Go paperless - Not!

[oddoneout]

I think you've got your cart and horse mixed up.

They get your email when you place an online order. I agree they don't "need" an email id - and it shouldn't be impossible to proceed without one, but in our - haha - "modern" society, if you haven't got a mobile phone and an email id, and - coming next year, a WiMax and an RFID implant, then you don't exist.

I think some firms claim to be more scrupulous, and don't spam you - but simply sell on your details to others who will.

But they have to tell you that's what they'll do and give you the option to refuse. How well it works in practice is another matter but the potential hefty fines for 'mistakes' have at least produced more caution.

[Old Grumpy]

I think you've got your cart and horse mixed up.

They get your email when you place an online order. I agree they don't "need" an email id - and it shouldn't be impossible to proceed without one, but in our - haha - "modern" society, if you haven't got a mobile phone and an email id, and - coming next year, a WiMax and an RFID implant, then you don't exist.

I think some firms claim to be more scrupulous, and don't spam you - but simply sell on your details to others who will.

Horse:. I go into a shop and buy some goods (no preorder involved).

Cart:. At the payment stage shop assistant asks if I would like to be emailed a copy of the receipt (as well as receiveing the printed copy).

[oddoneout]

Horse:. I go into a shop and buy some goods (no preorder involved).

Cart:. At the payment stage shop assistant asks if I would like to be emailed a copy of the receipt (as well as receiveing the printed copy).

And you should be told to what use that email address will be put - it's usually for marketing purposes of one sort or another(may be dressed up as a newsletter), and by agreeing you are deemed to have given consent to that use. How far it gets spread is another matter because of course companies almost never exist as stand-alones these days so info given to Bloggs Emporium can be shared between its partner companies.

[Triforium]

Well, you obviously know more about playing Sibelius orchestral music than I do, so why don't you tell me?

Oh dear, this has all become very 'Ronnie Pickering'. I realise score noise can be an issue, particularly in Wagner, and I now know that Sibelius orchestral scores, which require frequent page turns, are somehow easier to deal with on a device displaying one page at a time. Nevertheless, per my original post - #21, I dislike the reflected light on the faces of performers (Take note Bryn, lest the pedantic omit the necessary element of thoroughness). I find the reflected light a distraction, whether performing or seated in the audience.

[MrGongGong]

Oh dear, this has all become very 'Ronnie Pickering'. I realise score noise can be an issue, particularly in Wagner, and I now know that Sibelius orchestral scores, which require frequent page turns, are somehow easier to deal with on a device displaying one page at a time. Nevertheless, per my original post - #21, I dislike the reflected light on the faces of performers (Take note Bryn, lest the pedantic omit the necessary element of thoroughness). I find the reflected light a distraction, whether performing or seated in the audience.

Simple solution

Acousmatic gigs (though judging from your avatar there aren't many of those where you live )

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acousmatic_music

[Dave2002]

And you should be told to what use that email address will be put - it's usually for marketing purposes of one sort or another(may be dressed up as a newsletter), and by agreeing you are deemed to have given consent to that use. How far it gets spread is another matter because of course companies almost never exist as stand-alones these days so info given to Bloggs Emporium can be shared between its partner companies.

Oh sure! I have every faith that such codes of conduct will be observed to the letter! Not long ago we were somewhat surprised that mrs d received a catalogue for mobility aids, including mobility scooters. We don’t think this could have been initiated by doctors or surgeries because they probably do follow ethical guidelines. We suspect that it was as a result of interaction with airlines or airports, as for a limited period of time before and after surgery she needed assistance for boarding and disembarking from planes.

[Old Grumpy]

There was a comment piece in the i newspaper a while ago: the columnist concerned had been at a gallery with her mother looking at a picture by a given picture, a particular word was mentioned many times in the conversation. A while afterwards the columnist started receiving advertising - when browsing the web - directed towards the word concerned. The only way this could have happened, she figured, was that her smartphone had been monitoring the conversation...

The tech companies, of course, deny it. A brief internet search suggests it could well be real.

[MrGongGong]

There was a comment piece in the i newspaper a while ago: the columnist concerned had been at a gallery with her mother looking at a picture by a given picture, a particular word was mentioned many times in the conversation. A while afterwards the columnist started receiving advertising - when browsing the web - directed towards the word concerned. The only way this could have happened, she figured, was that her smartphone had been monitoring the conversation...

The tech companies, of course, deny it. A brief internet search suggests it could well be real.

That's why I always speak in surrealist poetry in public
I now get advertising for brightly coloured machine parts and taxidermist supplies

[Dave2002]

There was a comment piece in the i newspaper a while ago: the columnist concerned had been at a gallery with her mother looking at a picture by a given picture, a particular word was mentioned many times in the conversation. A while afterwards the columnist started receiving advertising - when browsing the web - directed towards the word concerned. The only way this could have happened, she figured, was that her smartphone had been monitoring the conversation...

The tech companies, of course, deny it. A brief internet search suggests it could well be real.

That’s really worrying. I’m well aware that Google Mail reads all the emails, but voice monitoring ....

Do you have links to more articles about that?

I try to avoid any behaviour which could be compromised in the ways you are suggesting, but now you are telling me that even phone conversations are not safe - and we’re not talking about legitimate phone monitoring for crime detection purposes.

[oddoneout]

Oh sure! I have every faith that such codes of conduct will be observed to the letter! Not long ago we were somewhat surprised that mrs d received a catalogue for mobility aids, including mobility scooters. We don’t think this could have been initiated by doctors or surgeries because they probably do follow ethical guidelines. We suspect that it was as a result of interaction with airlines or airports, as for a limited period of time before and after surgery she needed assistance for boarding and disembarking from planes.

The GDPR deadline last year did focus minds wonderfully on what should have already been happening, and things have improved I believe; certainly the compulsory opt-in, which was a particular bugbear of mine, is now not allowed. However it doesn't absolve us as individuals taking responsibility for what information we provide and why.
I suspect you are right about the airtravel link, it was probably tucked away in the T&Cs/Privacy Policy small print somewhere if pre-GDPR deadline and by accepting those T&Cs you were deemed to have given consent for marketing.

[oddoneout]

There was a comment piece in the i newspaper a while ago: the columnist concerned had been at a gallery with her mother looking at a picture by a given picture, a particular word was mentioned many times in the conversation. A while afterwards the columnist started receiving advertising - when browsing the web - directed towards the word concerned. The only way this could have happened, she figured, was that her smartphone had been monitoring the conversation...

The tech companies, of course, deny it. A brief internet search suggests it could well be real.

Another reason for me to stick with my dumb phone!

[Old Grumpy]

That’s really worrying. I’m well aware that Google Mail reads all the emails, but voice monitoring ....

Do you have links to more articles about that?

I try to avoid any behaviour which could be compromised in the ways you are suggesting, but now you are telling me that even phone conversations are not safe - and we’re not talking about legitimate phone monitoring for crime detection purposes.

I tried to find the article, but without success. A search for "smartphones monitoring conversations" or similar comes up with all sorts of article and blog posts. In the case of the i article I mention, I think the monitoring was of a real live conversation between the woman and her mother, not a telephone call. The phone's microphone was live, even when the device was not in use as a phone!

OG

[Dave2002]

The GDPR deadline last year did focus minds wonderfully on what should have already been happening, and things have improved I believe; certainly the compulsory opt-in, which was a particular bugbear of mine, is now not allowed. However it doesn't absolve us as individuals taking responsibility for what information we provide and why.
I suspect you are right about the airtravel link, it was probably tucked away in the T&Cs/Privacy Policy small print somewhere if pre-GDPR deadline and by accepting those T&Cs you were deemed to have given consent for marketing.

I think GDPR is/has been interesting. In some ways it is a total disaster. If I go into a shop to buy - say - a pullover - all I need to know is roughly what kind of material it’s made from, and whether it’ll fit me. My contract is with the shop.

However with web sites we are now getting the digital equivalent of the name and sat nav co-ords of the farmer and farms where the sheep were kept, plus the source of the synthetic fibres, plus the name and location of the factory where the articifical fibre was made, and another factory or dept., where the wool and the artificial fibres were bound together, plus the name and details of the packing firm, and the details of the transport vehicles and operators used, and the names and details of any intermediate warehouses. We don’t need all that information, though perhaps we need to know that someone has kept it.

In the case of a problem we normally expect the shop to sort it out, or provide a refund.

Now accessing many web sites requires extra steps, as we have to agree all the terms etc. Not an improvement, IMO.

It can however be interesting to delve into the construction of some web sites, and find the dependencies, but my guess is that most people don’t, and take things on trust, which is just what happened before GDPR, but without the extra clicks.

[Dave2002]

The phone's microphone was live, even when the device was not in use as a phone!

OG

It’s also possible that the microphone and camera on your computer or tablet are active, even when you don’t think they are. Don’t think that some people, both “good” and “bad” aren’t up to doing that. They are. They could also save data in hidden locations , and pass it over to networks later on, so you can’t be sure that turning off Bluetooth and/or wireless LAN, or email, or Ethernet, will safeguard your privacy.

[Bryn]

The camera lenses on my laptops and phones are covered with black tape, except when I want to use them. I also have a dummy 3.5mm plug in the microphone socket of my laptops. The phone is more problematic regarding its microphone. I do wish phones still had removable batteries.