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comment by mk
mk  ·  4755 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: You Want to Track Me? Here You Go, F.B.I.
Yeah, I think as a statement it makes sense. However, his argument that "if we all overwhelmed the FBI with our information it would protect us" doesn't hold water. Computers are getting better at sorting through the noise every day.

I think a much more effective approach would be to constantly publicly post erroneous information about yourself. You know insanecanadian, I spent last weekend in Bora Bora. It was fantastic. How is your Oldsmobile running?

At some point, I can see legislation that makes it illegal to lie about yourself online.





elahi  ·  4746 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  
Yes, I agree that the computers are getting better...and the new younger tech savvy agents are doing some great work. Unfortunately there are still plenty of Cold War dinosaurs still calling the shots in some of these agencies...until those guys are out of the picture, very little will change. There was no reason why it needed to take as long as it did for me...the very first FBI agent knew I was harmless, but the system didn't have enough trust in him to let him do his job and instead he had to move it down the line. The system of inefficiency is really sad and I really hope that these folks will do something about this.
thenewgreen  ·  4738 days ago  ·  link  ·  
This project of yours has me fascinated. Not so much for it's symbolic nature but for practical purposes. They say that when you write down your caloric intake every day, you are more apt to lose weight and eat more healthily. I've also heard it said that if you write down or document every purchase you make, you are more apt to be a responsible spender.

Do you find that your documenting of both your eating habits and your finances has had a positive impact on your dietary and financial health?

mk  ·  4746 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Hey, awesome. Thanks for dropping in!

So, I'm not clear on this: As the dinosaurs retire, these new agents are going to be better at sifting through our data. Do you think that will be a good thing because they'll get less false positives?

I fear it's not just previous experience, but something else that makes those dinosaurs act like idiots. Perhaps they got to call the shots because they are over-reaching paranoid idiots? These tech savvy guys might be tomorrows dinosaurs calling the shots, but with more of our information.

What you did was pretty slick, btw.

thenewgreen  ·  4755 days ago  ·  link  ·  
If there is ever legislation that "makes it illegal to lie about yourself online", then you can pretty much eliminate all online dating sites. -I'm all for that.

I think what his point may be is that the FBI is antiquated in it's approach to processing this information. While you are right that "Computers are getting better at sorting through the noise every day", it sounds like the "establishment" at the FBI isn't interested in the thoughtful analytics data mining can provide. If they were, I would imagine Mr. Elahi would never have had an issue.