Comments on: Thomas Y. Levin: “surveillent narcissism” and other digital doubts http://www.radioopensource.org/thomas-y-levin-surveillent-narcissism-and-other-digital-doubts/ Christopher Lydon in conversation on arts, ideas and politics Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:13:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Emily Corwith http://www.radioopensource.org/thomas-y-levin-surveillent-narcissism-and-other-digital-doubts/comment-page-1/#comment-166410 Emily Corwith Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:26:06 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=5577#comment-166410 I have my privacy settings set to prompt me each time a website tries to put a cookie on my computer. I recently went on a website which prompted me for at least 20 separate cookies for what appeared to be advertising and marketing data collection efforts. It was time consuming to reject each one, but instructive as to what is happening invisibly as we are cyber-travelling. I have my privacy settings set to prompt me each time a website tries to put a cookie on my computer. I recently went on a website which prompted me for at least 20 separate cookies for what appeared to be advertising and marketing data collection efforts. It was time consuming to reject each one, but instructive as to what is happening invisibly as we are cyber-travelling.

]]> By: Oguz Yetkin http://www.radioopensource.org/thomas-y-levin-surveillent-narcissism-and-other-digital-doubts/comment-page-1/#comment-166358 Oguz Yetkin Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:00:24 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=5577#comment-166358 Great discussion, but I must take issue with the suggestion to give a fictitious e-mail to introduce noise. Introducing noise into the system is fine, but make sure that the "fictitious" e-mail or phone number you give is not someone else's e-mail. I have recently been dealing with someone whose name is similar to mine giving MY e-mail to every gaming, auction, etc. site out there. Unfortunately, most of these companies do not have a direct way "unsubscribing" without having that person's data... Great discussion, but I must take issue with the suggestion to give a fictitious e-mail to introduce noise. Introducing noise into the system is fine, but make sure that the “fictitious” e-mail or phone number you give is not someone else’s e-mail.

I have recently been dealing with someone whose name is similar to mine giving MY e-mail to every gaming, auction, etc. site out there. Unfortunately, most of these companies do not have a direct way “unsubscribing” without having that person’s data…

]]> By: Glen S http://www.radioopensource.org/thomas-y-levin-surveillent-narcissism-and-other-digital-doubts/comment-page-1/#comment-166342 Glen S Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:03:30 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=5577#comment-166342 Brilliant discussion, though it's appalling that even such a broad overview of these topics stands out so drastically against the backdrop of our general discourse. I wholeheartedly agree that media literacy desperately needs to be emphasized in educational settings, though it probably should begin in preschool. The implicit education that we receive every day through these very media only reinforces the "herd" (or beehive, or anthill, whatever you like) mentality so prominent in the digital realm. If we're to use new media as tools of empowerment, we need to parse out the tools that enhance our participation in power, not those that require us to surrender power (ie data, information, intellectual property) for some technological baubles. The sheer economic power of companies like Facebook and Google should arouse suspicion, especially since state and law enforcement agencies are so far behind that even our government and intelligence agencies are regularly attacked and raided for their data. When Facebook makes a trivial change to its user agreement it's on the nightly news, its omnipresence is almost comical. Internet companies may promise to protect your data, but the truth is that they are nowhere near capable of living up to that promise, and most of them are perfectly happy to give access to your data to any third party "developer" who is detached enough to avert any legal troubles. We should not be so ready to sell ourselves as commodities just to participate in a shiny new website, especially ones that are intended to integrate so deeply into our personal lives while taking away our ability to control them. I'm just glad to hear that I'm not the only one who causes a stir every time I go to Radio Shack. Brilliant discussion, though it’s appalling that even such a broad overview of these topics stands out so drastically against the backdrop of our general discourse. I wholeheartedly agree that media literacy desperately needs to be emphasized in educational settings, though it probably should begin in preschool. The implicit education that we receive every day through these very media only reinforces the “herd” (or beehive, or anthill, whatever you like) mentality so prominent in the digital realm. If we’re to use new media as tools of empowerment, we need to parse out the tools that enhance our participation in power, not those that require us to surrender power (ie data, information, intellectual property) for some technological baubles. The sheer economic power of companies like Facebook and Google should arouse suspicion, especially since state and law enforcement agencies are so far behind that even our government and intelligence agencies are regularly attacked and raided for their data. When Facebook makes a trivial change to its user agreement it’s on the nightly news, its omnipresence is almost comical. Internet companies may promise to protect your data, but the truth is that they are nowhere near capable of living up to that promise, and most of them are perfectly happy to give access to your data to any third party “developer” who is detached enough to avert any legal troubles. We should not be so ready to sell ourselves as commodities just to participate in a shiny new website, especially ones that are intended to integrate so deeply into our personal lives while taking away our ability to control them. I’m just glad to hear that I’m not the only one who causes a stir every time I go to Radio Shack.

]]> By: Kento Ikeda http://www.radioopensource.org/thomas-y-levin-surveillent-narcissism-and-other-digital-doubts/comment-page-1/#comment-166271 Kento Ikeda Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:35:29 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=5577#comment-166271 Crossing borders is going to get increasingly difficult. In the United States, we're already working on databases of people who don't even live within our own borders that can be accessed from any airport or border crossing point. To prevent violence perhaps, but this won't be the case in all countries. In some countries, I have to keep critical opinions to myself until I leave the country. It isn't going to be all that long until in these same countries I will have to not only watch what I say during my stay, but consider everything I've ever written in a public internet forum. Or maybe even who I have followed or friended on a social networking site. Crossing borders is going to get increasingly difficult. In the United States, we’re already working on databases of people who don’t even live within our own borders that can be accessed from any airport or border crossing point. To prevent violence perhaps, but this won’t be the case in all countries. In some countries, I have to keep critical opinions to myself until I leave the country. It isn’t going to be all that long until in these same countries I will have to not only watch what I say during my stay, but consider everything I’ve ever written in a public internet forum. Or maybe even who I have followed or friended on a social networking site.

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