I know I am old fashioned and grew up in an America where individual rights were respected, but one thing about modern times really bugs me. If someone brings up an example of how our individual rights as guaranteed by the Constitution are being infringed upon, or gives an example of the potential for abuse of our rights, inevitably someone comes along and paints the person as "paranoid" or talks about putting on their "tinfoil hat".
The one which really sets me off is the "If you have nothing to hide, it shouldn't bother you" argument. Having nothing to hide has nothing to do with ardently desiring to protect one's fundamental rights. The right of privacy is one of my primary peeves. Coming on the internet does not mean I am choosing to give up my privacy, it only means I am seeking to interact with intelligent adults in a civilized and courteous manner. I have gotten somewhat used to the idea that I can Google myself and read what I just wrote a few minutes ago, but it still bothers me that people find it amusing or permissable to ridicule others for their concerns.
Is it just me, or does it bother others as well?
1) tinfoil hat: I'm surprised I don't get this more often. However, I did some work years ago with a group that helped expose COINTELPRO. It's not nearly as funny when you discover that your own government
really is plotting against you.
2) nothing to hide: This is a control mechanism used to nullify others. It also has a direct application as a way to embarrass someone into allowing you to compromise their security. It's a crap argument and deserves no respect.
3) amusing to ridicule others: Sometimes it's good-natured ribbing. Every so often someone will throw a barb of "aren't you a moderator somewhere?" Well, I did set myself up for that, so I don't take it seriously. Other times I wade into a discussion knowing I'm going to draw fire, maybe because I'm defending something unpopular, or because I'm going to propose something uncomfortable, or what have you. I know there's gonna be heat, and I take my lumps.
Oh THR,
meef has a sig line that warns people that there's no such word as "alot."
I've occasionally tormented him by posting something in a thread where he's active, saying something like "oh, there's really alot of that going on" or perhaps, "yeah, I like that alot." All in good fun.
It wouldn't work, of course, if there wasn't already a certain level of respect and affection in place.
I don't rib people I don't like. That's too much like rudeness.
