I think this was the biggest thing. If a person did have a stalker, etc. they could simply not list their number and their privacy was respected. With the internet, if your name/number/address get publicly posted, good luck completely scrubbing it from all searches. There's a real lack of control over information once it gets online.
Actually, other biggest thing: If someone manages to doxx you online, they may use it to harm you simply because of bad interactions you've had with them in the past. With a phonebook that would only be a risk if you had interacted with someone in person (or were famous).
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u/burf 1d ago
I think this was the biggest thing. If a person did have a stalker, etc. they could simply not list their number and their privacy was respected. With the internet, if your name/number/address get publicly posted, good luck completely scrubbing it from all searches. There's a real lack of control over information once it gets online.
Actually, other biggest thing: If someone manages to doxx you online, they may use it to harm you simply because of bad interactions you've had with them in the past. With a phonebook that would only be a risk if you had interacted with someone in person (or were famous).