Privacy

There is no privacy on the Internet.

   Regardless of many claims of ostensibly secure computer programs, your system can be hacked into. More to the point, however, is the idea that social media platforms have the right to use whatever you post in advertising for other products and services.
   To their credit, at least, the Facebook folks are up front about it: Anything and everything you put on your page becomes their property, and in signing up you give them permission to reuse a comment about a fine dinner you had at a certain restaurant in ads posted elsewhere touting that restaurant. Along with your name and photo.
   They've been under pressure from government and privacy advocates to limit that practice, but it remains that in signing up you agree to let them reuse your comments.
   Problem: You don't get compensation for the use of your name, image and comment in advertising. In addition, the FB computers don't recognize sarcasm. So when you post a snide comment that there certainly is a choice when considering a political candidate for office, in your profile or in ads comes the notation, "John likes X." No, I don't.

   So, what to do? One choice is to drop out. That's not always a good choice, since you lose contact with your friends and family.
   A second choice is to accept that your recommendations will be used in advertising, whether you approve or not.
   A third is, never post recommendations. Unless, of course, you like Editor's Revenge.

   Finally, remember the editor's advice to politicians, and a guiding principle of Editor's Revenge: If you don't want to see it in print, don't say it.