Oh wow, these are helpful comments. I now realize the author is advocating actually stalking down someone's personal acquaintances. Yeah, the professional proto

Oh wow, these are helpful comments. I now realize the author is advocating actually stalking down someone's personal acquaintances. Yeah, the professional protocol here is contact the provided references only. Going outside that and engaging in web stalking is a huge no no. If I found out someone had done that to me, I would be extremely reticent to accept a subsequent offer, it's a clear privacy violation. I would definitely be wondering what other lines they would feel no hesitation in crossing.