Privacy

[shortpixy]

At work today, we were talking about privacy issues. Some people wrote down their phone numbers on their checks and some didn't. I said we should start asking for that when people buy things at the Festival, to be sure to have some way to contact them if the check bounces. Someone mentioned that it's a violation of their privacy and there's no

Comments

[rozebud]

Do you care if a store/organization asks for your phone number or zip code or whatever?

I'm fond of giving a fake number when asked for my phone number. They don't need it! Zip code; who cares? They're just checking demographics, which seems fine to me, and probably good business practice.

[tener_duende]

It bothers me soemewhat, especially in the age of identity theft, but I understand the advantages of sharing some information and so I tend to give it out. But there's always a nagging in my mind about it, especially about addresses and phone numbers. The last thing I want is for some store to sell my information out so that I get bombarded by junk mail and telemarketers (though that reminds me, I need to sign up for the state No-Call list!).

It may be a generational thing. Perhaps younger people such as ourselves, with blogs and YouTube and such, don't think as much about revealing information. Our parents never had that. Sometimes I wonder if maybe our generation hasn't made the wisest decision, but the change was all but inevitable. Privacy is becoming a very rare bird, I think, and people seem to get suspicious when people stand up for it. Maybe it's terrorism or tabloid journalism or the Puritan heritage of the nation, I don't know.

[oseopixie]

I have no issues with telling them my zip code, but I usually politely decline to give them a phone number when they ask for it. I also don't put down my email address if asked to do so when ordering or signing up for something online, and it isn't required.

[shortpixy]

I give them a junk e-mail that I check every once in a while.

But the woman who mentioned the privacy thing is ADAMANT about not doing ANYTHING to allow people to track her down. I mean, people will find information if they want to.

[oseopixie]

Yeah, that's just denial.

[rozebud]

...I know who you're talking about... ;-p

She's a bit of a freak, ya know. I wonder if she's ever googled her own name to see what comes up? In fact, I think I'll do that right now....

Ok, the first one is a Nursing Student at the University of Toledo; next hit is someone born in 1853 in Missouri (probably an ancestor; I think her family's been here a while); and amusingly enough, there's a FIGHTER / martial artist out there by that name!

http://www.aikitol.com/newsletter/july06.pdf

Ours doesn't show up until hit number 10, on Black Tie.

[allanc]

You've no legal right to that information, but you've also no legal obligation to accept checks. It's pretty common practice to require a phone number for checks, and anyone who's a crazy hermit privacy advocate can use cash.

[theatre_junkie]

My mother never, ever gives that sort of information.... she also has a PO Box. She's a little psychotic about her privacy (sucks for her that I give out that address all the damn time).

I agree that it has a lot to do with the new information age, but also with the invention of the Do Not Call list. We know that if someone really wants our info, they're going to get it, one way or the other. We also know that we can take legal action to stop unwanted telemarketers, so that's not such a bother.

FYI, in High School Musical, one of the characters actually asks another if they've Googled the school new girl. :)

[shortpixy]

Wow. I'm glad you're still alive and reading my journal! Yay! :)

That's really scary about the show, though.