MUSINGS and other writing by Mark Kolke

. . . . . . there is no edge to openness

TODAY'S MUSINGS

FEEDBACK / COMMENTS

MARK SPEAKS

ARCHIVED COLUMNS

ARCHIVE WINTER 2022-23

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2022

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2022

ARCHIVE SPRING 2022

ARCHIVE WINTER 2021-22

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2021

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2021

ARCHIVE SPRING 2021

ARCHIVE WINTER 2020-21

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2020

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2020

ARCHIVE SPRING 2020

ARCHIVE WINTER 2019-20

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2019

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2019

ARCHIVE SPRING 2019

ARCHIVE WINTER 2018-19

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2018

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2018

ARCHIVE SPRING 2018

ARCHIVE WINTER 2017-18

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2017

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2017

ARCHIVE SPRING 2017

ARCHIVE WINTER 2016/17

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2016

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2016

ARCHIVE SPRING 2016

ARCHIVE WINTER 2015/16

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2015

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2015

ARCHIVE SPRING 2015

ARCHIVE WINTER 2014/15

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2014

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2014

ARCHIVE SPRING 2014

ARCHIVE WINTER 2013/14

CONTACT

MY REAL ESTATE LIFE

WHY I WRITE MUSINGS

SHORT STORY PROJECT

POETRY PROJECT

MARK'S SPEAKING TIPS

SELECTED OTHER WORK

EXTINCTION OF PRIVACY

Friday Apr. 13, 2018

We can all be more careful, less willing to give a phone #, a credit card #, less willing to share our email address, our physical address, our name, our point of view.

We aren’t changing because the world of big data is here; rather, big data arrived a long time ago. It’s thriving because it has proven to itself that our choices matter more to the e-commerce world that does respecting our privacy.

Remember punch cards?

Sixties, seventies too – snail-mail cards we’d sign or enter day on (holes called CHADs), and somewhere it said: DO NOT FOLD, SPINDLE or MUTILATE – so began our willing compliance.

We ‘click here’, accepting user agreements – ‘well-lawyered sentences’ authorizing capture, re-use or re-sale. Little bits and bytes of our lives.

Everyday news, supposedly impregnable databases, compromised. Data stolen, strangers (spies/foreign governments too), crooks and corporate marketers gaining unauthorized access to our data. Facebook – latest to admit publicly the depth to which their/our data was compromised.

They weren’t hacked. They freely gave, still do, give access to big data companies, who mine our data to give advertisers – and Facebook – clues to our vulnerabilities and receptiveness to products and services, our demographics, our online habits mapped, and that map sold over and over in exchange for ‘free use’ of their platforms.

Their business models ain’t changing anytime soon.

Naïve to believe Facebook are alone, just the biggest latest largest exposition.

Is there a solution?

Yes.

It isn’t ‘go offline’.

It’s acceptance.

First, accept ALL your information will be inappropriately shared, mined and stolen. And used to help others make a buck, or steal yours. Not ‘low probability’ – a certainty. Yes, we could/should be more careful about what we surrender online.

We aren’t the only ones in control of our data – governments, employers, banks, credit cards, online merchants – everyone you do business with. Your phone service provider, daily newspaper providers, dry-cleaner, gas company, power company, municipality, electric company, corner store/gas bar + anyone who works there, anyone who hacks into their system. And anyone who, for a fee, rents the access. In many cases, they get that access for free provided they give the analysis back to Facebook et al.

Most of these players have only ‘some of our data, but collectively, they have it ALL!

Privacy we once knew is extinct.

Does accepting this reality change us?

The only variable is who/how many of us still believe that privacy exists.

Some still believe they can do something about it.

Ask, are my choices my choices? Or, am I manipulated by algorithms, big data and artificial intelligence?

Of course you are, we all are.

P.S.: many years ago a client who told me – each time a store taking her credit card ALSO ASKED for her phone number, she always gave a number she made up on the spot. I’ve always liked that story.


Reader feedback:

SECRET SAUCE

Good morning Mark. Yes - habits do define our future and choices define our habits.  I differ with values defining our choices as I believe it is our beliefs about ourselves and what we believe we can accomplish or what we deserve that define our actions.  Our values come into play in how we perform those actions.  If I don't believe it is possible, I will not take action.  Would love to hear your thoughts, EM, Calgary, AB


SIGN UP get MUSINGS DAILY
For Email Marketing you can trust.

SIGN UP get MUSINGS DAILY
For Email Marketing you can trust.

sign up to get Musings CLICK HERE

Comments are always welcome - please contribute to the discussion.  Reply to: kolke@markkolke.com

You can also connect with me on LinkedIn. This site is updated daily, each column is retained in the archive when the next day's column is loaded ...  


Copyright - all rights reserved - Mark Kolke, © 2003-2023 - MaxComm Communications

- this site is updated daily, new column on main page, older columns archived - use the tabs; last update - 2023 - January, 28