How much public personal information is too much?
Has your life become much too public?
This story about Google Pizza shows that our lives have become too public.
CALLER: Is this Gordon’s Pizza?
GOOGLE: No sir, it’s Google Pizza.
CALLER: I must have dialed a wrong number. Sorry.
GOOGLE: No sir, Google bought Gordon’s Pizza last month.
CALLER: OK… I would like to order a pizza.
GOOGLE: Do you want your usual, sir?
CALLER: My usual? You know me?
GOOGLE:
According to our caller ID data sheet, the last 12 times you
called you ordered an extra-large pizza with three cheeses,
sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and meatballs on a thick
crust.
CALLER: OK! That’s what I want …
GOOGLE:
May I suggest that this time you order a pizza with ricotta,
arugula, sun-dried tomatoes and olives on whole wheat gluten
free thin crust?
CALLER: What? I detest vegetables.
GOOGLE: Your cholesterol is not good, sir.
CALLER: How do you know?
GOOGLE:
Well, we cross-referenced your home phone number with
your medical records. We have the result of your blood tests for the last 7 years.
CALLER:
Okay, but I do not want your rotten vegetable pizza! I
already take medication for my cholesterol.
GOOGLE:
Excuse me sir, but you have not taken your medication
regularly. According to our database, you only purchased
a box of 30 cholesterol tablets once, at Drug RX
Network, 4 months ago.
CALLER: I bought more from another drugstore.
GOOGLE: That doesn’t show on your credit card statement.
CALLER: I paid in cash.
GOOGLE: But you did not withdraw enough cash according to
your bank statement.
CALLER : I have other sources of cash.
GOOGLE: That doesn’t show on your last tax return unless you
bought them using an undeclared income source, which is
against the law.
CALLER: WHAT THE HECK?
GOOGLE: I’m sorry, sir, we use such information only with the
sole intention of helping you.
CALLER: Enough already! I’m sick to death of Google, Facebook,
Twitter, WhatsApp and all the others. I’m going to an island
without internet, cable TV, where there is no cell phone service and no
one to watch me or spy on me
GOOGLE: I understand sir, but you need to renew your passport
first. It expired 6 weeks ago …
***
Do everything you can to protect your privacy. Remember that too much information is already available about you on the internet, even if the “Google Pizza” story is not actually true.
Let the encouraging words in these bobbiejrae posts help you
soar like an eagle above life’s storms.
Always safeguard your privacy…
You can do yourself some good every morning.
Protect your computer and your identity every day…
Avoid saying empty words that you cannot take back later.
