From: Barbara Lamar (altamiratexas@earthlink.net)
Date: Tue Aug 14 2001 - 09:39:17 MDT
KPJ wrote:
> I have, since I read John Brunner's "The Shockwave Rider" (ISBN
> 0-345-32431-5)
> made sure that my data shadow does not look like me:
Some of the things you list, such as not having bank accounts or credit
cards, not using ID cards, are inconvenient.
The only reason I can think of not to allow oneself into various databases
is that one might someday need to hide from someone who has access to such
databases. But maybe there are other reasons I'm missing.
If one wishes to maintain a degree of anonymity to leave open the option of
hiding, it would seem to make more sense to develop one or more alternative
identities one could step into if the need should arise. Refusing to produce
ID cards, insisting on using cash for large purchases and so forth draw
attention to a person rather than protecting their anonymity.
People I've known who've experienced life under conditions of political
instability say it's wise to have passports from at least two nation-states.
Barbara
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