At 6:55 AM 11/18/1996, Sandy Sandfort wrote:
C'punks,
Examples [of people who have suffered due to loss of privacy]? Phil Zimmermann often tells the story of a woman whose marriage was destroyed by the revelation of a long-past indiscretion. After her husband divorced her, she committed suicide. Deceiving your spouse is not a good reason to protect your privacy.
Sure it is. Earlier this year I threw a party for my wifes birthday. A suprise party. I had to deceive her to keep her out of the house I needed privacy to do this.
Any number of celebrities have been stalked, attacked and even killed by obsessed fans who found them through public records. Unfortunately most readers of this list do not have this problem.
It is still a valid example. Someone made the claim that people do not need privacy, this is an example of someone who needs it.
Every year, children and business executives are kidnapped for ransom. The proximate cause of these kidnappings is a breach in privacy about the whereabouts and schedules of the victim. Or this problem.
See above.
Hitler's gun registration in Germany allowed the Jews to be disarmed. I'm sure you are aware of the ultimate consequences of that little invasion of privacy. Not a bad example, but genocide happens rarely.
Germany. Cambodia, Boznia, Somilia, Rwanda & Zaire. Soviet Russia, China... All within the last 60 years. Yup. Rarely happen.
Those alert enough to protect their privacy in advance might be alert enough to get out in time, anyway. Subjective utility: low.
The US Post Office co-operated in the identification and imprisonment of people of Japanese ancestry during the second world war. 97,000 victims over a ~100 year period. Doesn't really show up on the scope, sorry. (Plus downside bad, but few were murdered.)
I am sure that there are other victims in the PO's history, but not with as big of numbers. 1 is a crime, 100,000 is a crying shame. You know that red thing you see when you open your eyes? It's your prostate.
The problem with having a whole lot of private information about you floating around in public is not what damage it can do to you now, but rather the problems it potentially could cause in the will you be about them if there is extreme right or left takeover in the future? Start to get the picture? These things CAN happen. Will they happen? Odds are low. BTW, are you operating under your True Name?
I am, but I don't mind being a target. If you think privacy is so bad, why are you indulging in it. Petro, Christopher C. petro@suba.com <prefered for any non-list stuff> snow@smoke.suba.com