Facebook (or how I came to love Little Brother)

In the last couple of days, you'll have found my Facebook account livening back up. Given my previous feelings regarding the service, I can't help but have torn feelings. One side of me can' t let go of the fact that some of the venture capital getting Facebook off the ground came from a former CIA agent's firm, or that a member of the directors for the company is former NSA.

It seems all crazy conspiracy theory, I know. But regardless of conspiracy loonyness or something more, I think it speaks to an age where we are willing to put everything we are out to the world without any regard for who may be able to utilize it. The ability, for example, to lock away your more... specious photos for only friends to see. You're only a computer hack, password compromise, or over-the-should social engineer away from having your salacious images available to people you don't know for whatever their reasonings. My guess is those people don't have your best interests at heart. And you may never know until it's too late. Fancy a run for a local office, and that less than complimentary photo shows up during the primaries. And that's without using my imagination.

Then, you may ask, why are you using it again if you've got such an aversion to Facebook? My answer is two-fold.

Recently it became apparent to me that there's no stopping the juggernaut of information that Facebook and other sites will imbibe. And sadly, we're not hesitant for one moment to give it, personal liberties be damned. I never knew volunteering all the reading behaviors, friends and associates, how you know them, religious and political affiliations, and personal contact information over the last 5 years could be so fun! The CIA couldn't do a better job profiling you if they tried.

I've decided to embrace that system, doing so knowing where the dangers lie. I'm best suited to operate in murky water knowing what to expect. There are several things I've done to protect my information. But let's face it: regardless of how well you drive, you still have a possibility if accident, if not caused by you, but another driver on the road. You take those calculated risks every time you get behind the wheel. Or post something to Facebook.