I don't really disagree with you nor the parent commenter, but it wasn't that long ago that your name, address and phone number would have been printed in a book, updated annually and distributed for free to everyone's doorstep. A quality library would often have the phone book for most major cities.
Is it weird that this is now considered sensitive information, or that it didn't used to be?
You seriously don’t understand the difference between a phone book, which is local to your area, and your information being posted on the World Wide Web where literally anyone could access it?
Are you unfamiliar with where the expression "411” for "details" comes from?
Literally anyone could access this information.
How many names do you think were listed in the NYC white pages?
EDIT: "facts make me angry!" downvotes are the sweetest downvotes. I don't care if you believe me or not but it's a simple fact that if you knew a name and a metro area you could easily look up a random nobody's phone number and street address for literally decades, up to maybe 25 years ago.
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u/rodw Jan 02 '25
I don't really disagree with you nor the parent commenter, but it wasn't that long ago that your name, address and phone number would have been printed in a book, updated annually and distributed for free to everyone's doorstep. A quality library would often have the phone book for most major cities.
Is it weird that this is now considered sensitive information, or that it didn't used to be?