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David Policar

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I exist in a database! [Dec. 11th, 2007|04:02 pm]
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So, StreetView actually has a picture of my house, with my car in the driveway and everything.
Plus, the satellite view now actually shows my house now, rather than a vacant lot.
(Well, OK, it mostly shows the tops of trees. But I can figure out where my house must be.)
Yes, I know I'm supposed to be horrified by this, though I'm not entirely clear on why. (I'm increasingly accustomed to this.)
It's actually kinda neat.
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Comments:
[User Picture]From: [info]gentlescholar
2007-12-12 12:44 am (UTC)

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Yeah, I'm mostly with you on the not horrified but supposed to be.
My only objection to the universal surveillance age is that it isn't universal. When I can see just as much about (insert name of politician), his house, his family, and his activities as he can see about mine, with the same ease of access, I will not be worried.

It's rather like building the god so many people use to keep immoral but intimidatable people in line.
[User Picture]From: [info]navrins
2007-12-12 02:45 am (UTC)

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Are you sure you can't?

Serious question. I'm not sure you can't, at least for any politician of less rank than a US senator.

Sure, people who are willing to break more laws and ethical codes can than you are can do lots of things you won't, and people who are willing and able to spend money to do it can do things you can't, but that has no direct connection to their political status. Hypothetical politician might be more willing to break laws partly due to the expectation that he can get away with it - but I'm not convinced he really is more likely to be able to get away with it than you or I. He may just know the system better (which comes from paying attention to it, which is probably more of a prerequisite for getting elected than a consequence) and therefore have a better idea of what he can get away with and how to do it, or he may just be more arrogant but actually wrong.

I honestly don't know.
[User Picture]From: [info]gentlescholar
2007-12-12 04:27 am (UTC)

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I believe US Senators have exempted themselves from many laws they feel free to apply to the rest of us. They actually write it into the law.

But I admit this is secondhand and I don't have a source.
[User Picture]From: [info]dpolicar
2007-12-12 03:49 am (UTC)

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(nods) I share your gut feelings here, though honestly I wouldn't even mind privacy being a commodity purchasable by celebrities, etc... after all, I have the protection of relative anonymity, which they don't. But yeah, some level of disclosure/accountability would be a price of power in a well-regulated world.
[User Picture]From: [info]quilla
2007-12-12 03:31 pm (UTC)

in related news...

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hello from a long time ago. remember that totally adorkable boy i was with when i lived in Somerville? one of his jobs right now in Gainsville, FL is driving the damn StreetView truck. how cool is that...
[User Picture]From: [info]dpolicar
2007-12-12 03:37 pm (UTC)

Re: in related news...

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The hot dancer? Yah, I remember him well.
Heh. Hope the truck is airconditioned.
[User Picture]From: [info]quilla
2007-12-12 03:48 pm (UTC)

Re: in related news...

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hee! didn't ask about that.

i'm honestly more excited than creeped out by StreetView. But then again, StreetView hasn't come to DC/MD/VA yet.
[User Picture]From: [info]dpolicar
2007-12-12 04:00 pm (UTC)

Re: in related news...

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I think they should publish their route, so people can put out signs or hang out in costume on their lawns or otherwise participate in the process.