Posted by Connie Pierce on 03/23/06 18:41

In article <882522dtn2tbb3p5tm1isk2vffmpugiq0v@4ax.com>, Onideus Mad
Hatter <usenet@backwater-productions.net> wrote:

> On Thu, 23 Mar 2006 11:30:15 GMT, Ben Measures
> <saint_abroadis@sillyhotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> So on the one hand, companies are relying on Alexa demographics, but on
> >> the other, people are being told Alexa is spyware. : \
>
> >Because it is. It's a stealth cookie created as permanently as possible
> >with a unique ID accessible by a whole host of companies.
> >
> >It's exactly the same as having a barcode or RFID tag on your back that
> >shops secretly scan as you browse through the high-street, all without
> >your knowledge and/or express consent.
>
> ...yeah, but is that REALLY private information? I mean, where you go
> in public and what you buy in public is...well, public. So why would
> it be an issue if someone is keeping track of it? It's like closed
> circuit TV, as long as it's not filming inside your house (and window
> blinds solve that problem easily enough) I don't see where the fire is
> at. A video camera on a public street corner isn't any different from
> a police officer standing there watching you...or anyone else standing
> there watching you for that matter...it's out in public.

Absolutely true . . . we're in the middle of a big controversy here
because the city/county wants to put in video cameras to discourage
Spring Breakers from doing some of their obnoxious (not all of them,
but enough) crap.

It's become divided into a "party" issue - the Reps in favor of and the
Libs against. We've already had Libs threaten to call in the ACLU over
it (invasion of privacy) while the average citizen (not including
tourists/Spring Breakers) thinnk it's a good idea.

Personally, I figure if you're in public, you're in full view of others
(some of whom, esp with the video camera industry the way it is now,
may be filming you). I figure "what's the difference?" If you
re doing something stupid or funny but not a crime, the people who are
more likely to use that "against" you are the common citizen with their
HandyCam (America's Funniest??).

I don't think it's too far of a stretch to act in public like you
*were* being recorded . . . you're certainly being mental recorded
here (such a small town - you can't fart without someone guessing what
you had for dinner). So if you don't fix wedgies, pick your nose or
otherwise act the ass in public, you have nothing to worry about.

Also, a problem that we've had with the SB - just FYI, is public sex
after hours in front of bars, strip clubs and the like. The majority of
the locals are wet blankets and are mad about it . . .

>
> To a certain degree you cannot have complete privacy whilst living in
> a social environment. The only way you can ever TRULY have absolute
> privacy is if yer living out on the mountain somewhere where there
> aren't any people. It's a give and take thing.

--
C Pierce

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