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TiVo's stats are reported anonymously. Please read their privacy policy at http://www.tivo.com/support/service_privacy_pvr.asp . Even that anonymous information can be opted-out of. Personally, I don't have a problem with them collecting statistics on people like me. Here's why: First off, I like the service that TiVo provides. Not only does the system download updated program information nightly, providing me with a great guide for watching/recording shows; but based on my habits the TiVo pro-actively records shows that it thinks I _might_ like, and it's usually right. The statistics that it collects and sells to customers like the NFL bring a good source of revenue to the company. Like most other technology companies, TiVo needs to be making more money, and I don't find it a violation of my privacy by using anonymous information like that. I want TiVo Inc. to survive and continue to provide good services to me. Also, I want the big networks to know that there are more people like me. I, like a lot of you I'm sure, think that most programming on TV sucks. By sharing my viewing (and not viewing) habits with those in charge of the programming, maybe we can get something worth watching on TV. It's like a more efficient ratings system, only we have an advantage right now, because a lot of TiVo users are geeks, or at least early technology adopters. I'd like to know other peoples' opinions on this, too -Tim On Wed, 2002-02-06 at 11:40, Buck Saunders wrote: I have heard that the TIVO box reports back to the cable company what you have been watching. This reeks of "BIG BROTHERISM"! It is prevalent EVERYWHERE. Kroger & Brookshire grocery stores "require" you to have their "loyalty" card to receive a "discount". Actually, it's the *regular price*. Those without the card are penalized and pay MORE to do business with them. Insurance companies "spy" on you by collecting infromation from your neighbors about you and they do NOT verify if it's true or not! MICRO$HIT, has *not-so secret* programs in WIN XP that "report" on you. Companies, count keystrokes of their employees and monitor WHERE they go on the Web at work. It makes me want to move up into the mountains and become a hermit. LOL! "Buck" ================================================ BRLUG - The Baton Rouge Linux User Group Visit http://www.brlug.net for more information. Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to change your subscription information. ================================================ --=-YiocrJoseQ6xI8prhLeS Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 TRANSITIONAL//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; CHARSET=UTF-8"> <META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="GtkHTML/1.0.1"> </HEAD> <BODY> TiVo's stats are reported anonymously. Please read their privacy policy at <A HREF="http://www.tivo.com/support/service_privacy_pvr.asp";>http://www.tivo.com/support/service_privacy_pvr.asp</A> . <BR> <BR> Even that anonymous information can be opted-out of. Personally, I don't have a problem with them collecting statistics on people like me. Here's why: First off, I like the service that TiVo provides. Not only does the system download updated program information nightly, providing me with a great guide for watching/recording shows; but based on my habits the TiVo pro-actively records shows that it thinks I _might_ like, and it's usually right. <BR> <BR> The statistics that it collects and sells to customers like the NFL bring a good source of revenue to the company. Like most other technology companies, TiVo needs to be making more money, and I don't find it a violation of my privacy by using anonymous information like that. I want TiVo Inc. to survive and continue to provide good services to me. <BR> <BR> Also, I want the big networks to know that there are more people like me. I, like a lot of you I'm sure, think that most programming on TV sucks. By sharing my viewing (and not viewing) habits with those in charge of the programming, maybe we can get something worth watching on TV. It's like a more efficient ratings system, only we have an advantage right now, because a lot of TiVo users are geeks, or at least early technology adopters. <BR> <BR> I'd like to know other peoples' opinions on this, too <BR> <BR> -Tim <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> On Wed, 2002-02-06 at 11:40, Buck Saunders wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE> <PRE><FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>I have heard that the TIVO box reports back to the cable company what you</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>have been watching. This reeks of "BIG BROTHERISM"!</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>It is prevalent EVERYWHERE. Kroger & Brookshire grocery stores "require"</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>you to have their "loyalty" card to receive a "discount". Actually, it's</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>the *regular price*. Those without the card are penalized and pay MORE to</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>do business with them.</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>Insurance companies "spy" on you by collecting infromation from your</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>neighbors about you and they do NOT verify if it's true or not!</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>MICRO$HIT, has *not-so secret* programs in WIN XP that "report" on you.</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>Companies, count keystrokes of their employees and monitor WHERE they go on</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>the Web at work.</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>It makes me want to move up into the mountains and become a hermit. LOL!</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>"Buck"</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I></FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>================================================</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>BRLUG - The Baton Rouge Linux User Group</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>Visit http://www.brlug.net for more information.</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to change</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>your subscription information.</FONT></FONT></I> <FONT COLOR="#737373"><FONT SIZE="3"><I>================================================</FONT></FONT></I> </PRE> </BLOCKQUOTE> </BODY> </HTML> --=-YiocrJoseQ6xI8prhLeS-- ================================================ BRLUG - The Baton Rouge Linux User Group Visit http://www.brlug.net for more information. Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to change your subscription information. ================================================
