Gothamist: Operation Santa Ceases Due to "Privacy Breach"

siccer

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:31:59 -0500

PS - I agree with two points: #1, they made the right decision here - i.e., to keep names/addresses private. #2, as "dude69" noted: Some letters do look iffy. -- It's 100% fine if the adult writes "as if" it's coming from the child when (a) the child can't write clearly, or (b) the adult doesn't want to get the kid's hopes up (so he-she is writing secretly, on the child's behalf). -- And it would be hard to turn Op Santa into a major racket, since I'm sure that many letters are unanswered. But I _have_ been perturbed by the increase in requests - many adult-written - for only very specific, 'way-expensive stuff. (One Santa letter I rec'd had only two items - but if I'd filled the request to a 'T,' it would have cost $500+.) Despite which, it's better to pick a letter (and use your innate BS detector), take the risk, and do something.

Dude69

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:03:50 -0500

I have done secret santa for a couple of years, (winter wishes for annoying pc crowd) and every year it seems the letters become less genuine and looks to be written by some adult pretending to be a kid. I bet most of these toys and clothes are resold on ebay by these so call "kids." Time to shut this sham operation down!

MissPinkKate

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:41:40 -0500

Sounds like they made the right decision. There's no reason the gift-givers need to receive the personal information of the needy child they are helping.

NannyState

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:40:22 -0500

Just have a clearing house that distributes anonymous gifts to kids whose names and addresses are kept confidential.

meL

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:29:27 -0500

As long as they haven't abolished the program entirely it's still a good thing to do. It'll be like... altruistic secret secret Santa. Good going USPS.

woodendesigner

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:56:47 -0500

I think the idea of the numbering system is really good. It's worth doing and keeping it more anonymous is a good idea.

siccer

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:35:07 -0500

I've often participated in Op Santa, and it's a great program, but the 'holes' in it always made me nervous. I mean: You'd get a kid's letter, with full name, home address and sometimes personal details (siblings' names, parents' situation, whatever). Some nut easily could use this info for bad reasons -- especially since the aspiring-Santa paperwork was minimal-to-fakeable.

Outter Burrougher

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:11:40 -0500

for the record, when I went earlier this month, they did not ever ask to see my ID, though I did have to do the paperwork.

benitofool

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:05:37 -0500

thank god d*ck in a box jokes are dead and gone

Jen Chung

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:51:43 -0500

True--I'll add that. But overall, this makes me sad. I know the USPS, especially as a gov't agency, needs to protect itself, but so many kids and families received nice holiday surprises because the program.

badtzmaru

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:44:57 -0500

30 Rock did a great expose on the "Santa" program last week. Should be required viewing.