Hi All,
Have enjoyed posting here and engaging with the privacy community. For those of you active on X, I’d also love to follow you there. Opening this thread in hopes that ppl that want to connect will share their handle so we can follow each other.
I already follow the PG folks like Jonah (@jonaharagon), Daniel (@DanielG48320131) and Freddy (@m00ws) and have enjoyed reading the content they put out there.
My X handle is @Patrick_ResAI in case anyone wants to connect on X 
If you feel inclined, please share your X handle as well.
Patrick
I think its best to engage with the privacy community of forums like PG. Why feed the industry trying to take away your privacy rights?
No one is on X because they want to be but because they have to - as far as I can tell.
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I think PG is important for those passionate about privacy , however, I believe that the best way to create the future that we want is to educate others. One of the most impactful ways to do that is through strong communities that have broad visibility on platforms like Reddit and X. I think each serve their own purpose and shouldn’t be mutually exclusive to one another. I don’t think having a privacy conversation on X undermines what PG is trying to achieve, I actually believe that it amplifies the reach of the discussions and ideals that are held here.
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If you speak with people, most of them want some if not a lot of privacy online. They know their data is used, monetized, and continuously harvested but they don’t know what to do about it and how to improve their digital habits and get more privacy at the same time for a healthier and a more secure digital footprint.
I believe that if people really want to change and get better, they would look into it. At least search online a bit for whatever their privacy concerns are. It would literally take less than 10 minutes of earnest online research into how to better their online privacy to find platforms like PG or Techlore and others alike. And hence find the communities to truly engage with and begin learning.
And because we don’t see the vast majority of folks trying to do this, it is my thinking that it’s reasonable to believe that people want to be better but don’t want to make the effort to become better. And hence they are currently beyond help because they don’t truly want it for themselves.
It’s like anyone who is addicted to their phones and social media and other digital brain-rot. They should want to be better. I’m not saying they don’t know they should be better. They do. But reasonable inference through their apathy and inaction toward the issues can be concluded as one who is unwilling to truly be better. Btw, this logic and principle applies to any addiction. Trust me, I would know.
And because of this, and my thinking on it, I don’t buy your comment one bit. I think you’re wrong. I think you’re misguided. I think you’re incorrectly evaluating what mainstream social media has become.
I get what you mean, but I don’t agree that broader visibility equates to more education. Privacy issues have existed for a while now, and I doubt those that are aware on the issues, or want to be more aware will go to Reddit and Twitter as sources of information. Maybe I don’t fully understand your view, but I dont see any realistic benefit in spreading to the very platforms this forum exists to separate itself from.
That’s fine. Not going to agree with everyone here and I appreciate your input and feedback. I think we see the world differently and that’s OK.
I think people simply don’t know what they don’t know. Most don’t consider their privacy because they’re just trying to get through each day with as little friction as possible. I know if I hadn’t been exposed to consumer data privacy through my first job I probably wouldn’t think much about it. In my opinion, education breeds awareness which can then lead to change.
I want to be a voice to help educate people in hopes that they become aware of these issues and make better decisions(including joining PG).
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But they know they need to do better. Are you saying they don’t even know they can do better so they give up and not even try bothering finding out if something is possible?
Yes. This I agree with. Sadly, such issues, as important as they are at large, don’t come up in day to day priorities so they never get addressed.
I mean that’s true for all that ails modern society everywhere. This statement doesn’t just apply to privacy.
What I am trying to say here is that there are dedicated places to find awareness and education on it. You can’t raise awareness on important privacy issues next to AI slop brain-dead content out there in your algorithmicly designed feeds meant to keep you engaged (read: stupid) to keep alleviating your daily stresses somewhat but enough to not revolt en masse.
I hate to be cynical but most mainstream audiences have some level of awareness, and frankly just dont care until their lack of concern brings issues that personally impact them.
Most choose the path of least resistance because they unfortunately don’t have the mental strength to analyze issues and fully understand them due to the struggles of life.
I get what you want to be a voice, but you’d be a voice preaching to a world that doesnt have the mental bandwidth to care as much as we do. Its not that they can’t, its a mix of choosing convenience first and having to worry about their next paycheck.
You even state it here, they dont want friction. But I disagree with the “don’t know” part, lots of people do know and just dont care.
I mean look at the number of people still using Windows 11 blatantly aware of the countless privacy issues it has. Its not that they aren’t aware, they’ve been conditioned to accept it as the norm.
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I’ll answer your question, but I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree because we’re just fundamentally misaligned on the lens that we view the issue. Again, appreciate your comments and fully respect your opinion on the matter– I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer, just different approaches.
I think privacy, especially online privacy is a luxury to worry about that’s far up the hierarchy of needs. Most people are trying to figure out how to pay bills and make it through their day. They may be aware that they should be more conscious of their privacy, but don’t have the time or energy to devote to it. Some will come around when they do have that luxury, others won’t. I don’t think that makes it any less important to discuss the issue openly and try to seek change.
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I mostly simply take issue with using mainstream social media for this kind of awareness, education, and engagement.
The other issues here are not quite privacy related but late stage capitalism related. I wish stakeholder capitalism was still a thing.
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