OnStar systems detect that a collision has occurred and dial 911 for you. The phone can't do this as well, though it could perhaps do it.

I believe iPhones do this too...?

I believe they call it Crash Detection.

Both of my vehicles are still stick shifts, a 5spd WRX and a 6spd Tacoma. You'll take them from my cold dead hands!

In my rather long life to date..I have never owned anything but 2 seater sports cars with manual transmissions.

Ok, the '86 911 Turbo Porsche "technically" had rear seats, but you couldn't fit more than a couple bags of groceries back there, so I don't really count that.

If I were to buy a new GM car...first thing I'd do (actually while researching the car)....is find out how to disable the fscking cellular connection and cut the damned thing off from the mothership completely.

I don't want over the air updates at their choice, nor telemetries, etc....

Hell at this point, I just may only be buying older cars if need be and keeping them in good running order.

I prefer manual transmission anyway....those are hard to get new. I'd love a new Vette, but a sports car with no manual transmission? A waste...

In addition to what other people said, some companies use it to screen out people who are going to cause employee conflicts, ie, are you using it to make controversial posts and comments and say things that violate the social contract, or do you use it to communicate with family and talk about your hobbies?

If you don't feel some attachment to your past and want people to be able to find you and contact you, in this age without phone books, are you going to be a company person? Or do you just want a paycheck?

I guess I don't see social media the way you do....I've never thought of not having social media as the same thing as "no feeling attachment to past or want people, etc".

I've never done social media, yet I'm in almost constant touch with friends over 45+ year I've been with...we text, phone call, email...and actually try as often as possible to get together in meatspace.

Anyone that needs to know where I am...knows where I am.

And not sure about....company person? I mean, the ONLY reason I work...is for $$$.

I've contracted 1099 and done W2 over the years.

When I go to work, I follow the rules, I'm very amiable with co-workers....I do work stuff at work and when the door hits me on the ass on the way out, I leave work fully behind.

As a general rule I do not associate with co-workers outside of the office. I have real friends for friend actives and needs....I have found over the years, it keeps things professional and keeps problems at bay.

Frankly in the litigious society we find ourselves in today....I do believe employers are looking more for a person like myself...little to NO threat of interoffice conflicts or lawsuits.

And what's the endgame?

"How about a nice game of....chess?"

And just because you aren't paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you

Thank you Dr. Johnny Fever....and, watch out for the "phone cops"...those guys play hard ball!!!

Ok...I've just severely dated myself...

After I had to be on Facebook for my work,

This part of your post really caught my eye...

Did your employer actually state you had to have a FB account in order to perform your job??

If so, I've never heard of such a thing.

I've never had a FB or any other social media site account, and by my accounts...it's actually been beneficial to my lines of work over the years.

So, genuinely curious about this....what kind of job what kind of work if you don't mind me asking....

Thank you in advance...

You should buy nicer coffee beans - if your coffee tastes bad without milk or sugar and tastes terrible when cold, that is a sign you are buying trash coffee beans.

Ugh...I don't think so....I can't agree.

I have relatives and friends that are coffee snobs, and have explained in great lengths what makes the superior coffee...from bean to brewing style to even the freakin' temperature you steep it.

No matter the quality, it all basically tastes like bitter dark liquid....no flavors really that overpower the bitter.

The only way I generally like coffee, is to booze it up, lots of heavy cream and sweetener so that by the time I'm one with it...tastes like boozy hot chocolate....and they generally frown on one for drinking that on the job site, so I generally only partake at home on weekends.

And no, I don't waste my money on the "good stuff" when I drink it like that, so don't worry.

It's all just bitter to me and needs a ton of additives to make it pleasurable.....everyone has different taste buds you know.

Is that really up to some random superintendent to decide. In most countries it would have to be an act of parliament.

Well, the US is set up that way...MOST local power is reserved for the States and the localities within.

The Federal govt is set up to be weak, at least constitutionally it is only supposed to have the limited, enumerated powers and responsibilities listed in the US Constitution.

That has been bastardized greatly over the years, but it also still largely applies.

For the most part, the Feds can't order the states to so jack shit....they can coerce them by trying to withhold tax monies...etc....but that's largely it.

Oh, so you are just going to fly the confederate flag

Why?

Are you trying to start a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert or something....?

I"m curious...do these Chinese models contain Chinese guard rails?

I mean, will it censor you if you ask about the Chinese premier looking like Winnie the Pooh or tienaman (sp?) square....will it say it can't answer that...or give answers that only praise china?

Genuine question with potential genuine concerns....

I think it's pretty f-ed up to say a company has to give their IP and trade secrets to their competitors (aka, your friends) so they can take their business, and then call it fairness. It isn't, it's theft.

Kinda sounds like China's business model, eh?

I agree they can't toss the EU completely away...

However, why couldn't Google just yank their servers out of the EU..and station them all around the EU. Sure, there might be a little performance hit, but at least they'd not be compelled to follow the EU rules, and I doubt the EU will firewall all things google, you know?

I'm also highly allergic to cats...

;)

"She's got huge tracts of land!"

Wait....is that, is that...Sir Lancelot I see in the distance, running towards our castle....?