Q&A243: Why don't people care about privacy? Is it true Proton is accepting Monero? How can you get involved in the fight for privacy? And more! Join our next Q&A on Patreon: https://www.pa...
I really find that most people I talk to do care about privacy. If I ask a person why they have window blinds and black out curtains, they will most likely say ‘to give me privacy’. Why do you have a key that goes to the lock on your front door? Well, that’s to prevent unauthorized access. So, the average person on the street does value privacy, security, and anonymity, there is just this disconnect between their daily real life, and their digital life. They just may not understand that in 2025, there is no real defining line between their real lives and their digital lives. It’s one in the same.
I don’t know too many people that would let me come into their house, use their resources to profit my company, without giving them due compensation. That would be ludicrous. Yet, they just don’t understand that this is exactly what happens with their digital data. Your data is bought and sold as a commodity, on a cyclical basis to bolster the profits of a corporation, without giving you due compensation. In 2025, surveillance capitalism and governmental surveillance are teaming up. More coverage.
So, yes, I would say that the common man in the street does value privacy, they just don’t quite understand the complexities that are going on behind the pretty pictures on their computer monitor. We, as the ‘enlightened’ are charged with educating the masses in lieu of condemning them for what they don’t understand.
These are my opinions. There are many like them, but these are mine.
So let’s think about that. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve had a computer in front of me since the mid 70s. We are experienced. We understand. We get what’s going on behind all the pretty pictures, apps, and whatnot. Why? Because at some point in our lives we showed more than a general interest in computers or networking and have educated ourselves over the years. However, even tho I have had a computer since the mid 70s, I will openly admit, computers and networking are fucking complex. If IT/Computer knowledge was a 25’ tape measure, I’m probably at the 1" mark.
So, lets take the average family for example; two adults and 2-3 kids running around. Unless you are quite fortunate in life, it usually takes 2 incomes to make ends meet. Two adults go to work, come home exhausted. Try to spend a little time with the family, and collapse in bed to do it all over again tomorrow. On the weekends, again, time with family, extracurricular activities for the kids, try to get caught up on house hold chores, etc. Monday comes quick. The average person in this scenario doesn’t have time to read an IT textbook, or absorb the complexities of networking, or understand all the intricacies of preventing data leaks. What they know is that when the go to use their device, shit just works. If not, it’s off to a repair shop.
They are not stupid, or normies, or any of the other condescending labels affixed to them. They just don’t understand whats going on behind the scenes. It would be like me, a mildly educated man, trying to understand the complexities of brain surgery. Sure, I know where the brain is, I’ve seen MRI scans of mine (which has been damaged), but I have little idea how all of that works beyond when I get out of bed in the morning, the shit better work, or it’s off to the doctor’s office. I could just hear the neurologist asking me in regards to the intricate, inner machinations of my brain; ‘What? Are you just willfully stupid?’ It’s not that I’m stupid, it’s just that I haven’t had 15 years of structured, medical, education.
I just think that we will win over more converts using a different approach. A little sugar in lieu of vinegar.
I understand where you are coming from, but in my experience, the people I talk with, most just don’t care about privacy. When the situation is explained in plai terms, it’s like talking to a wall. When a simple means to reclaim some privacy is presented or offered, there is no interest.
I happen to currently fit into the discription you offered above, and I do find it challenging to improve my privacy. I’ve been putting off ditching google android on my main phone because I expect it to take hours. I even have a working prototype in my old pixel 2xl with LineageOS + microg. Maybe today I will take the plunge.
People who don’t care about their and their friends and family’s privacy until they are directly impacted are being willfully stupid. At least have the balls to see reality, even if one cannot entirely fix it.
I don’t want to come off as preachy to the community here either. It’s just something I feel strongly about. I’ll try to use the soap box sparingly.
the people I talk with, most just don’t care about privacy. When the situation is explained in plai terms, it’s like talking to a wall.
Yes, there are a lot of people who just don’t really care. A lot of people in my +70, boomer generation just fail to grasp the gravity of their actions either, much to my chagrin. They think the government is here to help. Side note: One of the most hilarious things I watched develop here in the US was centered around the participants of the Jan. 6th situation. People were shocked that the GPS beacon they carry around in their pocket was able to track them. Duh! I mean, the White House has it’s very own mobile phone network ffs. In addition, their FB posts, detailing their every last moment in their lives, replete with pictures, names, and even phone numbers/addresses, were easy pickings. Duh! However, I bet the majority of those people now practice some level of privacy, anonymity, and security in their lives, and if not…you can’t force a horse to drink. For some hard heads as you pointed out, it only becomes relevant when it happens top them, and then it’s shocking. Hard heads learn hard lessons.
I just think about if I were one of those who ‘just didn’t get it’. If someone approached me with some of the condensation I’ve seen expressed in privacy forums, I’d tell you straight out to piss off. So, that is my concern…the message. When dealing with the public, image is everything, regardless of how I feel about public images. In a lot of people’s minds, they already equate us to flat earthers, chem trail, conspiracy nuts who live in their mom’s dimly lit basement, wearing our favorite hoodie, thumbing through the latest edition of Soldier of Fortune. That’s already a hard nut to crack, and then add in negativity towards those who ‘just don’t get it’ and the message falls flat.
I really find that most people I talk to do care about privacy. If I ask a person why they have window blinds and black out curtains, they will most likely say ‘to give me privacy’. Why do you have a key that goes to the lock on your front door? Well, that’s to prevent unauthorized access. So, the average person on the street does value privacy, security, and anonymity, there is just this disconnect between their daily real life, and their digital life. They just may not understand that in 2025, there is no real defining line between their real lives and their digital lives. It’s one in the same.
I don’t know too many people that would let me come into their house, use their resources to profit my company, without giving them due compensation. That would be ludicrous. Yet, they just don’t understand that this is exactly what happens with their digital data. Your data is bought and sold as a commodity, on a cyclical basis to bolster the profits of a corporation, without giving you due compensation. In 2025, surveillance capitalism and governmental surveillance are teaming up. More coverage.
So, yes, I would say that the common man in the street does value privacy, they just don’t quite understand the complexities that are going on behind the pretty pictures on their computer monitor. We, as the ‘enlightened’ are charged with educating the masses in lieu of condemning them for what they don’t understand.
So… The answer us (willfull) stupidity. Those same people say “because I have nothing to hide” with reference to their devices.
These are my opinions. There are many like them, but these are mine.
So let’s think about that. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve had a computer in front of me since the mid 70s. We are experienced. We understand. We get what’s going on behind all the pretty pictures, apps, and whatnot. Why? Because at some point in our lives we showed more than a general interest in computers or networking and have educated ourselves over the years. However, even tho I have had a computer since the mid 70s, I will openly admit, computers and networking are fucking complex. If IT/Computer knowledge was a 25’ tape measure, I’m probably at the 1" mark.
So, lets take the average family for example; two adults and 2-3 kids running around. Unless you are quite fortunate in life, it usually takes 2 incomes to make ends meet. Two adults go to work, come home exhausted. Try to spend a little time with the family, and collapse in bed to do it all over again tomorrow. On the weekends, again, time with family, extracurricular activities for the kids, try to get caught up on house hold chores, etc. Monday comes quick. The average person in this scenario doesn’t have time to read an IT textbook, or absorb the complexities of networking, or understand all the intricacies of preventing data leaks. What they know is that when the go to use their device, shit just works. If not, it’s off to a repair shop.
They are not stupid, or normies, or any of the other condescending labels affixed to them. They just don’t understand whats going on behind the scenes. It would be like me, a mildly educated man, trying to understand the complexities of brain surgery. Sure, I know where the brain is, I’ve seen MRI scans of mine (which has been damaged), but I have little idea how all of that works beyond when I get out of bed in the morning, the shit better work, or it’s off to the doctor’s office. I could just hear the neurologist asking me in regards to the intricate, inner machinations of my brain; ‘What? Are you just willfully stupid?’ It’s not that I’m stupid, it’s just that I haven’t had 15 years of structured, medical, education.
I just think that we will win over more converts using a different approach. A little sugar in lieu of vinegar.
I understand where you are coming from, but in my experience, the people I talk with, most just don’t care about privacy. When the situation is explained in plai terms, it’s like talking to a wall. When a simple means to reclaim some privacy is presented or offered, there is no interest.
I happen to currently fit into the discription you offered above, and I do find it challenging to improve my privacy. I’ve been putting off ditching google android on my main phone because I expect it to take hours. I even have a working prototype in my old pixel 2xl with LineageOS + microg. Maybe today I will take the plunge.
People who don’t care about their and their friends and family’s privacy until they are directly impacted are being willfully stupid. At least have the balls to see reality, even if one cannot entirely fix it.
I don’t want to come off as preachy to the community here either. It’s just something I feel strongly about. I’ll try to use the soap box sparingly.
Yes, there are a lot of people who just don’t really care. A lot of people in my +70, boomer generation just fail to grasp the gravity of their actions either, much to my chagrin. They think the government is here to help. Side note: One of the most hilarious things I watched develop here in the US was centered around the participants of the Jan. 6th situation. People were shocked that the GPS beacon they carry around in their pocket was able to track them. Duh! I mean, the White House has it’s very own mobile phone network ffs. In addition, their FB posts, detailing their every last moment in their lives, replete with pictures, names, and even phone numbers/addresses, were easy pickings. Duh! However, I bet the majority of those people now practice some level of privacy, anonymity, and security in their lives, and if not…you can’t force a horse to drink. For some hard heads as you pointed out, it only becomes relevant when it happens top them, and then it’s shocking. Hard heads learn hard lessons.
I just think about if I were one of those who ‘just didn’t get it’. If someone approached me with some of the condensation I’ve seen expressed in privacy forums, I’d tell you straight out to piss off. So, that is my concern…the message. When dealing with the public, image is everything, regardless of how I feel about public images. In a lot of people’s minds, they already equate us to flat earthers, chem trail, conspiracy nuts who live in their mom’s dimly lit basement, wearing our favorite hoodie, thumbing through the latest edition of Soldier of Fortune. That’s already a hard nut to crack, and then add in negativity towards those who ‘just don’t get it’ and the message falls flat.