Orwells 1984 one step closer??

FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―The City of Fort Worth understands that many residents notice illegal things around the city each day, like graffiti or illegal dumping. Officials also understand there are far more residents than city workers, which is why Code Compliance is putting it in their hands.

"Last year, in order to balance the budget, we had to cut our staff by about 20 percent, so we started working on a project to find a way to use citizens and volunteers to help us do our job," said Code Compliance Director Brandon Bennett.

The "way" they found to do this? Phone apps. Yes they have a free downloadable app for that allows people to fill out a form, upload pics of the violation, and send it in. While this COULD be a good thing, I kinda doubt it. You see when I see stuff like this I look at what it could mean for the future, and as our "present" get's worse and worse as far as our freedoms, I see this as one more tool for Big Brother. Neighbors snitching on neighbors. The herd keeping itself in line, very valuable I would think.

As it stands at this point in time sure, it's probably a good thing as most laws are sensible. But as our freedoms become more and more restricted, this tool will become more and more evil.

So what do you think? Awesome idea to help clean up crime? Or nefarious tool implemented while it's still "innocent" to be used for it's real purpose, later on down the road?

Am I too paranoid?

Also this is just in Ft. Worth Texas at this point in time. (as far as I know) But I'm sure it will catch like wildfire.

Source:
cbs11tv.com...

Edited for grammar

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Yesterday I was reading this comparison of Huxley and Orwell.

Link

And it shows that we are on a mixed path between Brave new world and 1984.

Interesting. I have to say I have not read Brave New World, but I will be now. Thanks for that.

reply to post by Grey Magic


interesting, what would you rather live in a Huxley or Orwell dystopia. Things seem to me a lot more like Huxley in a cultural sense and Orwell in the political geo political sense.

I would rather be in Huxleys vision, if i had to choose. Soma sounds pretty good

How appropriate, I just finished re-reading 1984 - it's one of my faves. I can definitely see where you're going with the concerns about the phone app. Things like this always strike me in this way, because of course while it seems innocent enough at the moment - it's also a step toward de-sensitization to this sort of thing. I guess all that can be said is hopefully we're wrong!

Oh, and thanks for the link Grey Magic. I've also never read Brave New World but thanks to that intriguing comparison it just made the top of my book list!

It could be that the best of both options have been combined into one master plan.

However it appears likely that there are two teirs: As long as you do what your told it is a Brave New World, step out of line and it's 1984.

I don't think the OP is overly paranoid, just realistic. As stated, bring these programs into effect now and corrupt them later. I see this going on with alot of the new laws that we have no real use/need for.

Add them to the books today when no one is paying attention or thinking about where it will lead. When these laws or restrictions are needed TPTB can point and say that they aren't new, they've been around for ages.

Chance favours the prepared mind.

Turning in your loved ones, neighbors, enemies, or anyone you might want to see placed into a reeducation camp???

Yeah, there's an ap for that!

Thanks everyone for the input so far. But I have to say I was hoping I'm just paranoid, but I guess if I am right it's nice to know I am able to see these things for what they really are.

To davinci: That is a really interesting thought... The whole "as long as you do what you're told it's brave new world but step out of line and it's 1984"... Interesting and scary as it seem's true from what I've heard about Brave New World. Gotta read that book for sure.

Originally posted by Hefficide
Turning in your loved ones, neighbors, enemies, or anyone you might want to see placed into a reeducation camp???

Yeah, there's an ap for that!

This made me LMAO.

Sorry for the 1 liner I just had to express my appreciation for his sense of humor... but I guess this isn't a 1 liner anymore, soooo....

Big brudder is in your basement,soon into the living room and finally the bedroom.

reply to post by Hefficide


Thank you for that - I literally laughed out loud. Brilliantly put and the high point of my morning! Three cheers for summing it all up in one hilarious sentiment!

While I understand some of the concern, this seems more like a step in the direction that most people here want; smaller government means more community law-enforcement. If people want their homes undefiled by graffiti, they have to do most of the legwork themselves. I personally am a fan of big but non-fascist government (it's a pipe dream, I know), but understand the other side, and this strikes me as in keeping with that.

It is going to have to dance the line between "neighbors snitching on neighbors" and "people watching for criminals", though.

I'm looking to re-read -grapes of wrath -which is where we are headed..
on route 1984..make sure you read- behold a pale horse- by william cooper.
murdered by the sheriffs dept. the doublespeak is everywhere..the torture,
renditions, perpetual war..
Red Dawn ll is coming soon..
Machete will incite the crowd.
and i think is could be as bleak as -the Road.
or as weird as Brazil..

reply to post by p51mustang


Awesome, I have heard of most of those, though I havn't read them. Thanks for the suggestions. I also look forward to the new Red Dawn as I loved the original ever since I was a kid. Machete looks good too. I've been a fan of Danny Trejo since From Dusk till Dawn.

A Brave New World is a great read, especially if you have read 1984. Soma for me too please! And definitely, the Grapes of Wrath is a great reminder of how hard modern society can fall. Simliar to Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is a real eye-opener as well, but is about a slightly earlier period.

And I have to agree. It does seem like our Western social life is headed towards Huxley, while our politcal/judicial control, I mean system (?), is becoming more and more Orwellian.

I also recommend Alas, Babylon as a good read. It was written during the late 50's and is about an atomic war, but really focuses on what life would be like in that type of forced reality.

Great thread, thank you.

i'm glad i read future shock by alvin toffler years ago..
cadillac desert is about the west and water.
prozac nation covers america on drugs.
broken brain is about p.e.t. scans/mapping the brain.
long emergency by james knustler is on peak oil-
and his new book -world made by hand .
war is a racket by smedley butler usmc.
( i dont think any of these are on oprahs list..)
currently i'm reading -killing custer -the massacre as told by the indians.
trying to pick up on tactics to deal with federal troops.

reply to post by lasertaglover


I'll second Alas Babylon! That book really shook me up (I was young when I read it - maybe 14) for quite some time. It addresses a post-nuclear war existence in a way that is so real that you can't help but put yourself in the situation. Very haunting - but a very good read. Definitely one that will get your wheels turning.

I really don't see this as big brother. its just an evolution of the old police phone tips numbers where people could call in information about crimes. Sure, they will get people sending in information about their neighbor being a secret Muslim or alien, but that's hardly any different than the nuts they have to deal with now.

I would be more worried about the ability to use the smartphones GPS to tract your movements than what individuals do with their phone.

Since reading both books, I always imagined that the USA would turn out more like Brave New World and the UK to be like 1984.

I know that Huxley spent a lot of time in the US which may have been where his influence came?

Excellent reads - I can't wait till the Brave New Word movie comes out

reply to post by OpenMindCuriousMind


I will sum up what is coming with a song.



Some things might not be in that video, but it covers enough for
most ppl to have a what the hell moment.