the wellingtonista

We're tracking you.

Submitted by noizyboy on Wednesday, 11 Apr 2007.

So, I hope everyone's now up to speed on creating false identities, after the Dominion Post's useful step-by-step front-page guide yesterday, which talked you through the steps required in getting a fake driver's license or passport. Thanks DomPost!

What really got us nervous though, was the myriad of ways in which our moves and actions throughout the day are tracked by 'the man'.

The DomPost listed several examples of supposedly 'nefarious' personal data-collection. Did you know that the web-browser you're using this very moment to look at this page keeps a record of the fact that you've looked at the page? It's true. Doctors, apparently, also keep records of your various visits. Suspicious? Almost certainly.

And, even more insidiously, the library keeps a record of what items you have borrowed from it at any given time? Why, oh why!? The pervading finger of 'the man' permeates every facet of our life. Our private lives, and indeed, our very identities, it would seem, are under constant threat, from the authorities, or figures who know how to manipulate the system.

Or, on the other hand, maybe it was just the worst front-page 'shock' story, ever.

# Submitted by Kane (not verified) on Wednesday, 11 Apr 2007.

I was shocked to find that the supermarket PRINTS off a list of the items you purchased!

llew's picture
# Submitted by llew on Wednesday, 11 Apr 2007.

"the library keeps a record of what items you have borrowed from it at any given time? Why, oh why!?"

Have you not seen Se7en?


noizyboy's picture
# Submitted by noizyboy on Wednesday, 11 Apr 2007.

Seriously, my librarian's pedantry radar went off the scope when they requested a "full borrowing record" in se7en.

Libraries *don't* keep records of what you've had out and *returned*. They only even know what you've actually got issued right now. As soon as you've returned something - ping! - the system never knew you had it out.


Joanna's picture
# Submitted by Joanna on Wednesday, 11 Apr 2007.

That's what they want you to think, Noizy...


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