I read reviews on Amazon. For one thing, I find them useful for, say, figuring out which book on Javascript is best for a novice. For another, I read enough scifi/fantasy to have pretty much tapped out the standard fare at Barnes and Noble. If I want something different, I have to shop based on recommendation, and the reviews on Amazon sometimes help me make up my mind. It works pretty well, actually. I just ignore the rants and badly-spelled reviews.
As for the thing about privacy: feh. In the US, it's an enormous issue right now, and it has gotten ridiculous. I have nothing against personal information being protected. Random strangers should not be able to look up your address. But if you're buying a new house, the realtor should be able to access your credit report. Librarians should be able to look up your information so they can mail you irritated letters about your 3-months overdue book. And for God's sake, a teacher should know the name and phone number of a child's parents in case of emergency.
I know that to other countries, the US government has been looking somewhat Nazi-like lately, but the privacy issue really has very little to do with that. The people compromised by laws such as the Patriot Act are not at all the same people who are complaining that salespeople can see their credit card numbers. And I think you're right: right to privacy is not the same as right to free speech. In fact, this obsession about privacy compromises free speech. If you can't verify your facts or cite your sources, how are you supposed to make sure you're right? Free speech is only protected if you've got a leg to stand on.
I guess you can tell what my opinion is (barring such good reasons as you cited). Sure, I've got my handle, but 1: I don't generally criticize people under this ID, and 2: if someone asks my name, I'll tell them. And I use my real name when I post on Amazon. Anyone who goes to the hard work of writing a book deserves to know who's criticizing (or praising) them.
I apologize for the rant. It's just that I've gotten disgusted with this fixation on personal privacy. It leaves behind considerations such as integrity, efficiency, and even the chance to socialize and make new friends.
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branchandroot
Warning: tangential rant
Date: 2004-10-25 09:47 am (UTC)As for the thing about privacy: feh. In the US, it's an enormous issue right now, and it has gotten ridiculous. I have nothing against personal information being protected. Random strangers should not be able to look up your address. But if you're buying a new house, the realtor should be able to access your credit report. Librarians should be able to look up your information so they can mail you irritated letters about your 3-months overdue book. And for God's sake, a teacher should know the name and phone number of a child's parents in case of emergency.
I know that to other countries, the US government has been looking somewhat Nazi-like lately, but the privacy issue really has very little to do with that. The people compromised by laws such as the Patriot Act are not at all the same people who are complaining that salespeople can see their credit card numbers. And I think you're right: right to privacy is not the same as right to free speech. In fact, this obsession about privacy compromises free speech. If you can't verify your facts or cite your sources, how are you supposed to make sure you're right? Free speech is only protected if you've got a leg to stand on.
I guess you can tell what my opinion is (barring such good reasons as you cited). Sure, I've got my handle, but 1: I don't generally criticize people under this ID, and 2: if someone asks my name, I'll tell them. And I use my real name when I post on Amazon. Anyone who goes to the hard work of writing a book deserves to know who's criticizing (or praising) them.
I apologize for the rant. It's just that I've gotten disgusted with this fixation on personal privacy. It leaves behind considerations such as integrity, efficiency, and even the chance to socialize and make new friends.