"It's simply not possible"

Well, it's the story of my life. They say -it's simply not possible and I say -It just happened!

Blogging has been low priority the past two weeks due to monsoon = cold, fever and cough season. I was knocked out last week, then Lil Baba and now my husband is starting to sound like Zeb Macahan (anyone remember him?)

I have started to look for jobs and posted my profile on one of the biggest sites here in India, you know like LinkedIn or similar. I've been online two days and yesterday received the following phone call.

- Hello Sir. I'm calling from ----. This is a confirmation call to confirm your account and phone nr.
- Ok, my name is Linda
- Yes, Sir, is it correct Sir that you have registered on our site?
- Yes I have registered on your site, but as you can hear, I am a woman.
- Oho, ok.....
(Total change of tone)
- I see you have experience from Europe. By the way, why did you leave Europe? It is a good COUNTRY!!
- We live in India and that question is irrelevant.
- Can I work for your company?
- NO. I am the one looking for a job
- I want to go to Europe. How can I slip into Europe. I want to work for your company.
- NOOO. This is ridiculous!! What are you talking about? I'm not going to take you to Europe.

(I hang up the phone and call the big recruitment site)

- I just received a very strange phone call. I thought my personal details were protected. My impression is that you are one of the most reputable sites in India
- But Madam, it's simply not possible. No one can access your profile. We have strict rules and regulations.
- Well, it just happenedd and this is the phone number from the person who called me.
- Oh, Madam, this is a very serious issue. Please send all the details to me bla bla bla.

(I traced the phone nr and called it again after 5 minutes....busy.....then another 5 minutes.....tut, tut, tut...phone is off)

I have learned a lot of protecting privacy since moving here, but this incident took me to a whole new level where I'm even reluctant to send my CV to a reputed recruitment agency. So except for the no address, no personal details, etc...... I'm asking myself how can I apply for a job if things like this happen.

Many of us use Facebook for instance. Talk about information being out there.....It's part of our life and what if I or you decide to delete all social networking, deactivate our online accounts and go pitch black away from the electronic world. It's almost like if you're not there on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube etc......you don't exist. Is it possible to go completely offline? (I know it is, but is it?). Part of our life exists on the Internet. Can we choose not to be part of that world? "Everybody" peaks at each other on LinkedIn, who knows who, checks when "that" person was online last time. We like to anonymously snoop around social networks and surf the net, but we are fooling ourselves. We are not anonymous at all. We are monitored. That is what we are. When I surf the net there is targeted advertising for a pair of earrings that I've been looking at virtually everywhere. I see ads of these gold drop earrings everywhere with a sales tag. I receive emails with jewellery offers from that site. Add one + one = Someone is watching me online. I'm being monitored.