Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

Richard Young

Tue Jan 30 17:56:35 -0800 2007

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I believe that the data all ready exists to test this.

In Great Britain, political parties are not allowed to fund large advertising campaigns on TV.  They are simply allowed 'Party Political Broadcasts' which are on at certain times, must meet strict guidelines and are shown in equal measure.

If this were to happen in the USA, it whould reduce the need for the phenomenal war chests required by campaigners.  Although I am sure it would upset a few network executives...they would like this idea about as much as being forced to remove advertisements during super bowl!

Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

Nigel

Tue Jan 30 18:57:15 -0800 2007

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Indeed.  In addition, the recent scandals surrounding the donation of money to the Labour party in return for honours and peerages has strengthened the hand of those who call for public funding of political parties.

I quite like the idea as it would at least allow those who have been elected to get on with doing the job they were elected to do and not, instead, have to spend a prodigious amount of their time trying to earn money for the next election.

On the actual subject at hand, I welcome this shift in attitudes.  There was a recent e-mail from Nigel Smart, a professor in Bristol University's computer science department, which warned students to be cautious about the data that they put online with a view to potential employers questioning their judgement if they show themselves to value privacy so lightly.

What occurred to me at the time though was that he had missed the point somewhat in that they didn't regard privacy lightly, they just have different attitudes towards it.  In time the generation polled (and I would suggest these attitudes penetrate a fair way into the 25+ age group too) will be the employers.  I found particularly odious though the idea that the real sin was not to go out and have fun but to show yourself doing it.  It seems to me that that notion of privacy only encourages us to hide what is really going on from each other.

Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

bill_mcgonigle

Thu Feb 01 06:54:54 -0800 2007

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How do they deal with private individuals and foundations buying ads?

Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

Richard Young

Thu Feb 01 19:46:29 -0800 2007

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Doesn't happen.  They try to buy honours instead!

Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

bill_mcgonigle

Fri Feb 02 11:06:36 -0800 2007

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Are citizens forbidden to purchase advertising then?

I see it as a good sign your prime minister is being investigated - over here's what he's accused of is just generally accepted as standard practice. Sigh.

I'm 61 and the TV would be gone long before the Internet..

the_rajah

Tue Jan 30 20:32:56 -0800 2007

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if I had to choose one to the exclusion of the other. I'm more than adequately informed and entertained by what is available to me via the Internet. The content is vast, varied and interactive while TV is none of the above.

Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

mcrbids

Tue Jan 30 21:22:58 -0800 2007

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TV changed politics. In another few decades, will TV's hold on everyone's mind be broken? If campaigns become able to succeed without TV ads, will money be less important to elections?

In my household, this has already happened. There's probably more video watch a la YouTube in this household than makes it thru the TV. We have the Dish DVR and two TVs, but they aren't use as much. But there are 9 computers in my house, all with 1.5 Mbit broadband Internet service, and they are constantly used. (I'm father of 5 kids, with 2 more foster kids, and I'm a software engineer)

Yes, it's a bit extreme in my household - but the trend remains. The neighborhood kids hang out at my house, and they spend lots of time on the computer. It's obvious what they prefer.

TV is on the way out. The RIAA has no clue how hard they're about to get hit.

Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

President4242

Wed Jan 31 09:49:29 -0800 2007

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Do you count the Dish DVR as one of the computers, and do you use it to distributeTV to the other screens in the house?

Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

mcrbids

Thu Feb 01 11:00:50 -0800 2007

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Technically, it is a computer - but it's not a general purpose computer. It functions strictly as a fancy VCR. And yes, it serves video to both computers in the house.

Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

President4242

Fri Feb 02 06:54:47 -0800 2007

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I'm just asking because I do the same thing off of DirectTV with a Windows XP box running BeyondTV.  Although, mainly it just serves recorded TV to my cell phone....

Generational differences in Attitude on Net use and Privacy

President4242

Wed Jan 31 09:48:00 -0800 2007

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If campaigns become able to succeed without TV ads, will money be less important to elections?

I can think of LOTS of other ways that money could influence votes other than TV ads.  A leftist candidate could, for instance, host free meals for constituents.  A rightist candate could solve a specific business problem to gain votes.  There are lots of other ways to spend campaign money.