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We must see the bigger picture.
Taking our privacy away - storing data of our every day lives. I see that there are powers that be who want global control over the rest of us. We are no longer individuals with rights, we are merely herded like cattle into pens. We are lured by new gadgets, we are promised freedom of communication and expression through them - and yet all the time what is actually happening is ENSLAVEMENT. I for one am thinking seriously about throwing my Android smart phone away as it is a silent shackle around this unwilling prisoner's ankle. Hopefully an old non-smart phone which just makes calls and sends texts is really enough. I want my privacy.
Closing Statement from Jennifer Evans
I think changes always create disturbance and perhaps fear of what the future holds, as in globalisation and the incredible fast advances in the area of technology, which are hard to keep up with! My gut reaction is 'hang on...what's really happening here and how does that affect me in my everyday life?' Whether all that is happening is for our benefit and protection, or to control us and keep tabs on our movements, emails and texts - only time will tell which way the cookie crumbles. In the meantime, we get on with our lives, love our family and friends and contribute to society in a positive way as much as possible. There is a stirring going on in our psyche and spirit which demonstrates a huge hunger to understand and assimilate the external (i.e. what is happening in the world generally) and what is happening to humanity internally. I personally believe in God who created all things - and no amount of 'God particles' or string theories or alternative universes can alter the fact that our Creator created all things from nothing BEFORE any Big Bang. As such we must have faith in our Creator who knows the end from the beginning and vice versa. In that context all our fears can be put to rest because ultimately we must Let Go and Let God who is the essence of Love and Order and who hold us in the palm of His hand.
Feyisayo Anjorin 50+
Jennifer Evans
James Zhang 30+
James Zhang 30+
Here's what I said:
When there's an environment thrown at us, we adapt to it or we won't survive. When there's globalization thrown at us, we adapt to it, because we must.
While you have addressed some very problematic concerns that you, me, and many others do feel are important concerns, you also have to realize the good side of globalization. What we would have is a more open society, where problems and issues can be solved due to the ridiculously open communication. Globalization is may be a necessary step for us to adapt to in order to reach a more universal understanding. Globalization may make us a better community as a whole, and we may have more friends than enemies. We're just caught into the transition phase of these issues.
But here's what I think, the FBI, and all these guys who are trying to invade our privacy and all. People need to remember that their intentions are to protect us, not destroy us. Most think that their methods are wrong, and I am one of those guys too, but I also do not believe that the government is a bad entity. It is just our job to educate the government somehow, just as the government has brought us education into our lives. That's what being a community member means imo.
David Hamilton 50+
Privacy would not be a concern were it not for shame. What don't we want people to read about us? Stupid things we said to ex lovers. Crazy things we may have disclosed to a close friend. Embarassing things that may have been drawn out of us by a crush. Maybe we smoked a little weed. Maybe we tried drugs when we were younger. Maybe we cheated on someone... Maybe we watch too much porn...
Maybe all we need to realize, is... So do most people. Most people have done things like this. Most people drank a bit too much during a bad time in their life. Most people said stupid crazy nonsense to someone they were attracted to.
I think we fear the loss of privacy, mostly because we fear over legislation. We fear the government making our vices, and mistakes, legal concerns we can never overcome. If we stop letting the government legislate vice, and mistake, and go back to simpler "Don't rape. Don't Murder. Don't steal. Don't diddle kids"... We'd give up our privacy happily.
If you don't let yourself be ashamed of simple mistakes we have all made, and we collectively refuse to legislate against those mis steps... I don't really think you need privacy. If anything I'm saying or doing is illegal... They can feel free to bring me in, because I don't want to live in a society that doesn't let people be harmlessly crazy. Most of us are, after all.
As it said in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy "Earth - Mostly Harmless"
Mark Meijer 100+
It's about abuse of power. The issue of privacy is a response to the issue of power abuse, in the historical recognition that information about you can and will be used against you whenever there are insufficient measures in place to prevent it.
Whether purposefully or by mistake doesn't matter. And it's not a trust thing either. It is guaranteed to happen, and that's why it needs due consideration. It's that simple. And the stock "I have nothing to hide" response is totally beside the point, whether you're claiming to have no shame or to be a good citizen. It's completely irrelevant.
R H 20+
James Zhang 30+
However, we may also underestimate the power of our own people, and that it may be too hard to stop even for the government and big companies.
James Zhang 30+
Our safety vs our privacy.
New social media and technology has usually always been a tradeoff between convenience and security.
But you're right though, there's a saying: Who watches the watchmen?