- Marketing fuels the world. It is as American as apple pie and delivers relevant advertising to consumers about products they will be interested at a time they are interested. DNT should permit it as one of the most important values of civil society. Its byproduct also furthers democracy, free speech, and – most importantly in these times – JOBS. It is as critical to society – and the economy – as fraud prevention and IP protection and should be treated the same way.
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- The trade associations that lead the DAA do not believe that Microsoft’s IE10 browser settings are an appropriate standard for providing consumer choice. Machine-driven do not track does not represent user choice; it represents browser-manufacturer choice. Allowing browser manufacturers to determine the kinds of information users receive could negatively impact the vast consumer benefits and Internet experiences delivered by DAA participants and millions of other Web sites that consumers value. In addition, standards that are different than the consensus-based DAA Principles could confuse consumers and be difficult to implement. A “default on” do-not-track mechanism offers consumers and businesses inconsistencies and confusion instead of comfort and security.
I secretly wish every day that the entire backbone of the internet would dissolve. That my mapsco and my landline would become useful again. That my life would revolve around my home address instead of my IP address. Eventually, I will yield it completely to corporations and governments. Their demand for control and tracking has left me nauseated, and it will drive me from this idiot-box-squared.
I empathize with the sentiment. There are definitely some positive things that the internet has brought into my life, but the downsides are very real, and could very likely become worse. Also, aside from the good and bad, there are plenty of things that are just nothing but different. I look at app.net, and in light of companies harvesting my information for cash, I consider it to be a noble effort. And yet, at the same time I seriously wonder if I need something like app.net at all, whether or not I pay for it in cash or in loss of privacy. The current course of things seems to indicate that web presence will only matter more in time, but I want my taking part to be a choice, not acquiescence. As an aside, I don’t believe that ads have to be altogether evil, but IMHO every ad does contain an element of evil in it. In some sense, each advertisement is a subtle form of mental violation, as is an attempt to involuntarily impregnate your mind with a specific idea.
I agree it has helped out humans. But I think the only reason we (US Americans, that is) are not marching in the streets demanding the NDAA to be repealed, demanding justice from oligarchs, and pushing back overwhelming police and law enforcement violence is that the internet is sparkly and shiny and haha cats. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy hubski. I enjoy youtube/reddit/ et. al. But I think that the distracting effect the internet has on US Americans is dangerous not for our waistlines but for our rights. I'm going to eat some buttered, salted toast. And have another cup of grumpy.
If it's any consolation, I try my best to view Hubski in terms of what it does for us as users, and as flesh and blood human beings. I've learned a lot discussing news, ideas, and events with people that I would have never had otherwise met, and in that sense, the internet can be a force for good. But, I agree that this medium should not distract us, or pacifies us. It's good to be informed and empowered, even entertained, but we should not be subdued, or harvested. I value Hubski (and other places on the web), but I also value my time away from it.Don't get me wrong; I enjoy hubski. I enjoy youtube/reddit/ et. al.