After the 87634334th Facebook.com invitation I decided to sign up. I signed up, wrote down some stuff, and then blocked the whole thing. Yes, I bet the site is the crème de la crème of social networks and dwarfs everything else in significance and that I’ve missed out on the opportunity of a life-time. This little Flash-movie mentioned some things that I checked out, and it told me everything I need to know about it, to say no thanks. Of course I’m an insignificant zit on the bum that is the world, just like you, and you and yes, you. It doesn’t mean it’s not important to safeguard your life, and your information is your life, just as much as your laptop, job, car and house is. Which just makes it even more important to not blindly sign up to things like that. I’d love to see my dad sign off the house, the car, or the workshop to get in touch with some old friends that could have just used the phone anyways. You don’t see the paralell? Then think again, it’s worth alot.
Sure, they can hand the information over to the police, but on the other hand if the police wanted that information they’d ask for it regardless. That’s what police do, they have the right if warranted. Now who gets that information if it’s not the police? Department of Homeland Security ( /paranoia I bet mentioning that’ll spark a hit on someone’s searches /endparanoia :P )? Doesn’t sound like the police to me either, nor does [Company Selling Object A] either, or even the RIAA. Nope, no police there. I sense a disturbing lack of police in look of your personal information for warranted reasons. Commercial reasons? Sure, go ahead, I don’t mind ads on the net, TV or radio. Or wait, I do mind ads on the TV and the radio, since they’re usually so bad and annoying it’s not worth watching, which is off topic. I don’t even mind sharing some of my information to people so they can make money on it, as long as it rains some on me, and I have full control over where that information goes. In this case it’s to the contrary; you don’t get jack shit of it, but a lousy Facebook account.
For all that information I want money, assurances, and most of all, I want control. My life, my information, my choices. Facebook isn’t giving you a choice, they’re hoping you’re a silly sap that thinks Terms of Use and similars are nice and neat things for others. Don’t be ‘Others’, read the User Agreement, and ask yourself if all your information is worth jack shit.
[Edit]I read another blog mentioning it, and he has a point. If they want that information they will get it if they work hard enough at it, and spend enough time. The question is still valid, do you want to hand it to them on your terms, or let them take it, free of charge?
[Edit2] I have no idea what MySpace does, or wants, I never had the faintest interest in that place. I guess I’m as out of touch as Billy Joe Bob and Lessthan Average Joe :P