"Too big to fail" or punish...

Anyone else read the article about FTC recognizing that all their "settlements" they come up with companies like FB where the company is allowed to evade admitting guilt when FB was found to be abusing the privacy of their users. How can the FTC look at themselves in the mirror and be happy that they ended up with such a watered down "punishment" It is one reason why a company like FB will continue to play fast and loose with the rules-if a company can get punished without paying fine or admitting guilt, then it says a lot about what has happened to the "laws" in this country when it comes to dealing with businessess that have become "too big to fail" or punish!

-A Myabuy Man

What is about privacy thats so hard for some sites to understand

I never understood what is so hard about basic forms of privacy that are so difficult for some "social" sites to understand. It is basic principles that govern social relations throughout the ages. Ideas like common courtesy, asking permission before taking something, not stealing, being upfront...These are not hard to understand concepts...It does not take a genius to know people do not want a stranger rifling through their email accounts (something many sites do) to "suggest" friends that you may have communicated with once in your entire life. It is crazy to think anyone would welcome that. 


I was not a psychology major but this sort of thing is basic tenet to how regular people behave towards others. Its strange and scary that there seems a lack of humanity and empathy from the people in charge of companies that regularly do this (it does not matter if the company is being run by a man, woman, college dropout, or whatever)  Without humanity and empathy towards others, no site can truly understand how people interact socially anyways. It is sad to think that some people would idolize or frequent companies with no sense of right vs wrong, good vs bad, acceptable behavior vs chronic dishonesty....
It may seem like I'm venting (there is some truth to that) but the facts speak for themselves. You cannot make this stuff up!


Ciao for now.


Chief Myabuyer
www.myabuy.com

When do people care about privacy-always!

I want to ask everyone in the google universe when do you care about your privacy? I am assuming your answer is all the time! It is bunk when Social Networks like the CEO of a network that starts with F and ends in "book" boasts, about you and I not caring about our privacy...I can tell you, the reader in everyplace I have been to in the world (5 continents and counting) no one has ever told me, no we don't care...

The reason why there is not so much outrage to the trivialization of privacy from social networks is that most of the world (outside the U.S.) DO NOT KNOW about it. The fact is most social network users outside the U.S, have no idea that these cos have such a reckless disregard for privacy.

No one I spoke to, even knew how social networks made money...If social networks told this to people outside the U.S-that they were abusing the privacy and information of its users, the admiration (not to mention the number of new users) goes out the window.

When I tell people about what social networks are really doing, they cannot imagine a robust democracy like the U.S. would let companies get away with it. This is not innovation, but the Internet equivalent of telemarketing, email harvesting and/or dumpster diving.

Social networks must hope that Congress and U.S. lawmakers will continue to ignore what they do. Unfortunately the action/inaction of the U.S. has consequences. In this case, inaction acts like a rubber stamp in the eyes of many outside the U.S. that what other social networks do (particularly how the one that starts with the letter F and ends in book, does not allow its users to OPT-OUT of all their many privacy invasive features) is appropriate. It also sets a horrible example to others around the world who decide to copycat this deceptive model. When we stop having respect for the privacy of our fellow man, bad things do happen.

That is why it us time for the U.S. government to :"get 'er done", and put a stop to many of these egregious practices.

Sincerely,

A concerned member of Myabuy

A brief Bio of the man behind myabuy

Joel, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of myabuy, LLC is a warm person, patient and diligent.

At Johns Hopkins, Joel started his first company to protect users from telemarketers. Joel obtained a trademark and a USPTO patent for this concept but during his work-intensive senior year, could not devote his full attention to the company and decided to fold the corporation.

Joel graduated Johns Hopkins University in 2007, complete with a grand vision-develop an upgraded, secure fully functional network for all Internet users who value their privacy and do not want to alienating future employers, business partners, and customers by exposing personal information and details for all to see.

Joel hired the best lawyers, programmers, and graphic designers to build the most powerful and simplest network possible-a tremendous undertaking completed in 2010 under myabuy ™ Where Good Friends share and shop!

Joel is a strong supporter of social causes, particularly protecting the environment, supporting higher education, improving health care and increasing transparency among government, financial institutions, and Internet networks.

Joel invites you to join myabuy ™ for free. Take advantage of this offer and join myabuy.com:)

Why do people go on networks that make them dumber?

I always wonder why people go on social networks that are proven to negatively impact their daily lives. A recent study reported in most major newspapers, notes that active facebook users are on average a full GPA point lower then their non-facebook using counterparts. That 1 point GPA difference is huge.

Most grad schools and many employers seriously consider GPA when interviewing prospective candidates, particularly in a crowded job market like this one Unless the person has George Bush like connections, they will be at a huge disadvantage in a bad economy.

At the end of the day what does the active facebook user (or myspace, hi5, whatever) have to show for their loyalty? Business connections? hardly. Finding the next big job? yeah right. Improving their chances of landing a dream job or getting accepted to a great school? please.

I have yet to read about someone whose life improved by social networks that expose the complete blow by blow details of their users for anyone doing a google search to see. However I have read articles every single day about how some professor, or politician and the average Joe getting fired or denied promotions, because of some stupid picture, comment or message posted by themselves-or others on social networks like facebook, myspace, etc. When a social network does not care about your privacy, anything you or someone else does becomes your responsibility-and liability.

My advice is to use a social network that benefits rather then hinders your life now and in the future...Your life and future is worth more then what many social networks are offering up now. There is hope, my fellow bloggers-stay tuned for more-myabuy style!

-A myabuyer

Do you not care about your privacy? That is what the founder of facebook believes...

I do not get how people do not care about their privacy on the Internet. If that is the case, then these same people should be welcoming all the SPAM for Viagra, con men, male enhancement pills, sex sites, and the other unwelcome garbage received in your facebook and email accounts.

I mean what would these people expect-it's only their life their exposing-certainly not as important as making a virtual farm, or playing a virtual mob boss. lol Unfortunately if you do not care about privacy don't expect others to hold yours in high regard.

As for the various SPAM that comes through mine and yours facebook accounts there is a solution-demand more from the site owner. They are responsible for the content, and turning a blind eye while your account is filled with boner pill scams.

Just because a site is free to join, does not mean your life is free to exploit. What is the real value of joining an online network.

That is one reason why myabuy.com, the co. I founded and is also free to join and use, does things differently. For one I value utility over allowing 3rd party applications free reign to exploit myabuy members. I do not perceive my privacy needs to be greater that yours.

I hate SPAMMERS, and frauds that try to exploit others, but there is no logical excuse to disrespect other people's privacy while keeping a wall over your own (something I believe the owners of facebook, myspace, etc have willingly done with their websites and the users who joined them.)

It is a shame but the only way to put a stop to this mess is for you to switch to responsible, respectful networks-for example taking a look at myabuy.com may be a good start. Your privacy and mine are worth more than any virtual farm, fruit or virtual mob boss will ever be.

-A concerned Myabuyer