Date:         Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:12:24 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Facebook; was RE: VW Camper Cookbook
In-Reply-To:  <eccfedcc0909221928v2a526f4dn5c73ee4dc4a855db@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I was at the gas station once and as I put my debit card in the machine this
duffer on the pump opposite very contemptuously said to me "I always use
cash; don't you know they can track you with those things?"
I very pointedly looked at his license plate and then up to the security
camera that was pointed right at us and said "If 'they' really want to know
what you're doing, they'll know, and you won't be able to do anything about
it. 'They' have far better toys and far more money than you ever will.' I
then took my receipt, sort of waved it at him and drove off.

The point is, 'Big Brother', be it gov't or just big money doesn't need an
'in'. That fight is over. That gas-pump conversation was a few years ago; in
fact as the technology has gotten more sophisticated and cheaper, things
that were only available to governments a couple of decades ago are now in
the hands of everyday people. Consider the thing on which you are reading
this, or the GPS in your car. Big Brother could just be some hack with too
much time on his hands... ever hear of Erin Andrews?

The definition of personal privacy has already changed irrevocably from what
we grew up with and the change has really just begun. It doesn't really
matter because most of us won't be around when whatever the future concept
will be really clears the event horizon. That's the nature of human
societies; the people of the future will get to decide what's important to
them. On the one hand, the signal to noise ratio will be intense; it really
might be easiest to hide out in the crowd if you think you need to. On the
other hand, digital information is so easily searchable...

This is an interesting time... you could almost compare the infancy of the
internet in to those periods in different societies just after they had each
mastered fire, or language, or tools, or whatever. I really don't think
anybody can see the finish line from here.

If you don't like it, don't use it; if you 'really regret it' (?) delete the
profile- but don't try to fool yourself into thinking that will somehow take
you below the radar. Yeah, you aren't giving it away, but you aren't making
it any harder in any practical sense.

...and now back to your Vanagon programming, of which the original question
was should there be a list Facebook group? Any benefit to that, or no?

Cya,
Robert

--snip--
I've said it once and will say it again.  Facebook bites.  Social networking
has been/will be the "in" for big brother  Same w/Twitter, etc. Really hate
the up-to-the-minute 'here's what I'm doing and how my bowel is' stuff. Nuff
said.
BTW-Signed up so I would know how because my wife wanted to get on and I
really regret it. Better things to do.
P.S.  I really toned down my response so I hope it is appreciated. :-)
Michael in San Antonio
91GL AT 'Gringo'
73 Beetle


On Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 9:07 PM, miguel pacheco
<mundopacheco@gmail.com>wrote:

> I don't know if there 'should' be, but it would certainly be more fun
> than I'm currently having on Facebook.....I would join up.
> Miguel
>
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 7:31 PM, Robert Fisher <refisher@mchsi.com> wrote:
>  > --snip--
> > How do they know?
> > --snip--
> >
> > Along those same lines, I've often wondered how it is that Facebook
knows
> > that I have a Vanagon. I rarely post anything on it and I don't recall
> ever
> > mentioning having one on there, nor have I joined any of the Vanagon
> groups.
> > Nevertheless, it often recommends other list members as 'friend
> > suggestions'. For whatever reason it seems to really want me to befriend
> > John Bange, as it recommends him maybe one out of three times that I log
> on.
> > Perhaps they feel he is lonely? : )
> >
> > Dare I ask: Is there, or should there be, a Facebook group specifically
> for
> > listees?
> >
> > Cya,
> > Robert
> >
>