Rant #1,966: Pictures of You

Well, once again some Hollywood types are complaining that hackers have infringed on their privacy by stealing intimate pictures of them and putting them up for everyone to see on the Internet.

This is upsetting, I guess, but I often wonder who is really crying here, and whether the tears are of the crocodile variety.

Celebrities like athletes Lindsey Vonn and Tiger Woods, as well as a slew of actresses and singers including Myley Cyrus, woke up the other day to find intimate photos of themselves posted on the Internet by the same group who claimed to have done this several months ago to another selection of celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence.

Look, I understand those who feel their privacy was infringed upon. These photos were only to be seen by certain eyes, and now, all their business, so to speak, is up for all to see.

On the other hand, why can't these dummies understand that anything and everything you photograph, as well as any other pertinent information you have, is up for the taking if you put it on your cellphone, your tablet, or your computer?

"The cloud" is really where your head is if you think that putting up photos and video of yourself in this storage area is immune to being hacked by those who know how.

And why you take such video and photos of yourself is another story ... or is it really?

I have to wonder that with the evident preponderance of such material from major stars, whether a lot of this is more "woe is me" than reality.

I am not saying that the stars are in cahoots with the hackers, but you know what they say, any publicity--even bad press--is better than no publicity at all, and some of these people ... well, they can cry all they want into their own personal cash registers.

Any exposure is good exposure, if you get my drift.

Supposed leaked videos in the recent past--by the likes of Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson and many others--have actually given career boosts to those involved, who are more interested in money than dignity.

Who's to say that the latest leaks won't end up benefitting those involved, even unwittingly?

Would you put it past any of these celebrities?

I certainly wouldn't.

And all the talk about seeking legal action and prosecuting the hackers to the fullest extent of the law ... please, the videos shouldn't have been up in the first place, and certainly not stored on the Internet, of all places.

Heck, if these stars feel the need to show themselves off to their loved ones in this manner, get an old Polaroid and take pictures that only you and the other person can share.

Or get an old video camera and shoot some shots that you feel the need to tape.

(But as you know, you are also taking a major chance by doing it this way, too.)

But please, don't use your phone, your tablet or your computer to take these things, and then plead total astonishment that anyone will grab these and put you on full display.

How stupid can you be? Maybe that is a rhetorical question, but in this case, I think it has to be asked.

(P.S.: Happy birthday to my wonderful son. He is the true light of my life, and he is the best son a guy could have. We are going out to dinner tonight to celebrate his 22nd birthday, and he is just discovering his own self and his world. Many more happy birthdays to him!)