Comment by 0xEF | Hacker News Reader

Comment by 0xEF | Hacker News Reader

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> I take the view that government already knows full well who I am especially given that it once employed me to do surveillance work.

I have to imagine you have some stories or lessons worth sharing, for sure.

There was a point where I said the same thing; I didn't really care if the government knew my activities and whatnot because I was not hiding anything, and well, part of participating as a tax-payer in a functioning society involves records and information. That I get.

However, regardless of where you or anyone reading this stands on the political spectrum, particularly in the US, you'd have to admit that there's some trepidation regarding that massive amount of information about each of us that is out there and how it can be used against you, even if you have done nothing wrong. To use a pointed example, I would rather not be labeled and treated as a dissenter because I played Dungeons & Dragons online with a person who identifies as queer or trans, even if I may or may not have been completely unaware of that fact. That's just one such extreme example, but it does not seem so extreme anymore, and with each passing week, it seems like using information against people in that exact way is getting more and more normalized.

My biggest fear about the US and Big Tech collaboratively heading in that direction is being actively realized, and that is ultimately what had caused me to...not "give up," but more akin to "stop fighting." Don't have the energy anymore, barely enough to sweep up some of my own footprints, let alone those of people I care about that DO have that social media addiction you and I lack.

Appreciate the discussion and your perspective, given that it is a little more "insider" than most. I wish I had more to add, but I can see my cynicism creeping back into my replies.

note: since my example is a hot-button, I want to ensure that I am clear about my own stance, here. I do not care how anyone identifies, that's up to them and not for me to decide for them. All I care about is whether or not they're a good person, treating others with the same kindness, respect and support that they would like to receive. Bottom line.

"I have to imagine you have some stories or lessons worth sharing, for sure."

There are a few but as one would expect with that line of work they're protected by my signature on a document where I agree to keep them secret. I don't see that as a problem as there's no burning issue that would set the world ablaze if revealed. Nevertheless, such work necessitates that UN member states work in collaboration with one another, so those engaged in this line of work inevitably come across information that countries often consider sensitive to the extent that those involved are forbidden from revealing said facts even to their own governments. Safeguards is important work and most take those rules very seriously.

"I would rather not be labeled and treated as a dissenter because I played Dungeons & Dragons online with a person who identifies as queer or trans, even if I may or may not have been completely unaware of that fact."

Exactly. I have very strong feelings about this matter. It is a quintessential example of why privacy is so important. Very few people are completely free of prejudice, political, sexual, race, financial or whatever, and in an increasingly intolerant world such prejudices can be easily weaponised against those who are essentially innocent bystanders.

There is essentially no defense against such prejudice other than to maintain one's privacy. Loss of privacy especially when prejudice is involved goes hand in hand with a loss of one's autonomy. At its worst such a loss can have serious repercussions for an individual.

"…and with each passing week, it seems like using information against people in that exact way is getting more and more normalized."

One of the most upsetting things I've witnessed in my lifetime is the significant decrease in ethics especially the matter of having respect and regard for one another. That such disregard for one another is apparently getting worse is terrible. I've ideas why this decline has occurred but I can't adequately address them here except to say that when I was a kid I was taught at both home and school that one should not discuss religion, politics nor one's financial status or that of others if one wanted to maintain harmonious relationships with people.

It's somewhat strange these social rules and understandings have waned to such a degree in the last four or so decades. Once they were well understood, after all they are clearly articulated in Dale Carnegie's famous book How to Win Friends and Influence People† — one of the best selling books of all time.

Right, day by day this dysfunctional and destructive behavior is becoming more the norm and I see no likelihood of any improvement on the horizon.

"… I care about that DO have that social media addiction you and I lack."

Likewise. There are several issues at stake here, first is the naivety of so many in respect of privacy matters. The question one has to ask is why when online they are so willing and eager to throw caution to the wind and reveal so much about themselves to strangers when they'd not do so in many other situations—even though they have been warned repeatedly about dangers of engaging in the practice.

Second, evidence suggests when people are online and or in Social Media environments that there are intrinsic factors at work which result in people being less guarded and more uninhibited. What I find outrageous is how Big Tech has not only deliberately taken advantage of this quirk in human nature but that it has exploited the fact to the hilt to its financial advantage. That the teachings of those merchants of propaganda and advertising were very well known years before Google and Social Media came into existence and yet the takeover of billions of minds nevertheless still happened is most disconcerting. That fact just boggles my mind.

† https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Win_Friends_and_Influen...

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