browser life

I've been watching "Last Comic Standing" this summer. Tonight, they were down to five finalists, and they announced that you could vote for your favorite on NBC's website. I figured, why not? I've voted on TV shows before.

When I went to the website to vote, you had to register first. Fine, I thought. But then I saw all the information they were asking for.

In addition to your e-mail, which I expect to have to give out, they wanted your name AND your phone number AND your zip code AND your birthdate! Oh, and it's NOT an encrypted site! WTF?

Why on earth do they require all this personal information that anyone could read just to vote on a television show?? Junk e-mail I'm used to, but I don't want anyone I know calling me, and nowhere on this site does it say that this information won't be distributed to marketers or whomever. I tried leaving out my phone number, but my registration was rejected.

What's even more disturbing to me, though, is that there are possibly thousands of people willingly disclosing this info just to participate in a network poll. Is this common? Geez, no wonder identity theft is so easy.

How about I go the whole nine yards and send NBC my street addy and my Social Security number? That way they can be sure it's really me voting and not some evil hacker. Oh, and maybe I should include a photo.

It's hard enough to maintain my privacy from the Bush administration. Maybe NBC is in cahoots?