I think you hit the nail right on the head! When inappropriate touching becomes normalized, it will cause psychological issues to pop up. There is a definitive argument that when children are brought up in that way, that they will suffer consequences later in life.
In working with children in schools, it is very easy to see that the effects impact every child differently, though you can see some commonalities as well. Girls develop emotionally much faster than boys, so the distinction of sexual touching, even in the context of a doctor or parent is very quickly determined to be 'okay' vs. 'inappropriate'. Boys on the other hand cannot make sense of it and that leads them to regress emotionally. They clam up, become aggressive or completely docile, as if disconnected from their own bodies.
I feel this government sponsored action is wrong simply because it inflicts greater injury to it's Citizens. I would fully support a long prison sentence for the guy/girl who came up with this. Yes, yes, I know I should stop dreaming.
I am appalled by the comments Obama made - We are losing high paid jobs for low paying/low skill ones... where is the balance in that? India is being propped up to be a rival to China, yet, why not come out and say that? The problem is, India is no dummy and if the estimates in my region are any indicator, 1 Engineering Job = 3-4 local service jobs. Now all those jobs and associated multiplier jobs are in India.
In the midst of the Great Recession, I can only see someone akin to Carly "I killed HP" Fiorina brazen enough to make such a statement. That Obama made it, that he makes it in India and not in the US. Sad state of affairs out here when your elected Leader throws you under the bus.
That is precisely why my outrage is at the FTC Director. His response to this fiasco is completely outrageous. I'm generally opposed to cases where offenders 'settle' with the Government because it holds back regulation and stricter laws. In effect, corporations/people with deep pockets get away with a slap on their wrist. In this case, we did not even see that much resolve.
Yet, who is going to hold Mr. FTC Director accountable? The behavior he displays is one of complete detachment from safeguarding the ever more uninformed and (alas) apathetic public - I wish he would have given a full accounting of what was obtained and how it was deleted/purged from further exploitation.
David Vladeck, director of the FTC consumer protection bureau, said the agency will end its inquiry because Google has promised to improve its privacy practices.
Is this promise legally binding? What kind of 'improvement' can the average person expect?
What if a person who wants to collect similar information just shows up in front of people's home and the offices of [insert big corporation name here] and tries the same thing. Is the Law the same?
Me thinks FTC Director needs to be made accountable.
My girlfriend reported that her Car's A/C had abruptly gone dead. Upon investigation, some rabbits/roof rats had eaten off the insulation off wires leading to the A/C unit on the car's exposed under belly. We initially though the vermin were out there for heat under a chilly night but this story lends a completely new perspective.
I wonder if other species have similar propensities - Sharks and undersea cables?
If there is anger, it should be towards the Indian Government that uses excuses to mistrusts is own people and at its Draconian measures against Indians.
Blackberry has no choice in this matter, and neither does Pakistan. Easy to blame another when you want to do something wrong yourself.
Here's an excerpt: "Jeff Michael Deck of Somerville, and Benjamin Douglas Herson, of Virginia Beach, Va., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Flagstaff after damaging a rare, hand-painted sign in Grand Canyon National Park.
They were sentenced to a year's probation, during which they cannot enter any national park, and were ordered to pay restitution.
Authorities said Deck and Herson, both 28, toured the United States from March to May, wiping out errors on government and private signs.
While at Desert View Watchtower on the South Rim on March 28, they were accused of using a whiteout product and a permanent marker to deface a sign that's a National Historic Landmark."
Yep. We have had a rash of people posing as plainclothes Police. They have been stopping Senior citizens and attractive women/teens by creeping up behind them, flashing red and blue lights (behind their vehicle's grill) and asking for everything from money to sexual acts and in general scaring people.
Local government/police now want people to call 911 when they are being followed by a vehicle that does not have police markings before stopping.
Ok I'll bite - What you say is assumes that there is a functioning Law Enforcement institution in the country that is trusted by the public to be fair, mostly honest and trustworthy... which there is not. Instead, there is no Law there greater than that of a weapon in one's hand and the influence of a local warlord. Whether it is due to intimidation of the Police[1] or fake police [2] or corrupt police, there exists a huge credibility gap between the average Joe and Law Enforcement.
Who knows what was going on in that guy's mind but by taking on a checkpoint he did assume a very big risk knowing that incidents like this go unaccounted and he would be dead. Consider that no one keeps count of how many Afghanis (or Iraqis) die. Sure, you could be a trigger happy Cop firing at 2 ton worth of metal coming at you... or you could be a better Cop and follow some other strategy that would inspire greater public confidence and show your professionalism... e.g., give chase and apprehend, or radio others for support.
IMHO, what we lack here is a government, transparency and it really sucks for us to be there and be the enforcers of checkpoints... Worse, when we have Marines covering up Haditha[3] then we get to be the bad guys and it only fuels rage and resentment.
This is a war that has no meaning for us... as each day goes by, it brings more insinuation and bad repute to us, empties our treasury and distracts from more pressing issues. It greatly saddens me to read stuff like this where once the Russians were seen as thugs disguised as the Great Russian Army, now we are maligned in the same way.
A month ago we mentioned India's suspicions that telecomm equipment from China might contain backdoors. There hasn't been any smoking gun on such speculation.
Then why do you put such speculation right up there with the headline?
Me thinks there is much propaganda in the above quote. India sees China as its competitor politically and economically. The Indians will always raise 'concerns', 'doubts' and 'fears' to confuse people... about the devious Chinese (or others they don't agree with). I would much rather pay attention to an EFF report than from a party that has a vested interest in see-ing the other guy fail.
To return to our discussion: offending a people's faith IS free speech. Making fun of the Holocaust IS free speech. The fact that some people are offended should not be a factor. Where do we stop otherwise?
Don't get me wrong, I support the freedom of speech, but this is not it. Where do we stop otherwise? In fact, we do not start such stuff at all. We show higher deference and respect for others and their beliefs. We elevate our discussions to higher logic and reason instead of shock-jock tactics.
To the people who are protesting and the Pakistani Government's knee-jerk reaction, they too are handling it poorly. They should instead make their own statement - something to the effect of "this act intentionally hurts the feelings of Muslims all over who are sick'n tired of being dragged into any foolish thing any 1 person does in the name of their faith. It does not build a constructive conversation about the real issues and promotes anti-Islam feelings under the guise of some higher principle. We urge people not to participate as a show of support to the vast silent majority of Muslims who feel offended."
It is incredible to me that offending a people's faith is seen as a glorious example of free speech. When did that happen?
When is it okay to make fun of the Holocast or deny so many lives lost? When is it okay to keep offending a people when you know that it is something they hold in high esteem?
It is a sad commentary that our world equates these things with free speech. How about we really exercise our free speech and not feed these trolls. How about some speech to say that when people hold something sacred, it is not appropriate to defile it.
The East India Company too started by securing an 'open' route to India... and what did they end up doing? China pursues a police of soft diplomacy - hey, we'll help you solve your problem today if you remember that we may call upon your service at our time of choosing. Look at the natural resources they are garnering for their future in Africa, see how they would rather work (which admittedly may run from legit to underhanded) with countries over the long haul and not just for short term expediency. The time for invasions and wars is long gone - today's invasions are based upon creating false (and often inappropriate) desire, data (to support it) and doubt (to refute any objections) backed by a big stick that is rarely (if ever used). Accuracy and honesty have nothing to do with it. Desire brings the participants together. Data sets the limits of their dialogue. Doubt frames their questions and malcontent. There is always a dissident somewhere here. Here on slashdot, he goes by the name of Anonymous coward. Damn them trains! Damn 'em!
...even a geographical 'sixth sense' akin to a GPS iPhone app in the brain.'
The possibilities for such an interface are amazing yet I have to say that I really find it distasteful when 'product placement' intervenes in an otherwise fun comment. It casts a pall over the entire comment and denigrates it to marketing-speak.
Before he became president in 2001, George W. Bush would regularly send emails to both his father President George Bush Snr, now 84, and his mother Barbara Bush, now 83. Mr Bush's online credentials took a hit in 2006, however, when he said that he had used "the Google" to pull up maps.
Jamal Simmons, a Democratic strategist with close ties to the Obama campaign, laughed heartily at Mr McCain's technological travails.
"It's just amazing," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It's very hard to even think about someone who doesn't know how to use the internet. It's like, 'Really?' My five-year-old niece can use the internet. She knows how to go to nickelodeon.com and play her games."
The interview could be politically damaging, he added. "The tough part is that if one of the concerns voters have is that you are out of touch with how they live, what they want, the problems they face, then this only reinforces that notion.
"He's a hero for what he did 35 years ago, but that doesn't necessarily make him the kind of president we want today. Here's somebody who is in many ways very disconnected from where people are." [1]
I find it spectacular that McCain takes these positions with nary
a sprinkle of what the people want. Who is advising him? And why
doesn't he get some better people?
I support Net neutrality in the broader context but there are still
very valid points to be made on the opposite side... yet, all we
hear are sound bites that do not further the argument and worse,
detract from the real provisions that make for a good governance.
So what is the energy consumed during production for one of these LED lights? If we're just using more energy per unit during manufacture, then what is the energy payoff balanced vs. the number of hours these will remain in service?
Good point - perhaps my experience has seen too many such instances... Naked pics at 15, underage drinking at 18, sexual poses at 21-23... all neatly captured on a MySpace/Facebook/etc. page. Not to mention friends/peers who glamorize promiscuity, drugs etc.
It is amazing to see how many kids raise their eye brows when the light bulb goes off and they realize that a picture sent out is completely out of their control. Anyone can post it anywhere... or Photoshop it anyway.
Contrast that to another person who has none of such behavior in her background. Who really stops to check what circumstances let to the 'inappropriate' behavior? Patterns that are established, reputations based on a limited public image does impact the hiring (or other) decision because they are easily defended as disqualifiers. The importance of 'image management' cannot be emphasized enough in a world that's increasingly competitive. In my humble opinion, it is really a lifestyle choice yet sadly, not even discussed with teens today. Easy to get into, very hard to get out of.
1. Teens today are quite easily manipulated into many things that earlier cohorts may have resisted. Perhaps a changing of the times, where a media-driven culture sends out messages of 'everything is cool, the more 'kinky' the better...'
2. Don't understand the ramifications of a compromising photograph. When 'everything goes', then who cares about a photo taken without a thought of its unintended usage. Not to mention, how easy it is for someone to pass the photo around. In one of my classes, I invited an HR person who explained how easy it was to take a picture and massively publish it... and pop up just at the wrong time for when a job offer may be at hand.
3. I deal with law enforcement at times and they say that the #1 way to entrap kids, especially girls, is to have them either do something (e.g., nude webcam, pics etc.) for which they know they will be in trouble with their parents. Once a predator has established this sort of blackmail, the poor kid will end up forced into far worse things.
I don't like this porn law being used this way because it detracts from the real issue(s) at hand. Yet, I can see that law may not fit the bill entirely in such cases. I would instead favor a system which educates kids/teens better and a social system that encourages kids towards greater self-esteem and understanding of such things by informing them of the bad and very real consequences for teens who made reckless choices.
These are the worst for me - especially since most of the ones I've received, have required me to listen to the entire message before even giving a number to 'remove' myself from their list. Worse, when I've called to be asked to remove, they want me to give them my number.
Lesson learnt:
When telecommunications become easier to use... they become even more easier to abuse.
Where is the protection from abuse? and whom do I call?
Interesting... I use a similiar system but always 'close' out the number once I'm done with it. I have seen instances where if I don't close out the number, but just advance the expiry date, that the numbers appear to remain good. However, the 'closing' out part truly renders them useless. My evidence is vendors who try to automatically charge me and find out that the card number is invalid.
I concur on that corporate governance is, for the most part, highly unreliable towards such stuff... but in my anecdotal evidence, doctors aren't much far behind. Villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged.
50%-60% of gross earnings + assets? LOL. But will such a severe punishment ever become reality? Lesser, more 'reasonable' penalties then open up abuse from the richest companies/doctors etc.... to them, the penalty is just the cost of doing business.
You are right though - it is perhaps a question of trust more than anything else, however, in my humble opinion, it is not such a GoodThing.
Unequivocally! If you start with the assumption that for the vast majority of the population, learning is dictated by their experiences, by watching others and very little experimentation, then any pre-masticated sources of information are a seriously dangerous thing. Consider, how propaganda is so effective and (sadly) there are too many recent examples to mention which show how just framing an argument can lead to disastrous consequences both in blocking critical thinking and badgering people to jump to unfounded conclusions. There are many reasons for this, not the least being that when we use a tool without having a fundamental basis of what we're actually trying to explore/comprehend the answer(s) it provides can be too easily seen as the be all, end all.
The problem is not just Google, though it has certainly accelerated the visible effects. It's statistical rankings may appear to be effective, but in the end, too often they act as amplifiers for the loudest opinion, and that's usually not the most rational/informed one. The 'problem' is spread across all kinds of tools, teachers, technology and policies that detract away from giving us and our children a chance to explore and learn for ourselves. The tools/language/method-of-instruction become the means by which free thought is kept at bay.
As others have noted, it is too easy for our minds to be 'lazy' - that's not all bad:) I optimistically believe that's to free ourselves to do what we prioritize higher, but then how many of us actually do something more useful?
The gentle leech, causes no pain. In fact, it is quite comfortable, don't ya think?
Slashdot Mirror
I think you hit the nail right on the head! When inappropriate touching becomes normalized, it will cause psychological issues to pop up. There is a definitive argument that when children are brought up in that way, that they will suffer consequences later in life.
In working with children in schools, it is very easy to see that the effects impact every child differently, though you can see some commonalities as well. Girls develop emotionally much faster than boys, so the distinction of sexual touching, even in the context of a doctor or parent is very quickly determined to be 'okay' vs. 'inappropriate'. Boys on the other hand cannot make sense of it and that leads them to regress emotionally. They clam up, become aggressive or completely docile, as if disconnected from their own bodies.
I feel this government sponsored action is wrong simply because it inflicts greater injury to it's Citizens. I would fully support a long prison sentence for the guy/girl who came up with this. Yes, yes, I know I should stop dreaming.
I am appalled by the comments Obama made - We are losing high paid jobs for low paying/low skill ones... where is the balance in that? India is being propped up to be a rival to China, yet, why not come out and say that? The problem is, India is no dummy and if the estimates in my region are any indicator, 1 Engineering Job = 3-4 local service jobs. Now all those jobs and associated multiplier jobs are in India.
In the midst of the Great Recession, I can only see someone akin to Carly "I killed HP" Fiorina brazen enough to make such a statement. That Obama made it, that he makes it in India and not in the US. Sad state of affairs out here when your elected Leader throws you under the bus.
That is precisely why my outrage is at the FTC Director. His response to this fiasco is completely outrageous. I'm generally opposed to cases where offenders 'settle' with the Government because it holds back regulation and stricter laws. In effect, corporations/people with deep pockets get away with a slap on their wrist. In this case, we did not even see that much resolve.
Yet, who is going to hold Mr. FTC Director accountable? The behavior he displays is one of complete detachment from safeguarding the ever more uninformed and (alas) apathetic public - I wish he would have given a full accounting of what was obtained and how it was deleted/purged from further exploitation.
Is this promise legally binding? What kind of 'improvement' can the average person expect? What if a person who wants to collect similar information just shows up in front of people's home and the offices of [insert big corporation name here] and tries the same thing. Is the Law the same? Me thinks FTC Director needs to be made accountable.
My girlfriend reported that her Car's A/C had abruptly gone dead.
Upon investigation, some rabbits/roof rats had eaten off the insulation
off wires leading to the A/C unit on the car's exposed under belly.
We initially though the vermin were out there for heat under a chilly
night but this story lends a completely new perspective.
I wonder if other species have similar propensities - Sharks and undersea cables?
If there is anger, it should be towards the Indian Government that uses excuses to mistrusts is own people and at its Draconian measures against Indians.
Blackberry has no choice in this matter, and neither does Pakistan. Easy to blame another when you want to do something wrong yourself.
Bah!
IMHO, these guys are out for a cheap thrill, a book deal and dangerous.
Check this link:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/08/22/men_banned_from_national_parks_after_vandalism/
Here's an excerpt:
"Jeff Michael Deck of Somerville, and Benjamin Douglas Herson, of Virginia Beach, Va., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Flagstaff after damaging a rare, hand-painted sign in Grand Canyon National Park.
They were sentenced to a year's probation, during which they cannot enter any national park, and were ordered to pay restitution.
Authorities said Deck and Herson, both 28, toured the United States from March to May, wiping out errors on government and private signs.
While at Desert View Watchtower on the South Rim on March 28, they were accused of using a whiteout product and a permanent marker to deface a sign that's a National Historic Landmark."
Yep. We have had a rash of people posing as plainclothes Police. They have been stopping Senior citizens and attractive women/teens by creeping up behind them, flashing red and blue lights (behind their vehicle's grill) and asking for everything from money to sexual acts and in general scaring people.
Local government/police now want people to call 911 when they are being followed by a vehicle that does not have police markings before stopping.
Ok I'll bite - What you say is assumes that there is a functioning Law Enforcement institution in the country that is trusted by the public to be fair, mostly honest and trustworthy... which there is not. Instead, there is no Law there greater than that of a weapon in one's hand and the influence of a local warlord. Whether it is due to intimidation of the Police[1] or fake police [2] or corrupt police, there exists a huge credibility gap between the average Joe and Law Enforcement.
Who knows what was going on in that guy's mind but by taking on a checkpoint he did assume a very big risk knowing that incidents like this go unaccounted and he would be dead. Consider that no one keeps count of how many Afghanis (or Iraqis) die. Sure, you could be a trigger happy Cop firing at 2 ton worth of metal coming at you... or you could be a better Cop and follow some other strategy that would inspire greater public confidence and show your professionalism... e.g., give chase and apprehend, or radio others for support.
IMHO, what we lack here is a government, transparency and it really sucks for us to be there and be the enforcers of checkpoints... Worse, when we have Marines covering up Haditha[3] then we get to be the bad guys and it only fuels rage and resentment.
This is a war that has no meaning for us... as each day goes by, it brings more insinuation and bad repute to us, empties our treasury and distracts from more pressing issues. It greatly saddens me to read stuff like this where once the Russians were seen as thugs disguised as the Great Russian Army, now we are maligned in the same way.
[1] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104607440
[2] Sorry can't find a reference right now
[3] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5670345
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5439816
Why can't we have a "Photograph the MD Metro" page? That will stop 'em!
Then why do you put such speculation right up there with the headline?
Me thinks there is much propaganda in the above quote. India sees China as its competitor politically and economically. The Indians will always raise 'concerns', 'doubts' and 'fears' to confuse people... about the devious Chinese (or others they don't agree with). I would much rather pay attention to an EFF report than from a party that has a vested interest in see-ing the other guy fail.
Don't get me wrong, I support the freedom of speech, but this is not it. Where do we stop otherwise? In fact, we do not start such stuff at all. We show higher deference and respect for others and their beliefs. We elevate our discussions to higher logic and reason instead of shock-jock tactics.
To the people who are protesting and the Pakistani Government's knee-jerk reaction, they too are handling it poorly. They should instead make their own statement - something to the effect of "this act intentionally hurts the feelings of Muslims all over who are sick'n tired of being dragged into any foolish thing any 1 person does in the name of their faith. It does not build a constructive conversation about the real issues and promotes anti-Islam feelings under the guise of some higher principle. We urge people not to participate as a show of support to the vast silent majority of Muslims who feel offended."
It is incredible to me that offending a people's faith is seen as a glorious example of free speech. When did that happen?
When is it okay to make fun of the Holocast or deny so many lives lost? When is it okay to keep offending a people when you know that it is something they hold in high esteem?
It is a sad commentary that our world equates these things with free speech. How about we really exercise our free speech and not feed these trolls. How about some speech to say that when people hold something sacred, it is not appropriate to defile it.
The East India Company too started by securing an 'open' route to India... and what did they end up doing? China pursues a police of soft diplomacy - hey, we'll help you solve your problem today if you remember that we may call upon your service at our time of choosing. Look at the natural resources they are garnering for their future in Africa, see how they would rather work (which admittedly may run from legit to underhanded) with countries over the long haul and not just for short term expediency. The time for invasions and wars is long gone - today's invasions are based upon creating false (and often inappropriate) desire, data (to support it) and doubt (to refute any objections) backed by a big stick that is rarely (if ever used). Accuracy and honesty have nothing to do with it. Desire brings the participants together. Data sets the limits of their dialogue. Doubt frames their questions and malcontent. There is always a dissident somewhere here. Here on slashdot, he goes by the name of Anonymous coward. Damn them trains! Damn 'em!
The possibilities for such an interface are amazing yet I have to say that I really find it distasteful when 'product placement' intervenes in an otherwise fun comment. It casts a pall over the entire comment and denigrates it to marketing-speak.
Just had to say - I loved the 'voting' example to explain privacy.
Effective and simple to bring up in day to day discourse!
+1 mod.
Or watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zovJfeHj-Uc
I find it spectacular that McCain takes these positions with nary a sprinkle of what the people want. Who is advising him? And why doesn't he get some better people?
I support Net neutrality in the broader context but there are still very valid points to be made on the opposite side... yet, all we hear are sound bites that do not further the argument and worse, detract from the real provisions that make for a good governance.
[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/johnmccain/2403704/John-McCain-technology-illiterate-doesnt-email-or-use-internet.html
So what is the energy consumed during production for one of these LED lights?
If we're just using more energy per unit during manufacture, then what is the energy payoff balanced vs. the number of hours these will remain in service?
Good point - perhaps my experience has seen too many such instances... Naked pics at 15, underage drinking at 18, sexual poses at 21-23... all neatly captured on a MySpace/Facebook/etc. page. Not to mention friends/peers who glamorize promiscuity, drugs etc.
It is amazing to see how many kids raise their eye brows when the light bulb goes off and they realize that a picture sent out is completely out of their control. Anyone can post it anywhere... or Photoshop it anyway.
Contrast that to another person who has none of such behavior in her background. Who really stops to check what circumstances let to the 'inappropriate' behavior? Patterns that are established, reputations based on a limited public image does impact the hiring (or other) decision because they are easily defended as disqualifiers. The importance of 'image management' cannot be emphasized enough in a world that's increasingly competitive. In my humble opinion, it is really a lifestyle choice yet sadly, not even discussed with teens today. Easy to get into, very hard to get out of.
My experience with High Schoolers has been that:
1. Teens today are quite easily manipulated into many things that earlier cohorts may have resisted. Perhaps a changing of the times, where a media-driven culture sends out messages of 'everything is cool, the more 'kinky' the better...'
2. Don't understand the ramifications of a compromising photograph.
When 'everything goes', then who cares about a photo taken without a thought of its unintended usage. Not to mention, how easy it is for someone to pass the photo around. In one of my classes, I invited an HR person who explained how easy it was to take a picture and massively publish it... and pop up just at the wrong time for when a job offer may be at hand.
3. I deal with law enforcement at times and they say that the #1 way to entrap kids, especially girls, is to have them either do something (e.g., nude webcam, pics etc.) for which they know they will be in trouble with their parents. Once a predator has established this sort of blackmail, the poor kid will end up forced into far worse things.
I don't like this porn law being used this way because it detracts from the real issue(s) at hand. Yet, I can see that law may not fit the bill entirely in such cases. I would instead favor a system which educates kids/teens better and a social system that encourages kids towards greater self-esteem and understanding of such things by informing them of the bad and very real consequences for teens who made reckless choices.
These are the worst for me - especially since most of the ones I've received, have required me to listen to the entire message before even giving a number to 'remove' myself from their list. Worse, when I've called to be asked to remove, they want me to give them my number. Lesson learnt: When telecommunications become easier to use... they become even more easier to abuse. Where is the protection from abuse? and whom do I call?
Interesting... I use a similiar system but always 'close' out the number once I'm done with it. I have seen instances where if I don't close out the number, but just advance the expiry date, that the numbers appear to remain good. However, the 'closing' out part truly renders them useless. My evidence is vendors who try to automatically charge me and find out that the card number is invalid.
Of course, your milage may vary.
I concur on that corporate governance is, for the most part, highly unreliable towards such stuff... but in my anecdotal evidence, doctors aren't much far behind. Villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged.
50%-60% of gross earnings + assets? LOL. But will such a severe punishment ever become reality? Lesser, more 'reasonable' penalties then open up abuse from the richest companies/doctors etc. ... to them, the penalty is just the cost of doing business.
You are right though - it is perhaps a question of trust more than anything else, however, in my humble opinion, it is not such a GoodThing.
Cheers!So what's to prevent a doctor from abusing this system by colluding with those who stand to benefit from unauthorized access to such information?
Unequivocally! If you start with the assumption that for the vast majority of the population, learning is dictated by their experiences, by watching others and very little experimentation, then any pre-masticated sources of information are a seriously dangerous thing. Consider, how propaganda is so effective and (sadly) there are too many recent examples to mention which show how just framing an argument can lead to disastrous consequences both in blocking critical thinking and badgering people to jump to unfounded conclusions. There are many reasons for this, not the least being that when we use a tool without having a fundamental basis of what we're actually trying to explore/comprehend the answer(s) it provides can be too easily seen as the be all, end all.
:) I optimistically believe that's to free ourselves to do what we prioritize higher, but then how many of us actually do something more useful?
The problem is not just Google, though it has certainly accelerated the visible effects. It's statistical rankings may appear to be effective, but in the end, too often they act as amplifiers for the loudest opinion, and that's usually not the most rational/informed one. The 'problem' is spread across all kinds of tools, teachers, technology and policies that detract away from giving us and our children a chance to explore and learn for ourselves. The tools/language/method-of-instruction become the means by which free thought is kept at bay.
As others have noted, it is too easy for our minds to be 'lazy' - that's not all bad
The gentle leech, causes no pain. In fact, it is quite comfortable, don't ya think?