Essay talk:Privacy

Just wanted to further clarify the issue of Google saving searches and stuff. This was inspired by me recently searching RW for an IP to identify someone. I think it's a different issue because essentially, to use the internet - and you really have no choice if you want to do it, like you have no choice in using a registered car if you want to drive on the road - you have to use an IP. Yeah, you can use proxies, but really, that should unnecessary. Not least it's a very unreliable thing, actively deceitful and doesn't so much solve the issue as stick another hurdle in the way of people who want to abuse IPs to identify people. Your IP is a trail of breadcrumbs. In many ways, this can be used to trace you. You have no choice in signing up for this. Most of the time, your IP is hidden from view. It's not difficult for you to see it or for some websites to track it if you visit them, but for the most part its hidden - sort of "private" in the sense that you don't choose to release it publically. Sometimes you do, you might post, "My IP is xx.xxx.xxx.xxx" or edit a wiki anoynmously and have it recorded (this is "accidental", but remeber by "ignorance is not an excuse" mantra, accidents are understandable, but learn to avoid them!). The IP is this trail and stench that you leave around the internet as you move and is, by and large, unavoidable to do so. It's like leaving your DNA everywhere. This is why I think it falls into a different category. ^gnostic 20:19, 27 May 2010 (UTC) What about private emails between two people that the government reads. The info shared is between you and him/her but the government reads it anyway. That, in my book is infringing on my privacy.

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very good! i really enjoyed reading this essay, it separated fact from fiction beautifully and was entertaining enough. Metazero 00:17, 6 September 2020 (UTC)