My Privacy Philosophy

Welcome to the part of the site where I try not to sound like I'm wearing a tinfoil hat—while still caring a lot about where my data ends up.

I don't think privacy means living off-grid, rejecting all modern conveniences, or never watching a cat video again (although that would certainly help). But I do believe most of us have handed over way too much of our lives to a handful of tech giants who see every click, swipe, and half-finished draft email as another data point to monetize.

I call this approach privacy without purism. It means:

  • If an alternative to Google Calendar exists (like Proton Calendar), I'll switch.
  • If something like YouTube is too deeply embedded, I'll compartmentalize it instead of quitting cold turkey.
  • If I can't find a tool that fits my needs, I'll try building one.

In other words, I'm trying to move from data product to data owner—without renouncing modern life or pretending my identity is a state secret.

Why Bother?

Sure, you might say:
"Who cares? I have nothing to hide."

That's fair. But the question isn't whether you're hiding something. It's whether you should have to give up every detail about yourself just to watch a video, send an email, or check tomorrow's weather.
I believe privacy should be the default, not a special request.

How Far Will I Go?

I'm not going to:

  • Smash my smartphone with a hammer (yet).
  • Abandon all social platforms (though I'm trying to use them less).
  • Claim that proprietary software is pure evil (I still use some).

But I will:

  • Replace invasive tools with private ones whenever it's feasible.
  • Use compartmentalization to keep personal and professional lives separated.
  • Self-host where it makes sense.
  • Write software when the right solution doesn't exist.

Why You Might See Me Experimenting

I'm a developer. That means if there's no good tool for something, I'm tempted to build it (sometimes successfully, sometimes chaotically). So don't be surprised if you see me rolling out a self-hosted server or scripting my own alternatives—half out of privacy concerns, half because I enjoy figuring things out.

Is This For Everyone?

Probably not.
But if you're tired of having your entire digital life indexed, cross-referenced, and auctioned off in real time, I think you'll understand why I'm doing it.
This isn't about disappearing. It's about drawing the line on what I choose to share—and with whom.

Still Figuring It Out

Privacy is a process, not a destination. There's always something more to replace, migrate, or build.
If you have suggestions, ideas, or the occasional "Hey, this might be overkill" intervention, feel free to reach out.