Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Internet Security/Privacy Issues and Solutions -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: caly who wrote (161)	6/22/2001 10:27:46 AM
From: PJ Strifas	Respond to of 210

Here's the rub - if the data transmitted was "vanilla" meaning no possibly way to identify the source, then it would be a great benefit if the timing on traffic lights could be dynamically managed to alleviate traffic congestion. It would also be good indicators for future development of roadways and traffic management systems. What we must do as citizens is weigh the advantages of this system and the disadvantages fairly. I tend to think many people see ANY disadvantage as grounds enough to squash any idea. In my book, that's very shortsighted. Its allowing fear to govern instead of our ability to reason. I think the "fear" factor is good to a point. But let's not lose sight of the fact that we don't live in a vacuum but within a very large popluation. If you want total privacy and total anonymity, you'll have to find yourself a deserted island or something. Otherwise, we must acknowledge that to live within a large group, we can not live a purely individuals. The mere act of living within a group means we've already compromised some privacy/anonymity! Just as a point, our phone calls are all tabulated and recorded (the actual circuit created not the conversation), credit card companies compile mountains of data on us and our family (and have been for YEARS), our cable TV company knows alot about us too! Let's see, the sanitation/waste management companies could know more about us all than we'd care to admit too! And we assume they don't peek at anything we toss away! Anyway - my point is that to shoot down an idea because it "could" be abused is silly to me. Why not take some time and develop the idea so that it can not be easily abuse if at all?!? Let's minimize the bad things and maxmize the good things - our world would become a better place......maybe........... Regards, Peter J Strifas