How "PUBLIC" should public information be?

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How "PUBLIC" should public information be? - 3/7/2009 6:28:18 PM

outlier

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Joined: 10/22/2005
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I started a post that a paper in Memphis had posted the information about who in Tenn.
had a CCW. http://www.collarchat.com/m_2489279/tm.htm

Part of the paper's rational was that it was public information. I have gone to get public
information of various types and sometimes had to sign in, or show ID, to get it.
And sometimes it has been a chore.

These experiences of mine and the following two excerpts from posts in the CCW thread
raise a question I would like to put here.

quote:

camille65

and yes the information is there is someone goes to the trouble to seek it out,
but this just hands the information out. That is part of what bothers me about this,

quote:

Steponme73

I think the paper was out of line even though it is a public record. Have you ever tried
to go find something in a public record? Next to impossible.

Should there be classes or levels of "public information"? Some of which should be just put
out there and other classes or levels which would require the person requesting it to have their
ID recorded. Which type of information should go in which category?

Do any other restrictions come to mind for "public information" that you think would be worthwhile?

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RE: How "PUBLIC" should public information be? - 3/7/2009 6:45:49 PM

Honsoku

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How would having one's ID recorded help? If the person was seeking the information for less then proper uses, then it would just lead them to use fake identification. It is a minor trap/barrier at best. There isn't a good way to have something public and also prevent people from being dicks with it.

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RE: How "PUBLIC" should public information be? - 3/7/2009 7:42:33 PM

slaveboyforyou

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From: Arkansas, U.S.A.
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I've never had to show my ID when I've went to the courthouse to look at records. I was able to obtain all sorts of records on a person I sued in 2007 ( I was trying to go after her assets.) I found out what property she owned, when she filed personal property taxes, her criminal record (including charges not just convictions.) They charged me for printing, but I didn't show them an ID once. I really don't understand why you were asked for an ID. You can also obtain a plethora of records online for free.

I can understand someone not liking that their life is out there for anyone to scrutinize. But that's the way it is. Trust me, if you've ever had to chase down a debtor, it makes the process a lot easier. I don't see the harm; it's not a new thing. People's records have been accessible by the public for decades. The only thing that has really changed is accessibility. You can find out things by simply going on the net from home.

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RE: How "PUBLIC" should public information be? - 3/7/2009 7:46:16 PM

Maya2001

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From: Woodstock ONT,CANADA
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I noticed that public records in the US is often available on the net, and as long as you have a name and a city you can learn a lot about a person if any dirt to find on them 3exists, and if you really spend the time digging, eg you can find courts records which can show divorces, marriages, misdemeanors, DWI.s, whether they are sexual offender or have criminal charges, any news info if available, you can find their homes estimated value. it really blew me away to see how much info could be learned about someone online

In canada we have public records as well but you need to go thru police, court house or government agencies often in person to obtain that information, with often fees attached for the record search , so if someone wants to dig up dirt on me, it will take more effort than just sitting at a keyboard , which I prefer over having everything on the net

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RE: How "PUBLIC" should public information be? - 3/8/2009 9:30:23 AM

Aneirin

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From: Tamaris
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I think first what is public has to be defined, why it is considered public, to what use can information be used, also to guard the privacy of the living, only data of those past should be public, if there is a pubic need.

But if data about the public is to be available to all and sundry, then all the public should be included without exception. To remember those in office or power are still the public, nothing else.

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RE: How "PUBLIC" should public information be? - 3/8/2009 9:44:24 AM

Evility

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If it's public information, it's public information. From that standpoint I think the paper was within their rights to create the online database. Somewhere in that article the paper mentioned that if people were going to be allowed to carry concealed weapons with a permit then the public had a right to know who was packing. Even if you perused the database this morning you would not know that I was one of the names you saw if you cut me off in a parking lot and swiped the space I was trying to park in so that's a pretty lame argument. It's pretty obvious that the paper is against the concealed carry law in TN and posted the database to piss off the permit owners and their supporters.

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RE: How "PUBLIC" should public information be? - 3/8/2009 4:02:34 PM

Crush

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What's nice is that now there is a "non-list" of CCW, which will enable certain elements to determine, if they aren't lazy, which people aren't carrying weapons. Marvelous "unexpected consequence" strikes once again.

The point of Concealed carry is "CONCEALED" so that no one freaks out seeing a "man with a gun" and, secondarily, that means the bad guys don't know who is carrying and who is not, so making it a bit more chancy for them.

And of course, not in all states does CCW apply to only a handgun...that would be a CHL (Concealed Handgun License.) See www.handgunlaw.us for particulars in any state..(US, that is.)

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RE: How "PUBLIC" should public information be? - 3/8/2009 4:04:33 PM

Vendaval

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Hello outlier,

I think that the average citizen would be amazed to find out how much private information can be easily accessed. Even without a computer hacker at your beck and call. You can find out information on an individual by looking through records available at a county clerk's office.

Criminal, civil, probate, marriage, assumed names, property, etc
This is from Dallas County as an example -

http://www.dallascounty.org/pars2/#

In public library reference departments you can find city directories that list city residents, contact information and previous employment.

And your medical records can be easily accessed by anyone working for a particular doctor's office, clinic, hospital, etc.

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RE: How "PUBLIC" should public information be? - 3/8/2009 8:28:48 PM

MarsBonfire

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In this day and age, it has become impossible to keep secrets. Virtually everything can be pulled out of the 'net on your interests and activities. (Including how much time you spend on CM, and other fetish sites...) Whom you've called, and for how long, and any emails that may have passed through a server at some point. I've applied for jobs where I have had my facebook account, Livejournal, and presence here on CM reviewed by HR departments. Criminal records (none, BTW) and driving records too. I'm quite certain they could also ask for my bank and credit card activity as well, if they thought it was pertinent. If they can do that for a lowly Computer Operations job, imagine how deep they'll go for someone higher up.

The best way to live is to simply assume that everyone is capable of knowing everything about you. Live the way you want, and be ready to tell some people they can just fuck off, if they confront you about who you are, and what your passions are.

Live openly and proudly, without apologies. The alternative is to let them plow you under.

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