Including 'Location' in bio:

I fail to see how it is any of your, or anyone else's, business.

It's not, if you don't want it to be--I never said it was our business. It's just a questions--which is what these boards are all about--discussion.

It's all in plain view. I mean anyone on the street at that time could see Joe coming out of the strip joint, so there isn't any "reasonable expectation of privacy" under the Constitution. The police can come by your neighborhood and look at what is on your property, what is visible from the street, and take pictures of it with sophisticated cameras, without any need for a search warrant. They can also do the same from helicopters or other aircraft. As long as something is in "plain view" that is accessible visually from property where you are permitted to be, there is no expectation of privacy from any kind of surveillance or filming.

Oh, come on Michael, are you not being a tad ingenuous. You start a thread that is basically about disclosure and then relate that whether people use voice. We are all very much aware of your opinions on voice and non-users, so what exactly are we supposed to assume? That you are, for once, being impartial, or that you are still on your hobby horse?

Hey, and I can spell 'per se'.

Difference being that the Police need a reason to watch you, in the US anyway.

Unlike Movies and Some TV shows, they need approval from their superiors before they stake out a house.

For two reasons - first, they tend to respect the community in which they serve and take their oaths seriously. And second, potential litigation.

Of course there are circumstances where they do not follow proper proceedures and this leads to an uproar often when found out.


The Idea of a camera trained on every house is a scary one.

First of all, I think you'll find that Ashlynn was replying to my post right above hers.

And I cannot help but wonder who this collective 'you' is you keep referring to.
Also, you then - in post #199 - stress that this board is for discussion. Well it seems that many people here are happy to have open-minded discussions, even debates, without making broad generalisations.
I for one choose not to stereotype anyone based on prior posts on unrelated issues, or indeed based on strong opinions voiced on similar subjects. This means I also remain open-minded when it comes to posters opening discussions on subjects on which they have previously voiced such strong opinions.
However, I would suggest that if you open such a discussion, again, you might also expect people to disagree with you, again.

Your suppose to assume that I'm only trying to learn. Learn. Learn. I'm only human.

I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad about anything...I'm just curious.

Ummm...and cracking on someones typos or misspellings is as childish as it gets. Don't you think that's stooping pretty low. Clearly if you read my posts, I'm educated and well spoken...pointing out ONE misspelling is as trolling as they come--and the word is of an origin not of my primary language...sheesh. Ok...to get technical, most languages derive from other languages (latin, etc)...so don't go there.

Firstly, Ashlynn made a direct comment to me, and I replied to that...at least, I'm pretty sure I did. Anyhow...

The collective 'you' is the forum community--naturally.

Listen, I'm not some 2D creature floating around cyberspace--I'm a complicated biological thinker...I'm all over the place. I adapt. Just like we all do. So please try to keep this 'open mind' of your's open...

I'm not a bad guy...nor am I an arse...I do have strong opinions, and they are opinions that I'm willing to back up with intelligent banter. Sometimes people don't agree (most of the time they don't, I think because my last name is Bigwig).

I could stoop even lower after that post, but I won't. If you condescend to the wrong people, Michael, expect to be condescended to in return.

To set up permanent surveillance of your private residence they need reasonable suspicion, yes. To cruise through your neighborhood and look at everything they can see with their eyes or cameras, they don't need any reasonable suspicion, actually. Do they do this very often? No, they don't. But if you live in a denser area where police patrol either in car or on foot or otherwise, anything they can see from public property is fair game, whether they have a reasonable suspicion before looking or not.



Maybe it is, but that's not the same issue as a strip joint or other commercial venue. To be honest, I'm not threatened by having surveillance cameras in public and/or commercial areas like that.

You guys love to play innocent. You love it don't you? Oh come on...are you trying to fool even yourself? Every single one of you that [continually] disagree with me...condescend to me as well. You all are just as guilty...

So before you spout out anymore hypocritical mumbo-jumbo...think twice.

You all love the drama...and you're just as good at dishing it out as I am...just don't forget that. I think the major difference between you guys and me...is that I'm honest about it.

One major difference, is we dont toot our own horn like you toot yours.

You practically play a symphany with your own horn.

You even redub in the backing tracks of other tooters in the pursuit of tooting perfection.

-------------------------------

By the way - a major component to being condescending is an obvious inflated ego.

So you're an honest hypocrite? Oh, that's all right then.
At least I not hypocritcal enough to play the oh-so sensitive delicate flower, as soon as someone dares to question me. You certainly are very good at dishing it out, Michael, but apparently not so good at receiving it.
You don't seem to have figured out that I for one don't disagree with you for the fun of it. I simply disagree with you. Is that not allowed?
And it's not personal. I'm sure you're a jolly nice chap. You just have some very odd ideas, in my opinion.

it seems there are as many opinions as there are posters so to address the forum 'community' as a collective 'you' makes little sense imho



Erm, yes that was kinda my point



Now that wouldn't be very open-minded, would it? Seriously, I doubt that anyone would disagree with aynone based on their name. Based on their opinions? Well, yes, but that would make sense.

I could go on, but to quote the OP
*shrug

LOL

Disclaimer: Not expressing an opinion on any particular person in any way, but just .... LOL

Ahh, the turmoil of acceptance.

Popeye said it best when he said, "I yam what I yam."

Haven't read the whole thread, so this is just a response to the OP's question.

Well ... but we know you're not REALLY a Bigwig, because you live in East Providence.

I'm betting that comment felt just a *tad* uncomfortable. That is one reason why I don't list my rl location - who needs to deal with comments about it? Positive or negative. I wouldn't enjoy comments like the one I just made about your spunky little hometown (which actually I enjoy), and I also don't particularly enjoy "You're from XX? So am I!!!!"

Also, since I'm American, and really enjoy the mix of nationalities in SL ... I'd just as soon not trigger anyone's anti-Americanism until they've had a chance to know me a bit.

Re: voice, lol! I don't use voice much because I am rarely on a computer that can cope with it. Skype, I'll use, if the friendship merits it.

Oh, and IBTL. The discourse seems to be getting a little personal ...

p.s. oh, and I freely tell people where i'm from when they get to know me.

I love when I am holding a nice with converstaion with someone for several minutes and when they discover where I'm from the all of a sudden change. Comments range from, "Oh, you're American. Too bad. You seemed nice" or "I would make up an Irish name if I were American too", or my personal favorite, after a good couple of minutes of small talk.."I'm sorry. No speak English."

Nika's and Brenda's comments are exactly why I don't tell people where I'm from. Anti-Americanism is so strong _sometimes_ that I'd just rather not say at all. I had one woman, who, when I told her that I was American, promptly went around telling all her little buddies that I'm not a REAL Indian and therefore my saris aren't "authentic." Sheesh. I'd have to be Native American, Kenyan, Saudi, Indian, etc etc all at once, by her standards.

Then there's the "Oh, you're American. You seem nicer than most Americans I've met."

Not only does this slightly embarrass me, but it slightly angers me as well. If the OP says that telling someone your nationality gives them an idea of how to treat you, NO THANKS, says I.

I'm not FROM Rhode Island...ironic isn't it? And hey...there ARE bigwigs in East Providence...haven't you ever been to Federal Hill--Sopranos in the flesh.

THOSE Guys? Meh. Jersey rejects. Can't even break into the Boston Mob.
How's Buddy Cianci doing these days?

And usually they've met maybe 3 American in their entire life

Oh god, oh that is RICH ... that's hilarious ... you don't just not list your location, you actually ... it's not lying exactly ... it is SOME species of deception ... a small one, but nevertheless ... and you started this thread ... AHAHAHAHA ...

Yes, but these are things that must be dealt with in ALL mediums of life--first or second. People. Yes people. We have to 'deal' with them everyday (for the most part). Am I to assume that you are more or less closed off in real life, and never divulge information out unless absolutely necessary--if the answer is 'yes' then...well...that's who you are.

But don't forget that this Second Life is 'inter-reality', which means your real life and second life are tied-together whether you want to believe it or not (in the very broad sense of the meaning). You can't get away from people. You can't get away from thought, judgment, joy...all the things you deal with in RL, you deal with in SL--in some form or another.

So in comparing how secretive you are in real life, seems to translate over to RL as well...or at least it should.

Putting my location down for every one to see on this forum doesn't mean that I go up to strangers and say, 'Hi, I'm Michael Bigwig, I live in Riverside, Rhode Island.' That's not a natural thing to do...unless your 'eccentric.' But if someone seemed nice enough, and they asked, I would tell them--these two things (to me) are one and the same. Same attitude. Same outcome. Same safety levels.

Like I've said before--having my location up online isn't going to increase my chances of being stalked and murdered one bit--if a stalker wants to find me...they will--I'm a realist I suppose. I don't live my life in fear. I play it smart, keep it real, and enjoy every day.

I don't have to walk down alleys at midnight to know it's a bad idea. No thanks on MS.