kayvaan 09 Oct 05

a lot of fear-mongering.

the ends doesn’t always justify the means when “making your point”.

the spot does raise some issues, but it seems to imply that any information sharing is bad. that’s not very “web 2.0” is it? :)

i will say that the spot does grab your attention. and it was kind of funny too - which is good …

Jacob Stetser 09 Oct 05

There’s a BIG difference between choosing to share your own information (Web 2.0) and having information shared for you (centralized identity databases such as the one portrayed in the ad).

At the same time that I believe in personal transparency and honesty, I also believe very strongly that sharing information about myself should be my choice only.

kayvaan 09 Oct 05

i agree. i think that anyone who wants your information should give you an incentive to provide your information (as well as guarantees that it won’t be shared without your permission, of course).

i think the combination of added value and data security are a strong incentive to share data, no?

from a microeconomic perspective - transparent information reduces transaction costs which creates incredibly liquid markets which can potentially create enormous value. the question is how do we get those “checks and balances” in there.

dmr 09 Oct 05

“from a microeconomic perspective - transparent information reduces transaction costs which creates incredibly liquid markets which can potentially create enormous value.”

I’m going outside now to stare at trees and clouds.

Lisa 09 Oct 05

pay in cash.

Vaughn 09 Oct 05

This is really old; I saw it at least a year previous, along with sound.

Vaughn 09 Oct 05

My bad, I didn’t realize my computer speakers were turned off!

Don Wilson 09 Oct 05

You have to ask yourself, “where does the line for convenience end?”

Bob 09 Oct 05

Dude, that ad is ancient. Ran out of Writeboard hype to post?

some dude.. 09 Oct 05

yes, it’s old, but it’s a great little piece. It’s strange how people in the us take the lack of some national ID as granted.. most countries around the world have one. And it’s really not that difficult to trace a phone number to an ID… it’s actually quite simple as long as you have the data.
The ad is very effective.. leaves you wondering… I loved it the first time I saw it, nice reminder.

Bob 09 Oct 05

…most countries around the world have one.

Not true, but not a surprising statement to read here based on the typical 37 Signals church-goer’s for bandwagoning around anything posted here.

One of many FAQ sources on this topic available
here.

A Nonnie Moose 10 Oct 05

I just came back from a concert where I had to speak with the ticket office for 40 minutes before entering the venue because I was *supposed* to have been added to the Will Call list.

I’m not so worried.

Gordon 10 Oct 05

Lisa “Pay in cash” you say?

Well I would but I can’t get an invite to the BETA launch…

Terry 10 Oct 05

I would say fear-mongering is an “effective” way to make your point. But “good”? No. It is unethical.

MH 10 Oct 05

More funny than scary. Good argument for a smaller government, though…

t 13 Oct 05

I believe in transparency in one’s life. Striving for honesty and integrity in all that a person does. That being said, it is NO ONE’S business what I read at the library, research on the Internet, purchase with my money or am screened/treated for at the doctor’s office. Certainly not the government’s. By centralizing such private information, the government is not only asking for the system to be abused, they themselves are abusing a basic tenet of the system: the public’s belief and trust that the government has their best interest at heart.

Noah 14 Oct 05

I find it interesting that as a government gets older it tends to become more and more corrupt and restrictive until there is a bloody revolt and then it starts over again.

Of course YOUR country will implement a national ID card system, it’s the same idea as citizenship was in rome, it was like a national ID card, only they had lots of little bloody revolts and lead pipes so it was someone less spectacular.

It happend in the US,

US is founded
US is strangled
US fights back
US slowly strangles self in name of security and economy
US fights back… ok so that hasn’t happend yet but this isn’t a NEW cycle anyware, least of all in the states.

A pizza place NEEDS to know your address to deliver a pizza to you, so they can ask you for it when you call (how do you know it’s really the pizza place) or they can ask you to verify it.

Most of the problems seem to come from lack of thought. How about the pizza place gets your address one time and then when you call they ask for the first 3 digits of your zip code and then their computer prompts them to read you something like the last 3 digits of one of your phone numbers that you’re NOT calling from or your street address or something but gives them a 50% chance that the information is wrong and if you “verify” wrong information they hang up if not then you get your order. Sure it’s complex but we’re all paranoid about security aren’t we? Isn’t taking such insane steps to protect your privacy the first step in losing it?