[LINK] Airport to tag passengers

[Deus Ex Machina]

Craig Sanders [cas at taz.net.au] wrote:
> On Wed, Oct 18, 2006 at 01:13:35PM +1000, Deus Ex Machina wrote:
> > Howard Lowndes [lannet at lannet.com.au] wrote:
> > > If you did some background research on Jan, then you might just find 
> > > that she is a little better qualified to speak for the consumer than you 
> > > are.
> > 
> > I never pretend to speak for the consumer. I am well aware of jan
> > qualifications. the consumer speaks quite happily for themselves with
> > their feet and their dollars. why we need do gooders to add costs to
> > the "protected" consumer is really a mystery to me. perhaps you care
> > to explain?
> 
> for the same reason that we actually have laws against assault rather than
> just relying on the potential victim's ability to defend themselves.  it's not
> a level playing field, and not everyone has the ability to do that.
> 
> i.e. because:
> 
> a) consumers are easily fooled and manipulated and lied to...and frequently
> are.

disagree.

> b) consumers don't always know what it is they're getting in to

and unless there is demonstrable harm why should you get involved?

are we are talking about adults here or children?

do you get involved with your neighbours suspect choice of lime green wallpaper?

should we ban lime green wallpaper because thats going to look real shit?


> c) consumers don't always stop to think about the hidden costs or other
> ramifications of "volunteering" private data (e.g. "flybuys" is the
> marketers way around the prohibition of recording identity and purchase
> details from eftpos transactions - the flybuys card is a way of tricking
> the consumer into granting permission...which fact is hidden in the fine
> print which almost nobody reads) or opting-in to surveillance.

all harmless.

> d) voting with your wallet isn't very effective - especially when there is
> no alternative available

I beg to differ, there is nothing more effective to a corporates then
voting with your dollars.


why do you think corporates want to know more about consumers? so they
can sell more effectively to them, ie more accurately match the needs and
wants of the consumer. gee we better stomp on that.

Vic