Privacy (Re: Urgent News Flash)

From: Jason Paul McCartan <jasonm@mindshiftdesign.com>

Date: Fri, 07 Jun 2002 22:03:40 +0000

David desJardins wrote:

> Jason Paul McCartan <jasonm@mindshiftdesign.com> writes:
>> I think it's more an "awareness" and "complacency" thing. Being based
>> in the US these days I know a lot of people who are very aware of
>> privacy and are making sure their rights aren't stamped on. Most
>> people in the US are unfortunately unaware of what are their true
>> rights and what rights they assume they have. Plus in general there's
>> a lot of FUD and disinformation to be found in the mass media over
>> here anyway.
>
> This is exactly what I'm talking about.  Jason implies anyone who
> doesn't share his views is an uninformed, complacent, idiot.  This is
> pretty typical among certain communities in the US.

Erm no, not really. In no way am I saying that.

I'm implying that people are unaware about privacy and their true rights
regarding privacy, both online and offline. A lot of this comes down to
complacency on their part (not wanting to find out information, or simply
accepting that what they're told is the truth), and complaceny on the part
of local/federal organizations in educating people about their rights.
That's not to say there's no strides being made towards making people aware
of privacy rights and then educating them, but there's usually still some
way to go. I try to make people aware of privacy issues when I can simply
because I feel that people should be aware of them. That plus I hate my
information being sold on or passed on left right and center. I'd much
rather be in control, or at least pseudo-control.

There's a difference between being uninformed and unaware. You can be aware
of privacy but be uninformed, and even disinformed about it. A lot of
people are simply unaware of their privacy rights online. They blindly
accept user agreements at websites that allow the reselling of their
information. They are unaware that some of the programs they have installed
on their computers are tracking their internet usuge. They are unaware that
they have recourse. Of course, being unaware of something by default means
that you're generally uninformed about it, being that you're not aware of
it in the first place.

And at no point did I say that anyone not aware of their privacy is an
idiot. What they are are unaware, for whatever the reason may be. They need
to be made aware and informed. But that's up to the individual, and every
individual should take responsiblity for themselves to learn these things,
but at the least they should be made aware that they can be educated about
it.

--
Jason Paul McCartan

References

Re: Urgent News Flash
Jason Paul McCartan <jasonm@mindshiftdesign.com>
Fri, 07 Jun 2002 20:00:21 +0000
Re: Urgent News Flash
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Fri, 07 Jun 2002 21:30:50 +0000
Re: Urgent News Flash
"Militaryhumour" <clivedakers@ntlworld.com>
Fri, 07 Jun 2002 13:59:26 +0000
Re: Urgent News Flash
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Fri, 07 Jun 2002 18:00:38 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Urgent News Flash
Jason Paul McCartan <jasonm@mindshiftdesign.com>
Fri, 07 Jun 2002 20:00:21 +0000
Re: Urgent News Flash
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Fri, 07 Jun 2002 21:30:50 +0000
Re: Urgent News Flash
"Militaryhumour" <clivedakers@ntlworld.com>
Fri, 07 Jun 2002 13:59:26 +0000
Re: Urgent News Flash
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Fri, 07 Jun 2002 18:00:38 +0000