Comments on: Google Street View is a good thing

By: Rob Robinson

Rob Robinson — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:34:43 +0000

Yikes, Rachel. That is bad timing, but I guess you won’t have to worry about being identified.

I wonder if anyone has collected odd images that have been inadvertently captured on Street View.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:19:02 +0000

Rob, Street View caught me and the husband bent over (away from the camera) in the front yard putting in a new flower garden. It’s not our most flattering photo.

By: Rob Robinson

Rob Robinson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:03:41 +0000

You make a fair point about control, DG. Though I don’t object to Street View, I think it’s good that folks who do are raising their objections. With any technology, I think keeping a close eye on how it is used–and by whom–is wise. I’m definitely not suggesting that Google should have free rein to implement whatever they choose, but for me Street View isn’t a concern. Now if they had technology to show the inside of my home, that would be another story…

Agreed, Paul. I only think it would be a big deal if it were a handful of homes featured rather than the masses. My home doesn’t stand out any more than others on Street View (though it does on this blog, ha ha), and hopefully that means it is as anonymous as any other.

It’s funny to me that this snapshot in time from Google shows a small dead tree that we have since removed from right beside our front porch. It couldn’t survive the heat last summer, so we exhumed it this spring, after the photo was taken. Thank goodness they took the photo after we landscaped our yard.

By: Paul Nicholson

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:54:07 +0000

I always think it is funny that people get caught up about their license plates being visible. I blur them in any photos that i put online, but it seems silly - very much like anyone having a problem with Google Street View.

If it is visible from the curb (or for your plate, visible to anyone that can see your car) for thousands of people driving by that can actually see in detail what you have, where you are at that exact moment - then what’s the big deal about having a 6-9 month old (or older) picture of it available to millions on the internet (and guess what - only a few people will ever bother to look at your street anyway).

By: DG

DG — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:21:56 +0000

“What makes Street View acceptable, in my opinion, is strength in numbers: If everyone is in there, what does it matter if you are, too?”

That’s enough for me. I was caught entering my own house in three images, and I thought “no harm, I won’t bother asking to be removed.” But if my inaction will be used as pressure against people who do have a privacy objection, I will ask that my image be removed.

I don’t think you meant it this way, but your argument has the ring of techno-fascism.