Privacy and an awesome article about it

Via Lifehacker -- Privacy is not Dead

I always use the eye test, what my professor calls the face test, to determine if something makes sense. This is not a very good way to do it (he would say the worst), but it is one of our favorite tools to use as humans. So with that warning, what this chick says makes a whole lot of sense.

In fact, that is why I stay somewhat anonymous. You can see my incoherent ramblings on the topic here. I figure (rightly or wrongly is up for discussion) that by using my Batman persona(s): aztecskin, ntm, etc, that I can do some very public things that I like to do like blog, or tweet, or post on forums about how I am awesome, without hurting or putting in danger those I love. In reality, I am pretty much the same guy you know and hate on here in real life. My thoughts are measured. I know the risks. Still, I don't want something I said when I was 20 effecting me or my family disproportionately when I am 30. I know you don't want everything that you did or said, or wanted to do or say, to become the topic of discussion all of a sudden during an important meeting or some shit.

That was what was the most fascinating portion of this chick's argument. The whole 'having things be public vs publicizing things'. It's an 'Shitballs! Yeah! That is what I mean about privacy!" -type moment. It's true. You go into a situation and determine as best you can, the risks and rules of the situation. I can talk about my stupid boss here freely, oh crap! There he is! Hey, uh, about those Mean Green Eagles ....(nervous laughter) ... So when those rules are changed drastically you feel violated. It's what she calls privacy FAIL. That, and we are still trying to figure out how to deal with unusual phenomena of the Internet. You know, stuff like how that drunken post about Obama you wrote is still up there on Ihateeveryonepost.org. Our brains aren't built to handle that shit yet. I mean, sometimes, the fact that you look back at your life through rose-colored glasses means that you can deal with your life a little easier ya know? Again, I am all for transparency and accountability, but like with everything else, it needs to be balanced with discretion and forgiveness.


Enjoy the read. It is fascinating.