[img]541|left|||no_popup[/img] I recently received a letter from my insurance agent notifying me my personal information has been compromised. Someone broke into his office and stole a computer that included sensitive data.
This is the third time this year I have read such a letter. Who would have thought that two banks and an insurance company wouldn’t be safe holders of my private data? Okay, don’t answer that…
The sad thing is, this doesn’t even count the person who borrowed my identity – through an impression of my debit card – a few months ago for a spending spree in Northern California.
Then there are the people who hacked into my email account and tried to get into my Facebook account to spam my friends with Viagra ads.
And yes, I keep separate passwords for everything and change them regularly. (I have to, as I can’t keep them all straight!)
I’m not angry. There’s no point in that. But I do have a question… or two.
Why?
Why would someone choose to hurt another person instead of using his or her talents to create something positive for himself? Are things any less real because they are on a computer? (Even though I pay bills online, I still almost couldn’t make my car payment when someone stole that money from my account. That is real enough for me!)
Do people not see that the Golden Rule really does apply to all of us? (For those drawing a blank, it’s the “do unto others as you’d have them do to you” saying you’ve heard forever.)
If that rule doesn’t apply, what is the line that won’t be crossed? Piracy? Hacking accounts? Breaking and entering? Assault? Murder?
So Much for Questions
I understand that I don’t have a criminal mastermind and that I get my thrills from making a new piece of music or inspiring a student. That may be weird, or at least “not enough,” to some. To them, I would like to say, “You are enough. Creating something for yourself will bring you more joy than could stealing all the money in the world.” I am listening.
Ms. Dewberry, an accomplished cellist, completed her DMA in Chamber Music Performance from UCLA in December 2005. She received her MM in Cello Performance from UCLA in June 2002 and her B.M. in Cello Performance from Western Michigan University in April 1998. She also holds a B.A. in French with a minor in Women's Studies and Philosophy.
Her website is www.carterdewberry.com
She may be contacted at carter@carterdewberry.com
