I'm asking to get some clarity on the topic of living individuals. When we've discussed it previously, we've been very clear that info that identifies potentially living individuals on the site is very definitely not allowed, but we seemed to be OK (https://genealogy.meta.stackexchange.com/a/1416/104) with techniques for identifying potentially-living individuals.
(Note: previous iteration of this question said locating not identifying, which was sloppy wording on my part).
There's a question which illustrates this dilemma: Looking for my grandfather in Germany.
If the OP had said (just suppose for a moment) that she had been told her grandfather was dead, would that make the same question acceptable? If somebody is looking to connect with cousins researching the same lines, is that acceptable?
If we're going to draw a line in a different place from where it's drawn at present (Not "locating identifiable living individuals" -- which, when I wrote it, was meant to convey not locating individuals who are identifiable from info given on this site) where do we draw it? Can the off-topic guidance be more clearly worded?
Update
I've modified https://genealogy.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic to include the following wording about identifying living (or possibly-living) people. I believe this reflects the point on which we are able to reach consensus (no information that identifies living people) but doesn't change the on- and off-topic wording.
Please note: You must not include here in any circumstances information (including name, date and place of birth or any other details) that would allow identification of any living (or possibly) living individual by somebody reading this site. In practice, this means details about anyone born in the last 100 years, whether they are believed to be deceased or not, and whether or not they have given their permission.