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January 26, 2011
facebook, google, gays:
all of your privacy are belong to us
I've been shopping for tinfoil hats recently.
As it's become apparent just how much tech companies are mining and selling our information, I've fallen farther and farther down the privacy rabbit hole. Go drinking with me, and you'll surely be "treated" to my research on the shameless practices of Facebook and, especially, Google. (Tip: no matter how many times they ask, do not give them your cell phone number.) I marvel out loud that the same people who got their panties in a bunch about the Patriot Act have no problem whatsoever with shoveling personal information to all bidders, including the government, in exchange for free software. Greedy, gullible idiots, all of ya.
Mysteriously, the drinking invitations have dried up lately.
That was the backdrop of my recent dinner with Mike, who is really tired of this topic. He just doesn't care about his privacy. "I have nothing to hide," he shrugs in that annoying way people shrug when they're implying that you're the problem. Given that Mike is gay, I figured he might be sympathetic to one breach of privacy: when loony gay organizations make it their mission to "out" closeted actors.
But he shocked me.
"I'm in favor of it," he said sternly.
"What?!"
"That's right. We need to get more aggressive about it, even."
"Whoa. It's your right to disclose this for them?"
"Yes."
"How come you get to own their sexual orientation? I can't think of a bigger invasion of privacy."
He shrugged again. "I'm of the opinion that celebrities have a moral obligation to lead."
"What?!" I replied, gagging now. "Me, I'm of the opinion that ill-read people who dropped out of high school to chase a modeling career should shut the fuck up."
We laughed at that, and he said he was resisting the evil impulse to tell me "You just don't know what it's like to be gay. No straight person could."
We drank on, but I know he was thinking it.
posted by john at 9:30 AM • permalink