[KSUViolet06]

The following are I think are okay:

*Talking to other people about the person. Of course you can't take everything that someone says about him as gospel, but if 5 people told you that he got arrested for a DUI two weeks ago downtown, then it's worth taking into account.

*Doing a Google/Yahoo/etc search on the person. Any of the info you will find there is public anyway. People have found out via Google that their significant others are paroled rapists or wanted fugitives, so I don't think there is anything "stalkerish" about making sure you aren't dating someone who is potentially dangerous.

Now the 3rd thing about driving by someone's work or home is not something I would do UNLESS I had a strong suspicion that he was a creepo. For example, if your significant other picks you up for date and his front seat has big dried blood stains and he has a bloody knife in the car along with some women's clothing, it's time to start asking some questions or doing some drive-by's of that abandoned mill in the woods where he told you he does "carpentry" for a living.