[Homestead] Thunderbird problem - A Bit of a Rant - Sorry, Can't Help It :)
Gloria Morris
gloriamorris59 at gmail.com
Sun Feb 21 13:28:45 EST 2010
On 2/21/2010 12:53 AM, EarthNSky wrote:
> The Gmail portion is operating wonderfully
> under Thunderbird, but I need to log back on to the website and see if
> it is storing mail like the problem Glo has. I don't like webmail
> because of security....not that I have that much to hide, but it is the
> principle of the matter. Can anyone help with this password thing?
>
>
It is odd how those of us who do not care for the concept that others
can potentially read our email have to defend ourselves in online
discussions. It should never be necessary to apologetically say "I have
nothing to hide" when mentioning a concern about privacy issues. But it
is. Because in almost every on-line conversation about privacy, if
anyone mentions a concern, in most forums there is a very high
likelihood that someone will say "I'm not worried about what Google <or
insert other entity, including the government> has on me because I HAVE
NOTHING TO HIDE." The inference is that anyone who gives a rat's ass
about privacy must be a criminal or have something to hide. Our society
has gone from valuing individual freedom (and privacy) to practically
demanding full body searches of innocent people in order to fly on an
airline in the name of safety, and to fully accepting that our entire
identities should be openly entrusted to a corporate entity or to the
government.
I still like the motto "Live Free or Die!" Over the course of my
lifetime, I have watched the steady erosion of both privacy and
individual freedom. People have been slowly conditioned not to care
about personal freedom or privacy any longer. Sad but true.
I don't feel we should apologize for not wanting someone reading our
mail, whether snail or e. Who would feel comfortable seeing someone
reading their mail out of their mailbox along the road? Even if they
have nothing to hide? If it is no big deal, then why would that action
be a federal crime? How is it any different with email? Nowadays, more
business is conducted via email than snail mail. Many things which are
of a private nature are dealt with online. And yet with email, a hacker
or errant Google employee could access yours without your ever seeing
them rummaging through your virtual mail box. Concern for privacy, in my
mind anyway, is not a sign of a criminal mind, scheming to hide dark
secrets, but a matter of prudence.
Gloria
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