What's with the Paranoia?

[JSWolf]

I'm reading about more and more people not wanting to register their Reader because they are paranoid. What's with this growing level of paranoia?

When you don't register, you don't get all the features of your Reader and I know in the case of Kobo, the firmware can change such that fake registering fails and you have to start over.

I've been registered with Sony, Kobo, and Amazon. I've never had a single issue with being registered. And then there are all the eBookstores I've been registered with. If you want to read commercial eBooks, you do need to be registered someplace. You just cannot do otherwise.

So why the paranoia? What's the reason for it?

[John F]

Here you go:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/se...rchid=15015529

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by John F

Here you go:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/se...rchid=15015529

Click on link it says no match.

[binaryhermit]

I suspect it's because there was an article semi-recently about the extent of data Amazon collects and stores.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

I suspect it's because there was an article semi-recently about the extent of data Amazon collects and stores.

And that is news?

They've been doing it for 25 years and there's still people who didn't know it?
Considering how often the naysayers bring it up hardly a day goes by without a mention.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Gardenman

Click on link it says no match.

It was search of "JSWolf" and "paranoia".

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by John F

Here you go:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/se...rchid=15015529

You cannot post a search result as it expires.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

I suspect it's because there was an article semi-recently about the extent of data Amazon collects and stores.

But this is not just about Amazon. There are people with all different kinds of Readers who are paranoid. Kobo, Amazon, B&N, Pocketbook, etc. And this is not a recent thing. Paranoia in registering a Reader has been going on for loner then that article.

[rantanplan]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

I suspect it's because there was an article semi-recently about the extent of data Amazon collects and stores.

I find this quite interesting, people want all those features like whispersync etc., that require extensive data collection but are at the same time super surprised that amazon does extensive data collection and do research on it.

[John F]

Originally Posted by rantanplan

I find this quite interesting, people want all those features like whispersync etc., that require extensive data collection but are at the same time super surprised that amazon does extensive data collection and do research on it.

I wonder how much of an intersection there is between those who want "all those features" and those who don't want to register? My impression is that, for those who have posted on MR not wanting to register, the overlap is relatively small.

[Deskisamess]

There are many real things in the world that are concerning. Amazon (or any other retailer) tracking my buying habits doesn't even rate a mention IMO.

[Apache]

It is not paranoia if they are really out to get you.
Apache

[4691mls]

A desire for privacy is not necessarily the same as paranoia.

I did register my Sonys and Kobo, but if other people choose privacy over some conveniences, I'm not going to criticize them.

[crossi]

I don't register because I don't want my archive full. I don't use it. All my books are sideloaded and mostly renamed. So I have no need of an archive full of book listings that don't match the book names in my collections. I keep all my books in my reader for convenience. I've got ~1200 books in about 10 pages of collections which is easily managed so I don't need or want the archive. I also don't use search, notes or syncing. Why would I need it registered? It isn't paranoia I just don't want the "features" which simply annoy me. Gah, give me a reader without all those bells and whistles. I just want to read and organize my books the way I want them organized. Nothing else.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by crossi

I don't register because I don't want my archive full. I don't use it. All my books are sideloaded and mostly renamed. So I have no need of an archive full of book listings that don't match the book names in my collections. I keep all my books in my reader for convenience. I've got ~1200 books in about 10 pages of collections which is easily managed so I don't need or want the archive. I also don't use search, notes or syncing. Why would I need it registered? It isn't paranoia I just don't want the "features" which simply annoy me. Gah, give me a reader without all those bells and whistles. I just want to read and organize my books the way I want them organized. Nothing else.

But to organize your books, you do need to be registered. That's how Readers work. So why not register? You don't have to use the account for anything else if you don't want.