Forbes Magazine October 15, 2007 edition has an article entitled Anonymity & the Net It started as privacy protection for the abused, the oppressed and the bashful. Now it shields creeps, criminals and malicious mobs. How to fix it?"
It tells of a harrowing experience by Christos Catsouras, and his wife Lesli, when their daughter Nicole died in an automobile accident and investigation photos were leaked by the California Highway Patrol that appeared on the web with unflattering commentary. The story goes on to describe their plight to get the "gruesome" photos removed along with the "jeering" commentary.
Now, Lesli says, "Nobody seemed to think it was a big deal, except for us." And, " I don't believe in anonymity, not in this country. We're too privileged to allow this to happen. Everyone will get hurt by this. Just watch."
We're too privileged?! WE are too privileged?! Don't EVEN speak for me, bitch. You know nothing about me!
The only reason that I can think of that Forbes Magazine is printing this article is that they, too, along with big business and Microsoft, believe that anonymity is a bad thing and should be curbed by (corporate bought) government interventions.
I feel for the Catsouras'. I really do. However, I don't think that effectively GAGGING everyone is the answer. After all, who caused the bad? CHP. Plain and simple. I must agree that there are a lot of mean 'people' (and I use that term loosely in this case) out here on the internet. I read a lot of mean spirited comments on message boards and it often causes me to NOT participate in the discussion. Isn't that the spirit of 'free enterprise'? If I'm not interested in a certain commodity, I refrain from consuming it! And no one has ever protected MY interests from public consumption.
But who the hell are you, or anyone else for that matter, to tell me what information I CAN view or comment on? I refuse to use GOOGLE, the parent company of this blog site, because of their complicity in the Presidential infringement on American Constitutional Rights by releasing user information. (I had begun this blog before Google's acquisition and am therefore stuck with a bastard step-parent.)
The article suggests that identity equals accountability. Well, from where I'm sitting, Big Money equals deniability and identity equals oppression. Do what you will, we will always remain free! Bad article and position, Forbes Magazine.
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