Re: [microsound] the last.fm panopticon

[Robert Lewis <ionizing@xxxxxxxxx>]

Concerning credit, and data mining:
We are slowly moving towards a cashless society (in the usa, perhaps in
other countries as well.)  Eventually you will be unable to access food,
fuel, necessities unless you have that piece of ID on which all of your
information is stored.   Look into the Real ID act which was passed, and
numerous states are fighting.  It is the next step towards globalization of
economy and data.
Notice those new Visa adds on TV in the usa (not that I own a TV, but I did
notice the adds at a friends house.)  They depict how someone tries to pay
with cash and makes everyone else in line behind them angry because of how
slow it is, etc.  This is propaganda to get the masses used to the idea of
always using a card instead of cash.

I don't like it, but what can I do?  Look at the email I use, gmail, which
is quite well known to mine my data, keep all my emails, look through them
to target me with adds.  I don't do anything confidential anyhow.  I do have
my own domain and will likely switch to using it full time in the coming
months, but there is little privacy anyhow.

It IS a sad state of society.  Sure most of us might not yet be in the gulag
for our thoughts, but some of us are, and it is eventually working towards
that on a larger scale.  Our current regime is setting up precedent for the
future.  Since they are the ones in control of the people with weapons,
food, and infrastructure, what can we do but go along with it or grab our
pitchforks and shovels and die resisting?

Concerning last.fm, getting paid to create, and such:  Even with my own
domain I have not posted any of my real work on-line yet.  I don't know
why.  I won't be using last.fm, but I am hoping to revamp my domain in the
coming months and perhaps start posting more recent work for free download.
I gave up on the idea of making money with sound design after leaving a
start up computer game studio I helped to found.  I would love to get paid
to do sound design, but it is a 'rock-star industry' and it seems I didn't
know the right people to stay within the specific genre.  Perhaps I limited
myself too much, at this point I would take a decent paying job doing sound
design for any genre.  Until then, I create for free, for myself, because it
is fun.  I do it in my spare time, after working my 'day-job' in an
electronics factory.  So is the life of the artist.

On Jan 31, 2008 7:48 AM, reSet Sakrecoer <sakrecoer@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> aaahhh! finaly we reach the spot! mmmmmmm
>
> in 1990, the swiss population discovered, in horror, that they were all
> listed. "nous étions fichés". It was big scandal. The government would
> keep
> a record of what newspaper you where subscribed to, what manifestation you
> went to, what political groups you where attached to. This was huge, and
> people were very angry. They stated the swiss state as "un état de fiche".
> A
> file state.
>
> Now what these fun and ludic databases such as facebook and so on have
> achieved, is to make us believe it is fun and ludic to file "fiche"
> yourself
> with as much details as possible!.....
>
> greatwork power-man, and once again as they say in the US and A: "great
> business opportunity!!!" :)
>
> On Jan 31, 2008 4:47 AM, aleks vasic <bvasic@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > The internet is not the only place where you are profiled in regards
> > to your economic viability, spending habits, demographic.  Any time
> > you swipe a credit card/debit/cash card you are adding to an enormous
> > database.  Get a home loan, car loan, business loan. same thing.
> > Look at the mail you get, you think its really that pot luck?  I dont
> > remember signing any privacy policies at the register of the local
> > mart, whatever it may be.  I have a choice on the internet, true.
> > But im afraid i do not in day to day life.  Sure i can go all cash
> > but its not really a feasible option for a lot of people.  Especially
> > if you have a family and building credit or equity really helps in
> > the big picture of things.  Im sure you are aware of most of this but
> > i thought it worthwhile to point out.  It can be a scary proposition
> > in many ways, but it can also help when you are responsible for others
> > (like kids or any dependents)
> >
> > Just how much privacy do we really have?  How much of a right to
> > privacy do we really have?  I once did an experiment a few years ago
> > after i bought my first home.  Any mail/offers/adverts i got, i made
> > it a point to go out of my way and notify the sender that i no longer
> > wished to receive offers from them.  You know who stopped?  The small
> > guys, like local mortgage brokers, coupon book distributers,
> > basically small business's.  The corporate entities like Capital One,
> > Visa, AM-ex, Insurance companies, blah, blah just kept on sending.  I
> > would call the provided automated numbers to be taken off of their
> > list and still they kept coming.  Called talked to their
> > representatives and with a smile they basically tell me to call their
> > automated number.  I hate the fact that i get so much mail with
> > sensitive information in it and always feel thats its just a matter
> > of time before it falls into the wrong hands.  Maybe i could get a
> > lawyer but man that is going to some expensive extremes to keep my
> > self out of the loop and i would rather spend that money at the local
> > record shop/bookstore/art supply shop.  I do feel helpless that i
> > cant do anything about it but i guess in my case what have they
> > really gained with my purchasing patterns.
> >
> > Consumer 83283AHE9382-323's Purchasing Patterns
> >
> > gas - milk - Guinness -bread - snickers bar - way too many records -
> > way way too many books - DVD's of what would be considered boring
> > content by most peoples standards - cat food - dog food - computer
> > related nerdery - Eddie and Sams pizza - underwear(rarely) Blah blah...
> >
> > Crap.  What started off as a muse turns into something scary.  Those
> > purchases can be dissected even further.  How often i will purchase
> > certain items a year, when i purchase said items.  Where i usually
> > shop within proximity of my home, how much do i spend compared to how
> > much i earn.  Product preferences.  How often i travel.  Purchasing
> > habits when i travel.  I am sure they could assemble one heck of a
> > list over time, but in the end all it means is that i get more mail.
> > Could it turn into something more nefarious.  Sure i believe so, but
> > i dont think it will really happen in my life time for the most
> > part.  If it does and im an old fart who cares any way.  Its the
> > future generations that should be attentive to what could quickly
> > spin out of control.  I feel we are in a prison of sorts, its just
> > that the cage isnt really constrictive just yet.  Doesn't mean that
> > the bars wont slowly close in on us.  The aspect of our Governments
> > keeping tabs on us to this degree is what really scares me, now.
> >
> >
> > alEKs
> >
> >
> >
> > On Jan 30, 2008, at 9:18 PM, Gary R. Weisberg wrote:
> >
> > >> but the sad state of the world is that our data are already heavily
> > >> tracked/spied upon/warehoused in the marketplace by corporate
> > >> interests
> > >
> > > Kim,
> > >
> > > While I always find your comments on market economics and the
> > > politics of culture insightful,
> > > and sometimes enlightening, I feel it necessary to play a bit of
> > > devil's advocate regarding this
> > > last post...
> >
> > > There you have it - my 2 cents.
> > >
> > > Gary
> > >
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>
>
> --
> Set Hallström
> AKA
> reSet Sakrecoer
> +34 697 903 606
> http://reset.mxx.ch
>