Hannah Cann tells us why she loves political correctness.
Do you have swine flu? No. Do you know anybody who does have swine flu? Probably not. So what's all the fuss about?
Can't afford ethical clothing but can afford a night out at Ziggy's? Jennifer Heyes discusses where students' priorities should really lie.
Three of The Yorker's blogs team have had a hard think about what general rules they live their lives by and written them down in the form of their own Personal Philosophies.
The purpose of “The Obliterator”, as it has affectionately been named, is to destroy all evidence of any documentation that carries our name and address. Many an idle hour of pondering in the rose beds and the odd bout of housewifery worrying had lead Mummy Cousins to conclude in her worst-case-scenario way that we were ALL at risk of identity theft. Even the cat. Envelopes that my sister and I had thrown out but not properly annihilated our personal information from, would be left out on the kitchen worktop with a “see me” style note (I jest), and smaller portions of crumble would be served at teatime (I jest not). Until recently, I had always dismissed this behaviour as parental rambling; a loveable quirk to be humoured and cherished. Recent online scandal and government mal-administration however, have persuaded me to be very much in favour of the Mumser’s erasing regime.
Last week, an announcement echoed around the inner tabernacle of the hallowed House of Commons, the ineffectiveness of which stunned even the most vehement supporters of the current executive. Trying to picture how that scene might have played out is beyond surreal: what can possibly be said to exonerate such a blunder? “So chaps and chapesses, you know all that confidential information we have stored? The 9.5 million addresses and bank details of parents currently receiving child benefit? Oh, and the dates of birth and National Insurance Numbers of every child in the Country? Well – it’s been put in the post and we don’t know where to. Ooops.” Potentially then these two discs, that are not encrypted, are at risk of being intercepted by fraudsters at best and paedophiles at worst.
The repercussions of this, aside from giving the opposition a merry yarn of incompetence to spin, will potentially overshadow the lives of those affected for an untold length of time. 25 million personal records have been put at risk of impersonation for false credit claims and loans which could lead many to suffer from the four letter word currently stifling the economy: debt. And the effects extend further. The “dream” of identity cards has pretty much shattered for the foreseeable future, and concerns have been raised over the possibility that the Home Office’s new ID scheme, codenamed Stork, could be accessed by 26 Countries of the European Union. Suddenly, vigilance against identity theft seems like the best way forwards So, what is the solution? How about avoid the mail altogether? With the temperamental postal strikes at the moment, not to undermine the importance of what these represent, the internet is surely the most efficient and effective way of securely transmitting data. Or not.
Online fraud has rarely ceased to be prevalent and criticized since the rise of the www dot way of life over a decade ago. Even Facebook has now apparently fallen prey to the all seeing all knowing mentality. Much media speculations claims it is now the screening process of choice for Employers looking to hire Graduates. Perhaps we should think twice before thinking up nonchalant witticisms for the activity section on our profiles if it is to be scanned by the Managing Director of an NGO 10 minutes before a career defining interview. No area of our internet selves is free from scrutiny or invasion.
I first noticed this insatiable appetite that Organizations have to seize personal information when I was plagued by uninvited capricious phone calls from Connexions, the obsolete support network for teenagers, inquiring about my A Levels, University plans and my latest purchases from Topshop. Since then, it seems that an attitude has developed where groups believe they have a right to every small detail about our lives. Yes, we should not advertise any particulars that we do not wish to be made public. But if confidentiality is only a postbox away from being broken, then perhaps a desk top shredder is a stocking filler that we should all be grateful to receive. I bet mine is already wrapped up, ribboned and awaiting my eager hands in my parent’s wardrobe.
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