Aren't We Paranoid With Privacy?

Jon, I haven't had a chance to read Bob's blog yet but I find your perspective interesting.  I think that as a society we are more paranoid.  I think that too much information and the ease of sharing information has bred that.  I'm afraid that this is a trend that will get worse, not better.

Jon:  I know that much of what is often said about "privacy concerns" can really sound paranoid.  BUT... we live in a different age than we did forty or fifty years ago.  Case in point.  three days ago a friend asked me to lend him fifty dollars... which I did.  He gave me a check to cash... in three days (today) to get my fifty dollars back to me.  Well... just to be nice, I went to HIS bank... Bank of America... to cash it.  For the ease of doing so, and of course to make sure he had the money to cover it.

Well... all went fine... they had even counted out the fifty dollars.  They wrote down my name... my Texas DL number.  All still fine.  And then... they asked me for my thumb-print.  I must admit... I went more than a little nutz on them.  I refused.  I made some remark about "this is why I don't have an account at Bank of America."  They were just about as nasty as could be.  They gave me back my check, and out I went.  My thumb-print is private.  I don't care.  It was fifty dollars... not fifty thousand.  I don't know if this would qualify me as paranoid... but I DO have a privacy hot-button.  Grrr.  Now you have it... my two cents.  Take care... and thanks for sharing.  By the way... please do NOT try and be logical with me about this.  I just don't want to hear it !

Jon:  That's my next move.  My friend was trying to make it easy on me by giving me the check when I lent him the money.  I'll see him tomorrow... and everything will be fine. 

Yeah... buy a toothbrush... "uh... what's your phone number ?"  I just want to slap them !  Grrrr. 

I think the next time someone asks for private info I don't feel like giving... I will simply ask them for a piece of paper... then quietly and gently write... NOYFB on it... just the initials, not the words, and give it back to them.  Then... give them my sweet, crinkly old lady smile... and calmly walk out the door... LOL.  Take care...

I don't see much of an issue with inspectors taking photo's of homes during a routine inspection... that's very much the norm here, although perhaps I should add a paragraph (or snippet) to our listing addendum's that speaks specifically to that.

As for taking photo's of homes for out of town clients, or clients viewing properties... I always ask, and rarely object when someone asks me.  I counsel sellers to remove everything of value from prying eyes anyway. Expensive antiques, jewelery, guns, etc. should, in my not so humble opinion, be moved out of the house when it goes up for sale.  Once it's been 'sterilized' to an extent, folks are welcome to take all the photo's they want... or for more practical matters, they're free to open cabinets, drawers, etc. and the sellers won't have to worry about an expensive bracelet walking off.

Hi Jon ~ Couldn't have said it better myself.  I think it's good form to ask the listing agent - if he or she is there - if it's ok to take pictures but aside from that don't have any concerns.  We're at a *very* odd place in terms of privacy nowadays - we voluntarily give up our privacy regularly - in the name of convenience, to save a dime or two, or for supposed security - and at the same time get bent out of shape over what to me are often far les invasive examples. 

Liz

Jon,

Funny you write this post as I was thinking the same thing when you were taking all those pictures for our customer this weekend.  Not because you were taking them, just because of security issues if someone else - perhaps a customer did.

Great to meet you and your wife this weekend.

Karen