Lauren's Senior CitizensThis is a featured page

Forum #2 Group – 9 Senior Citizens at my condo –
  1. ALL stated Privacy is not overall as important. They liked the feeling of security
that they believed the government was providing. They were willing to do their part if it helped protect Americans. 2. What is important to you about Privacy? Again, not overly concerned about privacy at all. They felt that if their neighbors knew what they were up to, they felt more secure. However, they were concerned about Security at the gate letting people in if the person just gave their name and security let them in without calling them first. The three that were concerned about Privacy looked at it from the perspective of protection from ‘evil-doers’ i.e. those that would do harm if they had information about them that they could use against them. 3. What information are you comfortable giving out? Interestingly, all did not like giving out any information about themselves, even though they also felt that they needed to know information about others, and that the government needed to know information about others in order to protect them! They understood the need for banking information being asked, and also the need for information given to their doctors. They felt no qualms about either of those things. Libraries were frequented by only 5 of the individuals, and they were not concerned about patron privacy at all. If the government cares about what I’m reading, well that’s just sounds funny to me. Why would they waste their time? 4. Where do you draw the line and say “That none of your business?” They mostly laughed at this question and thought it maybe it had something to do with having sex with someone.
  1. What do you think of when I ask you about privacy?
My mail getting delivered to me and not someone else by mistake. The bank getting me mixed up with somebody else. Fear of identity theft. Solicitations by telemarketers, how do they get my number?
  1. What influences in our society are changing how we think about privacy?
Those people that follow everybody around with huge cameras getting in their faces at their weddings and whenever they leave the house. (Paparazzi). Computers, emails, anybody can read those.
  1. How do you feel about privacy?
Mainly, they didn’t think about it much. “When you get to be my age, there isn’t much left to hide.” You’ve already done anything you might be ashamed of, and it’s all in the past, and nobody cares anyway. Yes, maybe the government knows more than it should about it’s citizens, but it’s impossible to stop them and hopeless so we can just hope for the best.
  1. What concerns do you have about privacy?
Just about people getting information and using it against me somehow.
  1. What types of information could hurt a person if made public?
If somebody couldn’t get health insurance because they were ill.
  1. What information about others do you feel you need to know?
Well, nothing really.
  1. What decisions have you made about your privacy?
None that any of them could think about. Although one woman stated that they are more careful when walking with their purses and try not to carry anything of value in their that could identify where they live. (I thought this was not necessarily a good idea, and told her that perhaps she should keep some kind of contact info in case she needed it.)
  1. What tradeoffs or compromises would you be willing to make with your privacy?
They didn’t seem to understand this question too well. They thought they had all the freedoms they needed.
  1. Are you surprised at any of that that you have heard today?
No, but it’s been interesting. Thanks for taking an interest!


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ccaywood 		Latest page update: made by ccaywood , Dec 19 2007, 5:12 PM EST (about this update About This Update ccaywood Moved from: Lauren's teen boys - ccaywood

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