I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

Now I've heard everything!

bluedahlia

And here he is again! 

bluedahlia

Geez!

http://www.upworthy.com/know-anyone-that-thinks-racial-profiling-is-exaggerated-watch-this-and-tell-me-when-your-jaw-drops-2

bluedahlia

1Athena1

Nice to hear from you Mary - sory to hear about your mother.

I think what gets lost in this whole hoopla about the NSA using private copanies to listen in on Americans is:

WHY OH WHY do people in this country get so fussed up over government surveillance and not seem to mind that private entities, which have no constituents and cannot be voted out, have access to any and all data about us.

Why do people here trust under-regulated, un-representative capitalists more than a public entity? Galls me every time. I am not on Facebook or most any other site fo privacy reasons. I do NOT trust the private sector to act in any any interest other than its own - or its shareholders'.

Does this mean I trust government? In principle, no. But I do know that at least I have the right of redress and that when the governent has that much data to mine through, the chances are greater that my triple murders and five armed robberies will go unnoticed.:-)  No one is saying enough about the power of human lack of follow through to practically ensure most people's privacy when we are talking about that much data.

But, again, the most glaring omission in this discussion, IMO, is why Americans appear to trust companies more than public entities.

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

Wabbit

What Athena said!  I personally am also much more offended by having my body pawed at airports before I can get on a plane and yet we line up for that without a peep.  The phone/internet data is so immense that unless something has tagged you as a possible threat, nobody is ever going to have the least bit of interest in looking at it.  Unless they were to sell it to private businesses ... which brings us back to Athena's point. 

I honestly feel sorry for people who seem to be looking for demons around every corner.  Must be a scary, miserable way to live. 

   

YramAL

Anyone who has any worries about privacy should see how the ads on the sidebar of facebook change constantly, with whatever you are posting. Creepy. 

Athena-I forgot to mention how glad I am to see you posting again. 

Mary

Anonymous

What Athena said, and happy NOT to be on FB.  Gives me the shivers to learn how FB tracks, and collates..and what Mary says about the ads.  Tho sorry to miss whatever Enjoyful enjoyed, but still..I'm with Athena.

GOOD TO SEE YOU Lioness.  And Blue, who the F is that guy in VA?  Is it snark, or for real? Somebody posted that link about the folks "stealng" a bike on this thread yesterday - was it Linda?  Anyhow, it is truly sickening, sad, sad, sad...reminds me of the wonerful speech President John F. Kennedy made on "civil rights" - low those many years ago.  Still true.

Don't know the reference Blue to "balls" but I'm imagining you[ve been wisting your time reading where you won't learn anything of value?  Am I correct

Tomorrow we're supposed to have our first day of sunshine in so long I can't remember what it's like!

Wabbit

This could be very cool ... marking my calendar.

bluedahlia

Sunny, you are correct.  Need to watch out for crazies (and believe me they are nuts and even think themselves intelligent), but, forewarned is forearmed!

Some Dusty Rose!

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

Here is someone who has it right!

http://www.upworthy.com/best-explanation-of-religion-i-have-ever-heard-and-im-practically-an-atheist?c=bl3

Belinda44

Athena, glad you like my current avatar.  I've always admired Audrey Hepburn.  Such talent and the epitome of style, class, and compassion.  Hope you are continuing to heal and gain strength and hope your recent oncology appointment was reassuring and hopeful.

Gardengumby, fingers crossed for the house!

Mary, glad your mom is doing better. 

In regards to the NSA/Verizon situation, I'm in agreement with those who react with a "meh."  These kinds of things having been going on forever and most certainly under Bush, as this cartoonist illustrates.....

pip57

Blue, I have now bookmarked that site.  Good stuff.

I remember taking a bible study course that looked at the historical significance of the stories in the bible as well as who wrote each book and who their audience was at the time.  Very eye opening and much more informative looking at it this way.  It was interesting how modern day readers interpretted some things with today's perspective and thereby completely changed the meaning of the words.

Also interesting to read the books of the bible that were removed by the church 1500 years ago.  They simply didn't like what those particular authors had to say.

Athena...I couldn't agree more about info and data collecting by the private organizations.  Costco, Sears, Walmart etc know more about you and your lifestyle than your relatives do!

Belinda44

Enjoyful

Brilliant!  Love it, Blue!

Belinda44

Belinda44

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer day!

Love these two songs and the feelings they evoke!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsW8rXPcnM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FXKyQUE-BI

bluedahlia

Pip, the Gospel of Thomas being one of them.

Belinda, love those!

bluedahlia

pip57

I found the Gospel of Thomas to be very inspiring.  Too much free thinking, grey areas for the church though.

bluedahlia

Yep, we all have to think alike!

alexandria58

My understanding is that the Church removed the books that did not emphasize the divinity of Jesus but instead focused on his teachings.  How typical.

On the privacy thing - I find it all disturbing.  Yes, it's been going on for a while, yes, I find corporations having this kind of information equally disturbing.  Yes, I found it as disturbing or more so under Bush, but the fact that Obama is doing it doesn't comfort me.

I do remember the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century - and while the United States is far far from those situations at this time - I am not convinced that some far-right nut couldn't win the presidency and then, under the guise of fighting terrorism, go after "enemies" and some government entity knowing all about every one of us could be used.   Remember that Hitler was elected and that he took emergency powers after the bombing of the Reichstag.  I will agree that it's not likely - or probable - I agree that it's possibly paranoid, but I don't like anyone - the government or corporations - knowing who to round up.

Belinda44

A good and calm, rational, thoughtful article by Alan Dershowitz:

"Is Prism Really a Scandal?"

"Pundits are ranting about it, but what we really need is a discussion about privacy vs. security."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/09/is-prism-really-a-scandal.html

alexandria58

Bel - an articulate article on the subject, but I would expect nothing less from Dershowitz.