RE: This is gonna be the thread where we talk about stuff
12-09-2012, 10:41 PM
Hsss, nymwars!
The very idea that one needs to operate under a 'real' or government-ID name destroys the legitimacy of those who don't believe such a name is theirs, for a start. Then there are those who simply prefer to be known by other names, and those who are trying to maintain security and anonymity online.
Is it just me, or is personal security increasingly lambasted by supporters of government and corporate interference into our lives? By outsourcing our security, we gain a multitude of convenience, but can the entities we give our information to be trusted? It's a very one-sided honor-based agreement in many cases, which in many cases boils down to:
END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
We, the Company, do give you, the Licensee, the right to use this product until we feel like revoking it, which we can do whenever we like. By using this product, you, the Licensee, do give us the right to store and sell all your private information, including your precise location and personal details, to third parties who are not bound by any of the very loose restrictions we'll list below so that you feel like your data is protected. You are not allowed to revoke this right at any time, even after you stop using the product. You belong to us. Your soul belongs to us.
Also, if the government tells us to give up your information, we're going to bend over backwards to do that too. Because we just needed an excuse.
It's very much like instead of installing a security system to prevent your house from being robbed, you give the keys to your house to a known housebreaker on the condition that he put laser tripwires everywhere, guards at every door, and cross-my-heart pinky swear not to strip the house clean of possessions.
tl;dr - GRR GRR ARGH CORPORATIONS ARE EVIL ARGH
The very idea that one needs to operate under a 'real' or government-ID name destroys the legitimacy of those who don't believe such a name is theirs, for a start. Then there are those who simply prefer to be known by other names, and those who are trying to maintain security and anonymity online.
Is it just me, or is personal security increasingly lambasted by supporters of government and corporate interference into our lives? By outsourcing our security, we gain a multitude of convenience, but can the entities we give our information to be trusted? It's a very one-sided honor-based agreement in many cases, which in many cases boils down to:
END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
We, the Company, do give you, the Licensee, the right to use this product until we feel like revoking it, which we can do whenever we like. By using this product, you, the Licensee, do give us the right to store and sell all your private information, including your precise location and personal details, to third parties who are not bound by any of the very loose restrictions we'll list below so that you feel like your data is protected. You are not allowed to revoke this right at any time, even after you stop using the product. You belong to us. Your soul belongs to us.
Also, if the government tells us to give up your information, we're going to bend over backwards to do that too. Because we just needed an excuse.
It's very much like instead of installing a security system to prevent your house from being robbed, you give the keys to your house to a known housebreaker on the condition that he put laser tripwires everywhere, guards at every door, and cross-my-heart pinky swear not to strip the house clean of possessions.
tl;dr - GRR GRR ARGH CORPORATIONS ARE EVIL ARGH
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