Are Cookies Bad

The concept of cookie trading is very new to many of you. But to be fair, the use of cookies does infringe on privacy. The server does know if someone stopped by before and knows what that person did while they were there.

I don't believe cookies are all that awful. No, I don't use them, but I also don't mind someone using them on me. Someone with far more knowledge than me might prove me wrong, but I don't think we can expect to move around public phone lines and personal servers totally anonymously.

The people know I'm in their site. The server knows what I'm doing when I'm there. You bet. Where else, other than your home, can you have complete domain over all that is inside, taking whatever you want, while remaining totally anonymous? They know who I am. To a point. Your login or e-mail login may be gathered because it's listed in the browser's general information. But it's not gathered by the cookie. The cookie can't do that. An applet can, and then it can be written to the cookie. This is a bit unnerving, I agree. But as I said before, it's hard to go around this web of computers totally anonymously. They'll spam me. If they do, then a line has been crossed and the person who is using the unauthorized e-mail addresses should be prosecuted. They'll get my picture. Not unless you offer it. They'll get my home address. Ditto. They'll get my SS number. Ditto, ditto... I agree to a point that surfing is invasive to your privacy, but it might be a trade-off you are willing make in order to have this web of computers that takes so much of our time.
Stop and think -- phone bills, power bills, cable bills... each of those also gather information about you. Plus, they probably asked for your SS number. Should we be anonymous to them, too? It's a good debate, if nothing else. It's up to you whether the cookies are good or bad.
On another note... I enjoy asking people if they would ever give a credit card number over the Internet, even though great steps have been taken to ensure encryption of the numbers. Most people have a rather violent reaction against doing it. They then hand their card to the waiter who walks into another room with it.