Saturday, January 23, 2010

Breaking Up In a Digital Fishbowl

I meant to put a post on this subject a few weeks ago but it kind of got lost in the sauce. But I came across it again, so here goes. A few weeks ago I was flipping through the Thursday New York Times and saw this article in the Thursday Styles section called Breaking Up In a Digital Fishbowl. As I read this, all I could do is shake my head at some of the things that were described.

First off, how people who want to prove their devotion and trust to their partner share the intimate details of their email, bank and other passwords. Really now. Give me a break. I have a joint bank account with my wife that we use for house expenses. the account is linked to both of our personal accounts. But when I log on to the bank website, I can only access the house and my personal account. The same with my wife. She has her's and I have mine. The mistake people make is that sure you can trust your partner now, but after a breakup, please change the passwords. There's no point of having an "ex" access your personal information. Ever.

Second, maybe I'm too old to care but the article talks about the digital trail about the backup online. How sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace can announce the breakup to friends and let the ex know of any new developments in the life of their former partner. Again, really now. So your ex has a new man. So what. Get over it. Go find a new chick and move on with life. People will always (well almost always) move on with life. Come on now, are we in High School? Please.

Third, folks using a service such as Loopt to keep track of your ex-partner through their phone service borders on the psychotic. The website Crunchbase.com described the Loopt service as so:

Loopt is a mobile social mapping application. Using cell phones and mobile devices, it displays the locations of a user’s friends along with their presence status (available, away, etc) visually on maps or on lists. Based on GPS and related data, users can request alerts when friends are within a certain distance, send messages to groups of friends in particular area, and be able to tag and blog physical locations in a way that’s accessible to friends through Loopt.

I mean sure, the program sounds innocent enough when used for its intended purpose but man I have to say, but this is some crazy technology. Give this kind of information of the wrong person and...So what do you do.

The article quotes an attorney who gives the following advice:

he advises divorcing clients to change their passwords, stop posting on social networking sites, acquire a new e-mail address, and secure or make copies of whatever is posted about them online. Users, of course, control what they post on private accounts. Where it gets tricky, though, is when photos, videos and comments have been forwarded, retweeted or reposted to friends’ accounts or on public Web sites.


Ok, easier said than done. For those of us who maintain sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace our activity on these sites has become something of a daily ritual. We can't imagine our day without accessing our friends comments and status updates. So cutting off is easier said than done. We hope that those who we spend time with in a relationship now, is the person who we believe to be mature can be so when we are no longer involved with them.

For those couples who chose to share all your information with your partner. Just stop. Privacy doesn't mean cheating. Just because you keep your phone password to yourself doesn't mean you're hiding phone numbers and steamy texts. It just means that you have your personal space and he/she has their own personal space. If they can't understand that, then maybe they should just hit the bricks.

Whatcha think. Let me know.
FH

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

People Have Some Nerve

Part I
Ok, so I'm at the front door and had the most bizarre experience. I just had some foreign chick correct me by saying that I didn't ask her for her ID with a "please". If any of you that know me have seen and heard me work, I always ask for ID's with courtesy and respect...that includes saying please. I live by the theory, you treat them nice coming in, they treat you nice going out, but I digress.

So after I told her that I said please, but to amuse her I said Please again she shows me her passport. I thank her making sure that I listen carefully for the "You're Welcome" that I knew would not come. Of course, I find that those who correct someone one their manners never really have any to begin with.

So in a little piece of petty snobbery, I loudly said "You're welcome" and corrected her by saying when someone thanks you protocol dictates you say you're welcome.And to top it off, she left not a red-cent on the bar.

Proper decorum prevents me from describing her as I would like to.

Part II
Once again, these two foreign chicks come in as I just finish changing a keg. As I approach one of the ladies and ask her for her ID, she points her finger up gesturing for me to wait as she storms by me headed to the bathroom.

I have to admit, she caught me off guard leaving me telling the other young lady that was with her that she was rude. As tempted as I was to pull her back by her long hair, my being the gentleman that I am, caused me to hold back and just let her use the bathroom.

I mean, I would never dare go in a bar to only use the bathroom and not ask if I could. The nerve.

Is it a full moon tonight?
Later,
FH

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Been a while

Wow, just realize that its been a while since I've updated my rant site. Now please don't fret you good and fine folks, things have been pretty hectic as of late and I promise to resume chronicling some of the craziness that makes part of my day. Hope the holidays were fun filled with family and friends. See you soon. FH