The Internet’s latest fit is focused on Facebook privacy concerns. Seems the company was a bit unscrupulous and didn’t completely bow down to the every whim of its users. For example, a group of people is upset that others can find out if they enjoy a certain band by going to the band’s page.
Ignoring the completely demented nature of this concern, why be a fan of the band if you don’t want other people to know it? One sees what constitutes an invasion of privacy for an American citizen. Oh, my Facebook — a massive online conglomeration — might have given a bit of my personal information away. Never mind they don’t have my credit card information or anything of substantial value. Also, never mind the fact that every time I use the Internet — Google specifically — every single aspect of privacy is compromised. Also, I am going to ignore the fact that, since I was 5, I have already been a number in the system of pretty much every advertiser in the country. This is a matter of principle, and I will not allow a petty social networking site to get the better of me.
And while here in America, we are whining about our social networking rights, women in Indonesia’s Aceh Province are being arrested for wearing jeans. The Aceh is a strictly devout Islamic province, and the government decreed any woman found wearing jeans would have to change immediately into long skirts while the jeans were confiscated. Three-time offenders could even face two weeks of jail time, all for wearing something about 95 percent of the American populace wears on a daily basis. But, no, Facebook privacy concerns are really important.
Some of you are muttering concerns about stalkers, or the commercialization of America or some equally lame excuse under your breath. Here’s the thing: If you want to live in privacy, then move to a cave or something. If a stalker wants to stalk you, he or she will. Having access to your Facebook won’t stop them. And remember, any time you complain about Facebook, you are complaining for the sake of complaining. It’s a voluntary service you sign up for, and, if you really didn’t want your privacy compromised, you wouldn’t use it. We would do well to remember there are people who can’t ever wear jeans in public before we open our mouths to complain.
