite image is old, taken from March 2003 to June 2005, based on what car I had parked outside my house. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/58 "2008-12-19T23:51:52Z")
Christ, in the second post, I mentioned how they do it. Here’s a [photo](http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/01/take-a-look-at-the-vehicle-thats-taking-a-look-at-you/) of one of the street view filming cars. They are quite noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/59 "2008-12-20T07:21:02Z")
They must have been down my street around noon, my car is in the drive and the mail truck is stopped next to the mailboxes. Neat and a little spooky. [Behold!](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=178+north+main+street+elizabethtown+ky&sll=37.69425,-85.857173&sspn=0.007148,0.014999&ie=UTF8&ll=37.694076,-85.857167&spn=0.007148,0.014999&z=17&g=178+north+main+street+elizabethtown+ky&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=37.694072,-85.857142&panoid=qOu6rbeYI0v-fCQspW3gkg&cbp=12,284.1844810796901,,0,5) This is where General Custer stayed during the time he was in E’town. Jenny Lind popped by there once as well and supposedly gave a brief performance on the steps. The street address is way off though. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804/60 "2008-12-20T10:22:37Z")
Streetview was invaluable when I was house hunting. Many houses I saw looked good in the listing (of course) but once you look at the neighbors or the actual layout of the house you get a real idea of what it’s like. For instance, one cute bungalow looked pretty nice. Looked it up in street view, still looked great. Until I panned around 180º… and saw an apartment complex with _seven_ junked out cars parked out front. And I don’t mean old ugly cars, I mean ones up on blocks and doors/tires missing! Yea I passed on that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/googlemap-shows-the-fronts-of-peoples-houses/477804.md?page=4)