General paranoia

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whip

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Lately, it seems like people are getting really paranoid. On this forum, to me, paranoia seems really high.

A while back, I mentioned that I used Progressive's Snapshot. There were numerous post about not letting them collect info, they'll use the info against me, and Progressive is "out to get you". The worse thing that happened was my rates were lowered.

There was a post about guys trying to sell satellite TV in a neighborhood, and a large number of people were fearful of the neighborhood being set up for a big burglary.

If you mention Craig's List, you get a half dozen comments warning us that it's a scam.

It seems like every auto dealer or service center is run by Dr Evil and he's just waiting to steal your money.

Corporations and government are also evil doers that can't be trusted.

The list goes on. I'm always aware of my surroundings. I don't trust everyone, but I don't think the world is full of evil like so many here. Where does this paranoia come from?
 
Basic human psychology:

1. Any anonymous forum is an easy outlet for people's fears, so those fears get exaggerated.

2. It's easy to forget that each post is only a snapshot of someone's thoughts. People can easily seem more paranoid (or enthusiastic, or negative, or whatever) than they actually are.

3. People are more likely to post negative comments than positive ones.

4. You are more likely to remember negative comments than positive ones.
 
The people need to be more paranoid look at what watching TV has turned this nation into.
 
My whole family has had our identity stolen in the IRS hack by Russian hackers. I am ready to go live off the grid.
 
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I think there is a difference between paranoia and being critical.

Trust in government, in general, is at at an all time low due to the current administration and its un-Constitutional edicts.
 
Whip-if you live long enough, you may experience some or much of what you just wrote-it would likely change your outlook. There are plenty of predators out there-both legal and illegal. Remember you're not paranoid if 'they' ARE out to get you!
 
There is a lot more info out there in general - many negative stories about about all aspects of life. The internet, while providing a wealth of info, makes people more susceptible to scams and misdeeds. Just be careful and measured online. There's enough negativity out there to make even the most positive person a little paranoid. A little paranoia may not be a bad thing.
 
I always trust a "government' which has to consider an all inclusive
trade bill in secret. Even the congressional stooges themselves have to go to a "special room" to read it.
 
Government is inherently evil, unless maybe you live if them and question nothing.
 
The real world will make you jaded, it doesn't have to be a bad thing, it's survival.
 
Paranoid Schizophrenia has reached epidemic proportions. Not necessarily a bad thing, but certainly an awareness of bad things happening to good people for no good reason.
 
Originally Posted By: totegoat
Paranoid Schizophrenia has reached epidemic proportions. Not necessarily a bad thing, but certainly an awareness of bad things happening to good people for no good reason.
That's a mental disease, not sure why you made a blanket statement like that.
 
Wasn't the TV thing kind of shady? I want to say it was an unmarked van.. I'd like to think a legit business would have their name on the side.

A lot on CL is a scam although I don't buy much and haven't gotten scammed. Just be smart.

Dealers and garages: be smart. Like anything else..
 
Originally Posted By: zach1900
Government is inherently evil, unless maybe you live if them and question nothing.
"Government governs BEST when governing LEAST". Jefferson.
 
Everyone has an agenda.

To think such is not being paranoid, it's being pragmatic about the way humans operate.

Not everyone has an agenda that is compatible with your agenda. Again, not being paranoid, just pragmatic.

Let's take your examples and look at them. Progressive Snapshot, do you think they are in the busines of just lowering rates? If you go the snapshot route, you may see a change, in either direction, eventually. If some are getting lower rates, I'd have to think that since they are looking at the same overall risk, others have to pay higher rates. So is concern about snapshot paranoia, or simply concern for ones own rates?

Guys selling Sat TV in the neighborhood. Anytime a stranger shows up at the door, I think one should be wary. Just because one outfit may be a legitimate sales team doesn't mean someone couldn't dress up a few guys and gals and canvass a neighborhood for other purposes.

Ditto with Craigslist. People are selling something. They may or may not have the item. Use basic precautions. For one, if there is little or no text, the number is part of the photo, why are they making it difficult to google the number? Is it because if you do, you'll find the same ad posted in a dozen cities? There is often good reason to be wary.

Auto dealers and shops, their agenda is to make money. The difficult part for consumers is to determine how they choose to go about it. Do they do good work for a fair rate, or do they try to upsell every service and find things that are not really problems?

Ditto for corporations and government. I laugh at those who think either is ethically superior to the other. They are both staffed from the same population of humans. So I tend to agree that paranoia about only one is somewhat insane. I think we should be wary about both.

My concern is we are losing our ability to critically reason. People think one group or the other is looking out for them. Be it picking a political party or a corporate interest.

Nonsense, they are looking out for their agenda, be they Democrats or Republicans or Free Market proponents or Socialists, or Chevy Guys or Ford Guys or Harley Guys or Japanese Bike Guys or Motorists or Cyclists, or Atheists, Agnostics or People of Faith. Each has an agenda.

Is that paranoia, or is it a pragmatic view of the world?

Originally Posted By: whip
Lately, it seems like people are getting really paranoid. On this forum, to me, paranoia seems really high.

A while back, I mentioned that I used Progressive's Snapshot. There were numerous post about not letting them collect info, they'll use the info against me, and Progressive is "out to get you". The worse thing that happened was my rates were lowered.

There was a post about guys trying to sell satellite TV in a neighborhood, and a large number of people were fearful of the neighborhood being set up for a big burglary.

If you mention Craig's List, you get a half dozen comments warning us that it's a scam.

It seems like every auto dealer or service center is run by Dr Evil and he's just waiting to steal your money.

Corporations and government are also evil doers that can't be trusted.

The list goes on. I'm always aware of my surroundings. I don't trust everyone, but I don't think the world is full of evil like so many here. Where does this paranoia come from?
 
The modern availability of information, and the current news cycle, have made people more aware of negative things that happen. Nonetheless, there are certainly good reasons to be cautious.

A couple of people in my home town have been killed because they answered Craigslist ads. I still use Craigslist myself, but you should always keep your wits about you, and not do risky things for a "bargain."

There is an enormous amount of data collected on every one of us, all the time. This has only recently become possible, due to modern technology. This data can be mined and analyzed. Various government agencies are collecting vast amounts of data, and I don't consider it paranoid to ask why, or to wonder what they're doing with all of this data. Not only that, but it's becoming clear that the collectors of this data aren't working hard enough to ensure the security of it.
 
Similar story in the STL area about a suspected Craigslist ad related murder.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime...1c35ffcb40.html

So one does have to take some precautions. Just because not everyone is a scammer or killer doesn't mean they are not out there.

For example, I only provide my Google Phone number, not my home or cell number for an ad, and then we meet in a very busy, public place, and I usually have someone with me, not alone.

I've sold cars, wheels, furniture, etc and while I'm wary and think I have a pretty good 6th sense about these sort of things, I'm still prepared if a deal goes sideways.

Originally Posted By: Stelth
The modern availability of information, and the current news cycle, have made people more aware of negative things that happen. Nonetheless, there are certainly good reasons to be cautious.

A couple of people in my home town have been killed because they answered Craigslist ads. I still use Craigslist myself, but you should always keep your wits about you, and not do risky things for a "bargain."

There is an enormous amount of data collected on every one of us, all the time. This has only recently become possible, due to modern technology. This data can be mined and analyzed. Various government agencies are collecting vast amounts of data, and I don't consider it paranoid to ask why, or to wonder what they're doing with all of this data. Not only that, but it's becoming clear that the collectors of this data aren't working hard enough to ensure the security of it.
 
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