[timetofight]

In this current information & Internet age, all one needs to do to find out about his next door neighbor is to get on the Internet, pay a few dollars, and viola, there is all the info he needs. But info for what?? When is this an invasion of privacy? Let me give just one example, and then lets hear your opinion!

"Consider that in an upper-middle class neighborhood, John Q Citizen just moved in and one of his neighbors is curious; he gets on his computer, orders up the FBI rap sheet. Oh my goodness, the neighbor discovers that John Q had been convicted ten years ago of marijuana possession & was found to be in possession of stolen goods! Does he keep it secret, or is the neighborhood abuzz with this delightful new gossip. And how many people REALLY believe that a leopard never changes his spots… "

So many different examples could be made of the potential abuse of this mis-handling of personal information.

There is an article on my site that delves into this important issue. If you desire to know more, read it, but above all, PLEASE VOTE. This is an important poll.


http://justanothercoverup.myblogsite.com

[WT]

Heck, I'd like to know if my neighbor was a convicted felon.

[HighVelocity]

Heck, I'd like to know if my neighbor was a convicted felon.

Me too and I don't think I should have to pay to find out either.

[Kamicosmos]

Heck yes! If a neighbor has a FEDERAL CONVICTION I sure as hell want to know about it!


Sheesh.

[Risasi]

I posted yes, but with exceptions. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. And yes Virginia. I DO check on people, at least ones that I associate with. I'm in the computer networking, and security business, and it's amazingly simple to find out about people. But then again this sort of thing just fixes the problems of anonymity we have in this generation.

It was funny, I was watching Straw Dogs yesterday. What I found amazing is how they working the local village perp/pedophile into the movie. The whole town knew he was trouble. I remember now too how it used to be back on the farm. Everybody knew who a bad guy was. Everybody was local. And everybody knew everybody. Now in this day and age we have people up and moving all over the place. Nobody knows anybody anymore. So I see this as an extension of shall we say, "being neighbourly".

[RevDisk]

Court proceedings are generally public domain, for good reason. Secret trials are supposed to be a big no-no. Not releasing the identity of minors is probably a good idea in most cases. Likewise, I can understand keeping the names of victims private.

However, if a person is convicted, it's a matter of public domain. Computers just make it easier than stopping by the court house. So, yes, it is ok for your neighbors to be able to find out criminal records. The alternative is secret trials, which is a very bad idea.

I do computer and security work myself. Employee screening is rather important. You don't want to hire a person convicted of selling private information to run a database of banking information. You don't want to hire a convicted sex offender to work in hospitals, day care or other similiar places.

[q102josh]

heh i dont think the neighbor should be entitled to see that information... id rather live in the city than in some small town or suburb where people will gossip about everyone

[jefnvk]

I have no problems. Convictions are public records. I would be more concerned with secret trials and closed records than people knowing my past. Then again, I'm not too big on caring what people think of me.

[Biker]

I voted no with reservations. Sex offenders (especially pedofiliacs) yes, but past that it's nobody's 'bidness' especially considering the fact that it is nearly impossible for a U.S. citizen to go through a day without breaking a law or three.
Biker

[Standing Wolf]

I can't imagine being sufficiently curious about my neighbors to spend money to find out things about them.

Most of my neighbors are pretty decent folks, especially now that the loud bums across the street have been evicted.

[PMDW]

Anyone who pays money to check my criminal history is throwing it away.

I have none. Let them throw their money away.

[Taurus 66]

Heck, I'd like to know if my neighbor was a convicted felon.

I'd like to know if I'm a convicted felon. So I have no problems with my neighbor checking, at his expense of course. ;)

[R.H. Lee]

Is it 'public information'? If so, have at it.

[JohnKSa]

If they're dangerous and the government knows it they shouldn't be living next to you unless your address is a cell block.

If they're not dangerous then you shouldn't be able to dig into their private data.

[beerslurpy]

Why not just have people's criminal record branded on their forehead. You shouldnt even have to exert any energy to get soeone criminal record. Brand them for life!

When you run out of places to brand, you just cut their heads off!!!!

See, I can be reasonable too. Its for the children.


preemptive edit for the retards: If someone is too dangerous for society, shouldnt they be in jail? You have no right to someone's private data, even if that data includes the fact that they once lived a life of crime. If someone breaks into my house, I will shoot them just as dead regardless of what their rap sheet is.

[Zach S]

I dont have a problem with it. It is public record after all. I'll even post my rap sheet here:














Boring, huh? At least I saved you a few bucks.

[dolanp]

Public records about convictions are nothing close to being private information, so yes it's quite alright.

Who says they have to be 'dangerous' for you to have a right to know? Maybe you are friendly with your new neighbor and eventually you ask him to dog sit or babysit or something for you, but before doing so you get his rap sheet and see he has assault convictions or animal cruelty convictions or whatever.

It's public information anyhow. Don't want the stuff on the record then don't do the crime.

[jefnvk]

If someone is too dangerous for society, shouldnt they be in jail?

Yes, they should. And if they are out in society, they should have ALL rights back. But, unfortunately, that is not how our society works.

[thorn726]

I have no problems. Convictions are public records. I would be more concerned with secret trials and closed records than people knowing my past. Then again, I'm not too big on caring what people think of me.

this is a pretty darn good point

[thorn726]

oh - i would probably need to complain about just how deep is the fbi sheet, and how much of that is being shown to public?

but as far as convictions go, well , true, public record is and should be exactly that

[2nd Amendment]

My neighbor's "right to know" ends with whatever I choose to tell him.

[Tory]

"...he gets on his computer, orders up the FBI rap sheet."

As the FBI prosecutes far less crimes than the states do collectively, I'd want to know about those other incidents.

If this is a reference to NICS checks or an NCIC query, Joe Average does not have access to those systems.

As police logs and court dockets (except for juvenile cases) are public records, what makes anyone think a search CAN'T be done NOW? There are a number of companies that compile that, and far more information, such as real estate, motor vehicle (including planes and boats, boys and girls!), phone numbers and SS numbers. Subscribers can run searches by name, SSN# or cell phone numbers and, for a fee, get this data.

In short, "1984" was over 20 years ago. Big Brother is well-entrenched and, courtesy of computers and the PATRIOT ACT, is digging in deeper.

What Orwell did NOT foresee is the ability of NON-governmental entities to monitor and manipulate so many facets of our lives. :what:

"My neighbor's "right to know" ends with whatever I choose to tell him."

Dream on. And tell that to people living near sex offenders......... :eek:

[QuickDraw]

I'd be more concerned about moving into a neighborhood where
the people are so paranoid that they need to run my rap sheet!! :rolleyes:
I try to be friendly with my neighbors,when they
act like a-holes then I stop being friendly.If you get to know someone,they will usually tell you whats going on .

QuickDraw

[Lone_Gunman]

If they're not dangerous then you shouldn't be able to dig into their private data.

Thats exactly right, but we aren't talking about private data.

If someone was tried in a public court, at taxpayer expense, then that data is public data, not private data, and can be disseminated without regard for privacy.

Public trial is an asset to us all, including the person on trial.

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

If by "FBI rap sheet" you are referring to a person's criminal record, that is public information as it should be. In fact, it ought to be a lot easier to access than is is at present. You shouldn't have to go and pay some research company to look through the local Court records and mail a report to you. It should all be online.

[dev_null]

Sounds like a lot of people here don't believe in rehabilitation, paying one's debt, or learning from one's mistakes. Sad day when not only does the government feel they can poke into every aspect of your lives, but your so-called neighbors do as well. That one-room cabin in the desert sounds better and better to me all the time...

- 0 -

PS: I happen to have a clean record. I also happen to believe that a man's personal life is his own. Guess I was born a century too late.

[Bear Gulch]

While you are free to do that, why not do it the low tech way and get to know your neighbors? My neighbor across the street has a DUI. He is a good guy and has been sober for years. All raps sheets do is identify FAILED criminals. How many folks commit illegal acts and get away with them? Many of us have probably done so, be it drinking a little too much while driving, smoking a little ganga back in our college days,etc.

My point is get to know these folks and use your brain. That will give you far more info than a printout. Besides, you might make a friend.

Pedophilia doesn't fall under this statement. Since I was 11 I have had a thing for redheads, that is not likely to change. It is my belief that pedophiles have an image based on children. This is not like to change for them. They should be kept under high levels of scrutiny because they will continue to be a danger to children.

[El Rojo]

Sounds like a lot of people here don't believe in rehabilitation, paying one's debt, or learning from one's mistakes.Sure I do. However, in this case, we are talking about a public record. You were tried in public and by the public so that is public record and if you neighbors want to look you up, that is perfectly legal for them to do. The choice to forgive and forget is a personal choice and no matter what the law says, we will never be able to dictate people's perceptions and beliefs.

Lets start by telling our children the truth. If you screw up and go to jail, you will have a public record. It might come back to hurt you later in life when you want to forget about it and other people do not. With that knowledge, don't screw up and get arrested and you won't have to suffer through that possible humiliation or harrassment. If you do get arrested, those are the consequences of your actions.

I also happen to believe that a man's personal life is his own.A man's personal life is his own, until he breaks public law and must be publicly tried for it. If you want to keep your life private, don't get arrested and convicted.

[Thumper]

Hate to be a cheerleader, but good post, Rojo.

[dev_null]

The following applies to a lot of things in life:

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

Rojo, go back and read my PS. My record is clean. I just think it's a shame that so many people feel that just because something is legal, it's right. What are you going to do with the information? What will it tell you that you can't find out from observing the person's actions? If someone has been the picture perfect neighbor for years and you find out they once did time for a B&E 30 years ago, did they suddenly become a suspect in your eyes?

Sorry, but I still feel there are far too many busybodies in the world.

- 0 -

[Bear Gulch]

It seems that while many folks want to protect their privacy, they want to be able to invade the privacy of others. That's just my .02. I'll now put on my nomex gear.

[El Rojo]

Don't misunderstand me dev_null, I am not one to be a busybody and I too feel that actions speak much louder than words. However, how can we have a free society without secret trials and have government accountability if we don't have access to the records? I think someone else brought up a good point. All of these records have always been public, it is just with the advent of computers and electronic storage that getting this information is so much easier.

Don't mistake my saying, "Tough luck, you are on public record" for "I need to know everything" or even "I want to know everything" about you. If we want to remain a free society, nothing that happens in the public domain can be kept a secret. So your statement of "just because it is legal doesn't make it right" doesn't apply here. If you chose to break the law, you are taking the risk of publically being tried and convicted. Part of that consequence is your trial and sentence will be made public. The reason for that public trial is for your protection, in order to prevent cruel and unusual punishment. That is a good thing and it is the correct thing to do. If a criminal doesn't like it, they shouldn't have broken a public law, thereby forfeiting their right to privacy.

Again, like the vast majority of us here on the High Road, we choose not to break the law so we can keep our private lives private. If you want to go break the law, you take the risk of making your life public.

We cannot legislate away busybodies. Gossip, rumors, and busybodying occurs because people choose to take part in those actions. Even if you made it harder for people to do background checks on other people, it would not change their desire to be a busybody. The only way you can change busybodies is through your own actions and raising your kids right. Other than that, stay out of prison and people won't know much about you.

[Andrew Rothman]

What will it tell you that you can't find out from observing the person's actions?

If dangerous people had neon signs bolted to their foreheads, we wouldn't need to check their records.

Unfortunately, they usually look and act like you and me.

That doesn't mean that everyone with a record is bad or dangerous, but I would rather judge for myself.

Muggers, rapists and child molestors often do eventually get released, you know. And then most of them re-offend.

[dev_null]

Thanks for the clarification, Rojo. I think we're closer in opinion than seemed at first.