How important is Privacy?

[tthor]

It seems that with current technology/society, privacy is becoming something increasingly rare. You can easily see this will social networks, cellphones/digital cameras, even some government organizations, etc.

My question for you, do you think we are moving towards a future with virtually no privacy?
But more importantly, is this a Bad thing?

Discuss!

I'm interested in what the opinion is on the importance of privacy~

EDIT: Also, how much privacy are you fine giving up? At what point is something too private for you to want shared, at what point do you demand a level of privacy?

 

[Aris Khandr]

Only if you let it. I don't bother with that social networking garbage. The most information you have out of me is my first name and my birthdate, and there is no guarantee that I gave the real answers for either (though I did). I'm very careful with any personal information I give out about myself online. If others are more free with their information, then they really have no reason to complain about a lack of privacy later.

 

[tthor]

Only if you let it. I don't bother with that social networking garbage. The most information you have out of me is my first name and my birthdate, and there is no guarantee that I gave the real answers for either (though I did). I'm very careful with any personal information I give out about myself online. If others are more free with their information, then they really have no reason to complain about a lack of privacy later.

but is lack of privacy really that bad of a thing is what I'm really curious about. I mean, does it really matter if somebody knows that your favorite movie was Dark Knight or something, or stuff like that? It seems like little privacy is what society is moving towards, and I feel like society is going to continue to shape and grow around this idea

 

[Zyst]

First: Yes, we are.

Second: Are you really so ego centrist that you think you are more than a number? Yes, people can find out your birthday with a Google, and maybe Steam knows you pirate shit. So what? No one, really, no one gives a crap about that stuff.

We all need to stop thinking we're beautiful individual snow flakes and accept that the people who are interested in that information are marketers, and they only see you as a number, a point in a statistic and no more.

Sorry if I'm coming on a bit too strong, but this kind of stuff has to stop.

 

[Dimitriov]

First: Yes, we are.

Second: Are you really so ego centrist that you think you are more than a number? Yes, people can find out your birthday with a Google, and maybe Steam knows you pirate shit. So what? No one, really, no one gives a crap about that stuff.

We all need to stop thinking we're beautiful individual snow flakes and accept that the people who are interested in that information are marketers, and they only see you as a number, a point in a statistic and no more.

Sorry if I'm coming on a bit too strong, but this kind of stuff has to stop.

Sounds like a better solution would be to stop marketing, and maybe get rid of some people.

 

[Aris Khandr]

There's something about everyone that they don't want other people to know. No, I don't care if anyone knows that The Little Mermaid is my favorite movie. If I did, I wouldn't admit it publicly. I care slightly more if someone I've never met knows where I live or what kind of underwear I wear, as an example. So, in general, a lack of privacy IS a bad thing. But choosing to give up parts of that privacy are okay, if it is the person choosing to give it up.

 

[tthor]

First: Yes, we are.

Second: Are you really so ego centrist that you think you are more than a number? Yes, people can find out your birthday with a Google, and maybe Steam knows you pirate shit. So what? No one, really, no one gives a crap about that stuff.

We all need to stop thinking we're beautiful individual snow flakes and accept that the people who are interested in that information are marketers, and they only see you as a number, a point in a statistic and no more.

Sorry if I'm coming on a bit too strong, but this kind of stuff has to stop.

lol that reminds me of a horoscope I just read on the Onion:

<quote=Taurus>You will be transfixed by the realiztion that human lives are as unique as a snowflakes, and just as indistinguishable from one another when viewed from the proper distance.

 

[Wickatricka]

Eh I don't really care who knows what. If they want to know every little detail about me go ahead, how is it going to effect my life in the slightest bit? Please tell me that. I hate it when people freak out about privacy if its not effecting you directly then who gives a shit.

 

[Zyst]

snip

Sounds like a better solution would be to stop marketing, and maybe get rid of some people.

Marketing will never stop, For as long as we are willing to buy stuff there will be people who are willing to make a profit out of it. And a huge part of that is marketing. Hell, chances are that since you are on the Escapist you play video games. Video Games go through a SHITLOAD of marketing. Trailers, coverage, and even gaming conventions. So not all marketing is bad, hell, I don't think marketing is bad at all. So "stopping it" isn't really viable to begin with, but even if it were would you be willing to do it?

Let me leave you with a final thought: Have you ever played a Japanese game? Odds are you have (Most games by Nintendo were originally Japanese)

Without marketing, you would have never played Super Mario, you would have never played The Legend of Zelda, along with many other great games that have probably marked your childhood forever, and make you the person you are today.

So I say nay, don't stop marketing.

 

[Hitokiri_Gensai]

I think its pretty important. Not that in this day and age is POSSIBLE to be private. Not with facebook and so on. I had a friend a couple years ago, who literally had her address, cell phone, and all that on facebook. Im surprised she didnt get raped or something.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I sure as hell hope not. I prefer to be able to control how much information about myself goes out to other people. I don't want my personal information going to just anyone.

 

[tthor]

I may not have anything to hide but I demand the right to hide it anyway!


Fuck off, Facebook! Fuck off!

EDIT: Also, how much privacy are you fine giving up?

Absolutely none.

At what point is something too private for you to want shared, at what point do you demand a level of privacy?

Whatever I damn well want it to be. If I don't want someone knowing what I ate for breakfast then god damnit they're not going to know. I don't care if it's incriminating or just boring, hum-drum daily activities, I demand my privacy.

its a fair point : )
tho do you know why that privacy is so important to you?

 

[FamoFunk]

I think it's easy to keep yourself private, even if you're part of social networking.
You don't have to give out your real name or birth date, even location. You don't have to give yourself away in anyway and keeping your profiles like FaceBook to just people you know helps, too.

 

[Atmos Duality]

In terms of security, it's about trust and personal vulnerability.
If someone is going to make money off of my information I want a cut or at least something in return.

By acquiring personal information about someone, you gain leverage over them (whether they know this or not). You better know their habits and their intentions and with that information, you can accomplish any number of tasks.

Spoiler: RANDOM TANGENTIAL THOUGHTS

Tangentially: In a Social Panopticon (where there exists no concept of privacy for the general citizen) people will inevitably fall into a social "herd" like state. Individual ideas that don't follow the average norm are quashed (rather than considered or even accepted via compromise).
The reasoning being that this behavior provides its own measure of security for everyone (who innately do not trust individuals), but at the cost of forward-thinking and creativity; the herd then becomes an aggregate "receptor" for those who provide the means of their security (whoever might be in authority).

Anyone who has ever seen a riot, a concert, a protest, a rally or other such mass-social event will know what I'm talking about; individuality and personal conscience melts away when one becomes incorporated into an overly-emotional collective. It takes an especially jarring piece of evidence to change their agenda once it's established.

One who values their individual thought often values their privacy, because it stands to reason that they would not want to be forced into such a collective that would require them to compromise their individuality.
In this, I find it absurd how such a huge number of public figures and leaders are drawn from the wealthiest castes of society. But they do so not to follow; but to lead their witless sheep for their own ends.

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

First: Yes, we are.

Second: Are you really so ego centrist that you think you are more than a number? Yes, people can find out your birthday with a Google, and maybe Steam knows you pirate shit. So what? No one, really, no one gives a crap about that stuff.

We all need to stop thinking we're beautiful individual snow flakes and accept that the people who are interested in that information are marketers, and they only see you as a number, a point in a statistic and no more.

Sorry if I'm coming on a bit too strong, but this kind of stuff has to stop.

Not 100% sure what you're getting on to here. Do you mean that this kind of disgusting marketing mentality has to stop? If so i agree with you, but if you're saying we have to stop thinking we're each something special then oh my fuck where do i start?

I value my individuality. My right to be alone when i want to is something i would fight for if i had to. I like how people are different and how everyone has different opinions(granted i don't have the open mind to think all are equally intelligent) because it means we can learn something from conversing with one another. If everyone were to submit to the idea that we've become just numbers, just machines to be played around with without respecting each individual i'd probably hang myself.

We're not just bricks in a wall!

 

[ThatLankyBastard]

I love my privacy, and I'm not stupid enough to go around posting shit on Facebook like "Hey! Can anyone guess what the password to my SECRET PR0NZ FOLDER on my computer is? FNAAAR FNAAAR!!!"

I never post anything that can be (easily) brought back up to haunt me...

But I'm starting to rant...

OP: Yes we are and yes it is... There are things that everyone should have a right to keep quiet if they feel so, and I like as much privacy as I can get...

 

[TehCookie]

You should be able to share what you want and be able to keep things private if you want. The problem is that to be able to use some services you must give them your personal information. I hate the fact when I save numbers in my contact list Google gets that information (I have a Driod). Facebook is creepy as fuck, my mom pulled a south park (you mean you're not my friend?) and told me to get one and now she's mad I don't post the pictures I take. I am not putting a face with my name on the internet, or at least not with my full name.