posted on Jan, 17 2013 @ 12:44 PM
When I was last out visiting the US of A back in 2004, I found something very strange to occur that I was not expecting. I found that when I wanted to
use services or buy products that in the majority of cases the person serving me would ask for my personal details. I'm talking, name, address,
telephone number and date of birth. I found this truely obsurd, especially when there was no actual need to take these details for the
services/products I was requesting. But what came at an even bigger suprise was the look of confusion on the clerks face when I refused to give such
details, they really didn't know what to do, it was almost like they never encountered anybody refusing to give their details before. People say that
in my country that we are not free, but I can at least buy a Pizza (collection from store) and not be asked for my life story, a simple first name
will do.
So how can the US of A, the self proclaimed land of the free actually be free when there seems little room for any kind of privacy, at least in terms
of consumerism? Why does it not get my American friends backs up when they have to submit this kind of information, generally without question?
Another thing that blew my mind, is there are online databases in America that you can get access to with a real estate license where you can look
anybody up (I looked Jenifer Aniston up for a laugh), It will display all their personal details, all known addresses and how much their mortgage loan
is outstanding and what company with. Pretty much all of the information anybody could possibly know about their property.
Do you not find all of this a bit uncomfortable?
edit on 17-1-2013 by michael1983l because: (no reason given)
edit on 17-1-2013
by michael1983l because: (no reason given)