Who's Keeping Files on Us?

[TGTheodore]

After reading the "wrist watch" thread, I'm wondering ... after years of these little personal question threads, who among us might be keeping track of all these things?

A fun little paranoid question.

After all, by now someone could know eating, drinking and sleeping habits ... among other things.

Of course the people who actually POST in all these threads are responsible for putting their own info out there.

Now ... let me sift through my own files on everybody here ... hmmmm ....

Oops! Look at that. Gotta call Homeland Security about this guy.

--Ted

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Who's keeping tabs on all of us? Major league baseball, of course.

 

[Plecostomus]

The phone company. THEY rule the world. Without phones NOTHING gets done... I mean how else will we communicate?! Via the postal service?! BUAHAHA that's a riot.

 

[Piper]

Who's keeping files on us?

They are.

 

[TGTheodore]

Who's keeping files on us?

They are.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

--Ted

 

[Count Zero]

You're raising an interesting point, TGTheodore. While I don't think the results of most of these polls are really useful, people tend to give out very personal information quite carelessly on the net. I'm thinking more of social networking sites rather than message boards where people usually don't use their real name.

 

[Mallory]

Keeping files on everyone is now one of AutoAdmin's new responsibilities.

 

[Emher]

I'm sure DHS has a notation on me by now. Hopefully not something like "keep this guy from entering the US" and more like "mess a bit with this guy when he's entering the US".

 

[Holdfast]

You're raising an interesting point, TGTheodore. While I don't think the results of most of these polls are really useful, people tend to give out very personal information quite carelessly on the net. I'm thinking more of social networking sites rather than message boards where people usually don't use their real name.

Yep, it's the posting on social networking sites that impresses me with its openness (if "impresses" is the right word to use). Sites like twitter and that Google Maps/phone tracker thing even more so than Facebook and its ilk.

I don't "get it", to be honest, and think it's a real hostage to fortune.

The difference between that and a message board is only one of degree though. If someone wanted to collect info about me, they could easily get a hell of a lot from my postings here. Enough to ID me IRL, for sure (with some relatively easy added research/ in-person investigation).

But putting all that info out there without at least making someone work to do the research? Yeah, I don't get it.

As for who keeps files on you here? The server is gradually becoming sentient, you know.....

 

[Markas]

As for who keeps files on you here? The server is gradually becoming sentient, you know.....

I think Antony mentioned that to me recently. Then next board upgrade is called "Hal".

 

[JonathonWally]

After reading the "wrist watch" thread, I'm wondering ... after years of these little personal question threads, who among us might be keeping track of all these things?

A fun little paranoid question.

After all, by now someone could know eating, drinking and sleeping habits ... among other things.

Of course the people who actually POST in all these threads are responsible for putting their own info out there.

Now ... let me sift through my own files on everybody here ... hmmmm ....

Oops! Look at that. Gotta call Homeland Security about this guy.

--Ted

Hopefully a really hot, smart, funny, witty stalker chick who isn't too crazy, just the right amount of crazy.

 

[Goji]

If someone has been bothering to keep track of the unimportant tidbits of my life, then they're badly in need of a more intellectually stimulating, productive and rewarding hobby. Like Pong, or those mazes on the backs of cereal boxes.

 

[Maestro]

It's what the guy at Torchwood 2 in Scotland does with his free time.

 

[Gertch]

Can anyone find the old thread "What's the last 4 of your social?" I forgot to post my mother's maiden name.

 

[Maestro]

Fortunately, the majority of the people here couldn't pronounce my mother's maiden name. Then again, the majority of credit card CS folks couldn't understand it.

 

[Gertch]

I take it your mother is Vulcan?

 

[Maestro]

Her maiden name is German. It's about as pronounceable as Vulcan.

 

[Michael_One]

The truth is, lots of places have files on us: your ISP remembers every site you visit. Yahoo and Google, among others, track activity from each user IP address. Your bank often sells data on you to advertisers. Every piece of information you give out goes into a database somewhere and is sold to somebody.

The NSA snoops as much electronic communication as possible, pul-leeeze don't tell me they're just looking for terrorists. I think they collate the info they get and sell it to advertisers ( I'm a researcher and that theory explains a whole lot of things I see, like detailed hyper accurate marketing data ).

Remember "TIA", "Total Information Awareness", from George Bush Jr a while back? It was going to track every debit and credit transaction in the whole country, and disgraced Iran-Contra plotter Adm. Poindexter was going to run it. It was sold as "unless we spy on everything you do, the terrorists win!!". The plan was dropped... or was it? Would you bet your freedom the US government isn't tracking your electronic banking and purchases?

I'm talking from a USA point of view, but don't think other countries aren't vacuuming up all the data they can get on thier citizens.

 

[Peacemaker]

As for who keeps files on you here? The server is gradually becoming sentient, you know.....

I think Antony mentioned that to me recently. Then next board upgrade is called "Hal".

The default error msg will be: I'm sorry (insert name here), I just can't do that.

 

[Lookingglassman]

Santa Claus