Probably one of my biggest beefs with online stuff in general is
when "privacy guarantees" are oversold... and people believe
them. I've been involved in online stuff since 1988 (always a
nerd and proud) - and found it to be perfect for me to express
myself better than I had been able to in other social
situations. But i learned very early on about built-in security
problems; every time something goes from one destination to
another, it sits on a hard drive somewhere... even for a
moment.* Was it saved?* A log file?* Most likely. Then the
commercialization of the net in '93.* The typical empty promises
of privacy that we're so used to today.* We believe because we
want to. But... although the 'net has gotten bigger than 1990...
it hasn't fundamentally changed.* Just bigger.* Same security
problems.* Same fundamental process; it goes from your computer
to another.... to another... to another until it reaches its
destination. Anything can happen inbetween. And that doesn't
make me nervous; I grew up on the 'net and I'm used to it.* My
bank account got money taken out last year through a weird
Paypal maneuver someone pulled.* [I got it back after a few
weeks] Was I mad? Nope.* It sucked; but I wasn't mad.* Why?*
Because I've been LUCKY to not have been hacked previously in
the past few decades. But people like the Snapchat guy are
preying on the new - the ones that believe "Oh yes, you see your
picture gone?* We tell you its completely gone.* Therefore, it's
gone." But it's not.* And... outside of "Trust me", there's no
way to know for sure. So I use online communication freely but I
don't expect privacy.* And shame on ppl who exploit the ignorant
and give them a false sense of privacy and security.* Write
freely, share freely but always aware that it's not a perfect
system, there are people out there who say all the right magic
words to tell us what we want to hear, "I'm your friend.* Trust
me with your data.* I promise I will do just what I say"... and
to be aware that maybe they're being truthful and maybe they're
lying. I never let it stop me.* I just consider myself and other
ppl on the net "public figures" - many of whom just aren't aware
of it.
