We Must Love Our Surveillance...right?

We as a society must love surveillance...right? Otherwise we wouldn't have it at the level it is now...right?

Let's put this into perspective here.

The 1% have so graciously used the taxes of the 99% to install a surveillance grid of such massive and invasive proportions so that we are under their eyes 24/7. And this must make people feel all warm and cuddly to be protected by 1% of the entire population because otherwise the 99% wouldn't stand for it...right?

Not only does the surveillance protect us from the monsters we are told exist around every corner(their words not ours) but just to make sure we continue to be protected we allow ourselves to be fined for any infraction caught by the protectors on their safety surveillance system. Yes, 'Their' system.

We love our surveillance so much that we go out of our way to make sure we are being tracked every step of the way in our day to day lives. We line up to beat each other over the latest gadgetry that has GPS embedded...Safety! All new cars have GPS...Safety! Even our credit cards and debit cards have RFID embedded in them to track every move or purchase you will every make...all for Safety!

Let's not forget the Social Media. Even tho the 99% are more aware now than ever as to what is collected, stored from their crackbook pages, everyone is ok with it. They must be because if a society actually values it's right to privacy and would stand against any that would take it away, then sites like crackbook couldn't exist...right?

But what is equally telling as to how we love our surveillance is just the numbers alone. 99% vs 1%. This tells me that the people should have 99% control over whether or not they want to be under constant surveillance or not. And the 1% should have to bow to the majority. Not just a majority but an almost complete consensus...right?

So, if we have the majority, the passion, the rights given to us by our founders but continue doing nothing about it, we must love our surveillance...right?



Peace

Interesting post, I don't agree with it all but that's the beauty of ATS. =)

originally posted by: jude11
We love our surveillance so much that we go out of our way to make sure we are being tracked every step of the way in our day to day lives. We line up to beat each other over the latest gadgetry that has GPS embedded...Safety! All new cars have GPS...Safety! Even our credit cards and debit cards have RFID embedded in them to track every move or purchase you will every make...all for Safety!

While you can call GPS a delivery mechanism for surveillance it also adds functionality that supplements or enhances the modern living experience. GoogleNow or similar services work great and really bring interesting and relevant geographic points of interest , metrics and transportation schedules right to my finger tips without having to do anything.

I currently have 3 phones through my work (iOS, Droid and Windows)..all 3 have to have GPS enable as part of the corporate policy and I am willing to take that trade off for the financial savings I gain even if I only had 1 phone.

For me personally I don't see GPS enabled devices as a problem. If I am going some place I shouldn't be going then it's me who is responsible for that choice and not the GPS monitoring that proved I was at that spot.

All the same I realize different people want or expect different things so the response will be varied.

As a citizen with nothing to hide, I really don't notice all the surveillance that occurs around me on a daily basis, nor do I really care.

As far as my digital footprint, well, that's where things are different. I take certain measures to make sure I leave as little a digital trail as possible. Not because I fear what they might see, but because I don't feel it's any of their business to to know what my opinions are, or who I correspond with.

a reply to: jude11

I feel like it's more a function of surveillance becoming a normalized state of affairs. In a lot of cases the technology which is increasing the publicity of personal information has upshots and convenience. One could avoid a fair bit of this technology if it seemed prudent, but most would rather reap the benefits. Perhaps in this manner our tolerance of surveillance is being constantly tested.

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

Many people don't care or don't notice.

Until they get set up that is.

Then it's a different story.

originally posted by: xuenchen
a reply to: ScientificRailgun

Many people don't care or don't notice.

Until they get set up that is.

Then it's a different story.

I'm a pretty average person, so they have zero reason in the world to "set me up".

So nah, I'm not too worried.

I guess I better start wearing underwear.. Good thing I don't have a phone because of 'Selfies' hahahahaha

originally posted by: ScientificRailgun
As a citizen with nothing to hide, I really don't notice all the surveillance that occurs around me on a daily basis, nor do I really care.

As far as my digital footprint, well, that's where things are different. I take certain measures to make sure I leave as little a digital trail as possible. Not because I fear what they might see, but because I don't feel it's any of their business to to know what my opinions are, or who I correspond with.

Right now you have nothing to hide.

Tomorrow? Who knows? With so many laws being drawn up every day how do you know that you have nothing to hide until you are told?

It's not really the issue of having nothing to hide but rather being spied upon with no control.

Sorry but this argument has been tried and failed because just the fact that you say you have no problem with it gives permission to go further until you actually do have something to hide.

Peace

I just go under the assumption that if it's digital, there's a copy of it, or it's been recorded somewhere.

To the best of my knowledge what's going on upstairs in your head is still yours all to yourself, unless you're kidnapped and pumped with truth serum or hypnotized. Having that said, it'll only be a matter of time before even our thoughts will be monitored.

originally posted by: jude11

originally posted by: ScientificRailgun
As a citizen with nothing to hide, I really don't notice all the surveillance that occurs around me on a daily basis, nor do I really care.

As far as my digital footprint, well, that's where things are different. I take certain measures to make sure I leave as little a digital trail as possible. Not because I fear what they might see, but because I don't feel it's any of their business to to know what my opinions are, or who I correspond with.

Right now you have nothing to hide.

Tomorrow? Who knows? With so many laws being drawn up every day how do you know that you have nothing to hide until you are told?

It's not really the issue of having nothing to hide but rather being spied upon with no control.

Sorry but this argument has been tried and failed because just the fact that you say you have no problem with it gives permission to go further until you actually do have something to hide.

Peace

Unless they make working my IT job, pigging out on Sushi, and shopping for manga illegal, I really do have nothing to hide.

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

As a citizen with nothing to hide,

I don't feel it's any of their business to to know what my opinions are, or who I correspond with.

Why is that? What are you hiding?

See how that works? If you say its non of your business then you automatically raise the suspicion flag. Because they have nothing better to do than try and figure out that 'hidden part' of your business. For all they know thats where you plan terrorist attacks. Only when and until they have access to your most personal secrets will they then be satisfied you are not a potential threat and let you on your way, for now.

Thats where all the surveillance is leading. Control freaks are never satisfied. They will remain paranoid not because you have done anything per se, because they are the ones guilty of doing things and can never rest assured they aren't going to get reprisals for that.

originally posted by: opethPA
Interesting post, I don't agree with it all but that's the beauty of ATS. =)

originally posted by: jude11
We love our surveillance so much that we go out of our way to make sure we are being tracked every step of the way in our day to day lives. We line up to beat each other over the latest gadgetry that has GPS embedded...Safety! All new cars have GPS...Safety! Even our credit cards and debit cards have RFID embedded in them to track every move or purchase you will every make...all for Safety!

While you can call GPS a delivery mechanism for surveillance it also adds functionality that supplements or enhances the modern living experience. GoogleNow or similar services work great and really bring interesting and relevant geographic points of interest , metrics and transportation schedules right to my finger tips without having to do anything.

I currently have 3 phones through my work (iOS, Droid and Windows)..all 3 have to have GPS enable as part of the corporate policy and I am willing to take that trade off for the financial savings I gain even if I only had 1 phone.

For me personally I don't see GPS enabled devices as a problem. If I am going some place I shouldn't be going then it's me who is responsible for that choice and not the GPS monitoring that proved I was at that spot.

All the same I realize different people want or expect different things so the response will be varied.

I guess I failed to make my point.

I don't really care that I am doing nothing wrong. I care that I am being seen as a potential to do wrong so therefore must be spied upon. And all while paying for that honor.

Further than that tho...I am not property.

Peace

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: ScientificRailgun

As a citizen with nothing to hide,

I don't feel it's any of their business to to know what my opinions are, or who I correspond with.

Why is that? What are you hiding?

See how that works? If you say its non of your business then you automatically raise the suspicion flag. Because they have nothing better to do than try and figure out that 'hidden part' of your business. For all they know thats where you plan terrorist attacks. Only when and until they have access to your most personal secrets will they then be satisfied you are not a potential threat and let you on your way, for now.

Thats where all the surveillance is leading. Control freaks are never satisfied. They will remain paranoid not because you have done anything per se, because they are the ones guilty of doing things and can never rest assured they aren't going to get reprisals for that.

BINGO!

Peace

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: ScientificRailgun

As a citizen with nothing to hide,

I don't feel it's any of their business to to know what my opinions are, or who I correspond with.

Why is that? What are you hiding?

See how that works? If you say its non of your business then you automatically raise the suspicion flag. Because they have nothing better to do than try and figure out that 'hidden part' of your business. For all they know thats where you plan terrorist attacks. Only when and until they have access to your most personal secrets will they then be satisfied you are not a potential threat and let you on your way, for now.

Thats where all the surveillance is leading. Control freaks are never satisfied. They will remain paranoid not because you have done anything per se, because they are the ones guilty of doing things and can never rest assured they aren't going to get reprisals for that.

A fair point. But again, as I genuinely have nothing to hide I really don't care. Even if they do somehow link my digital identity to my real one, they'll find nothing except a girl who likes to frequent conspiracy boards and be sarcastic and sometimes debunk things, someone who watches an unhealthy amount Hatsune Miku youtube videos, and someone who helps people translate anime into English.

Aside from that last one, none of those could even be considered shady. And only the last one because my translations are often used on unlicensed anime streaming websites.

originally posted by: jude11
I guess I failed to make my point.

I don't really care that I am doing nothing wrong. I care that I am being seen as a potential to do wrong so therefore must be spied upon. And all while paying for that honor.

Further than that tho...I am not property.

Peace

Not at all..You made your point and I made mine.

You view GPS as being spied on and I dont or I should say it's a trade off Im willing to make since I dont view it as being spied on and it enhances my daily experience.

Given my career choice I don't have the luxury of not having a digital footprint. It's sort of like deciding to be a cook, you risk the chance of getting burned.

Just a sample. The permissions involve access to your email, microphone, camera and text.

App Name and # of Permissions
AntiVirus Security 44
Viber 42
Facebook 39
360 Security - Antivirus 39
Tango Messenger, Video & Calls 36
WhatsApp Messenger 32
Skype - free IM & video calls 32
GO Launcher EX 31
WeChat 30
CM Security- AppLock&AntiVirus 29
Waze Social GPS Maps & Traffic 29
BBM 28
Facebook Messenger 27
LINE: Free Calls & Messages 27
Clean Master Phone Boost 23
Battery Doctor (Battery Saver) 23
DU Battery Saver & Widgets 23
Chrome Browser - Google 19
Twitter 17
Maps 16
Instagram 14
YouTube 14
Dolphin Browser for Android 14
Castle Clash 14
Trivia Crack 13

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

But again, as I genuinely have nothing to hide I really don't care.

You are on a conspiracy website. You have hidden your true identity. You are 'sarcastic', and you clam your have nothing to hide.

Everyone is guilty of something…

Relax, I'm not the thought police. I am pissed that the surveillance isn't watching the elite wealthy like they do us. They are the ones causing all the havoc in the world. Theres no cameras where they are, the police don't arrest them, just us.

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: ScientificRailgun

But again, as I genuinely have nothing to hide I really don't care.

You are on a conspiracy website. You have hidden your true identity. You are 'sarcastic', and you clam your have nothing to hide.

Everyone is guilty of something…

Relax, I'm not the thought police. I am pissed that the surveillance isn't watching the elite wealthy like they do us. They are the ones causing all the havoc in the world. Theres no cameras where they are, the police don't arrest them, just us.

Well one I hide my identity here because I don't need any crazy conspiracy people stalking me. But you're right, there's a lot of surveillance and generally, the people who WATCH the cameras aren't the ones getting caught doing things. I never said the surveillance was a GOOD thing, rather the opposite, all of your implications are well within the realm of possibility and the ways governments and corporations track people are evolving.

There was a story of a father who called Target, very upset that his daughter started receiving coupons from them for things like strollers, car seats, diapers, stuff a new mother would buy. He was angry because he insisted his daughter was not pregnant and demanded Target apologize for encouraging her, in his eyes, to go out and have a baby.

Well, a few days later he called back and apologized to Target, telling that "there were some things going on in his household that he wasn't aware of, and his daughter was pregnant."

Turns out, target was tracking her purchases, which included things like pregnancy tests, multivitamins, nausea medication, and the like. The company then surmised based on her purchase history that she might be pregnant, and began sending her targeted advertisements for things she might buy. And they were right. A company knew someone's daughter was pregnant before the father did.

That's downright creepy, but it's also a sign of the connected world we live in today. With all of the modern conveniences our rapidly advancing technology allows us, the more avenues for companies and governments to track what we do. The sad reality is, if you don't want to be monitored, you have to give in to a life lived off the grid, without modern conveniences that make life so comfortable for so many.

In that regard, I choose not to be afraid of the growing surveillance state, because I choose not to live in paranoia of what a company or the government might know about me. I'm sure there are files in various agencies with my name on it stowed away in some filing cabinet somewhere because of my past misdeeds, but if I live in fear of that, am I really living at all?

That's what I mean when I say I don't care. It's not that I literally don't care, it's that I choose not to care because I can't change it, and I live in a way that makes me unlikely to be inconvenienced or incarcerated by the surveillance state.

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

That's what I mean when I say I don't care. It's not that I literally don't care, it's that I choose not to care because I can't change it

Therein lies the problem.

Coming to the conclusion that you can't change it is how they actually win. You were made to accept it so you actually care but feel powerless.

Choosing not to care because you can't win is in essence giving permission for more intrusive tactics until the time that you are caught committing a crime that you never even knew existed.

Peace

originally posted by: jude11
a reply to: ScientificRailgun

That's what I mean when I say I don't care. It's not that I literally don't care, it's that I choose not to care because I can't change it

Therein lies the problem.

Coming to the conclusion that you can't change it is how they actually win. You were made to accept it so you actually care but feel powerless.

Choosing not to care because you can't win is in essence giving permission for more intrusive tactics until the time that you are caught committing a crime that you never even knew existed.

Peace

How can I, a single human living in Japan, change things? I can't lobby to the Japanese government, I'm just some Gaijin. If I go around smashing cameras I'll get arrested, the only way I can make any mark on things is simply to not participate in modern society at all. And were I to do that, would anyone even notice? The claws are in too deep, and unless some global catastrophe occurs, or a consciousness shift happens, or poles reverse, there isn't a feasible way to change it. So I live with it, because I enjoy my comfortable life. Does it make me a part of the system? Probably? Does it make me part of the problem? If non-participation makes me part of the problem, then yes, I suppose I am.