General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTweeting toward Dystopia
The concept of Utopia has been cancelled. Orwells world, in which no whisper or movement goes unrecorded, is upon us.
Those who watch us and listen to us, do so for the purpose of enhancing their own control, power, and ultimately, their ownership of us. At one time, the terrorists were called communists, and before that they were called anarchists. There has never been a shortage of ists to distract the peasants from those who seek absolute power.
We have lost a major battle in the war for personal freedoms. We have lost, for now, the right to be left alone. And until we can find a way to once again communicate with each other anonymously, it will be difficult to regain lost ground.
Many are indifferent to the vast information-collecting machine that has invaded every niche of our world. I fear that indifference may turn into love of Big Brother. Nonetheless, we are in a very bad place right now. And there is seemingly no exit.
Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)It was what we wanted.
No, we don't like it any more.
Cyrano
(15,075 posts)And what was the alternative? States Rights?
Buzz Clik
(38,437 posts)Squinch
(51,075 posts)unplug, see people face to face, put pen to paper, eschew "social media" (you won't really miss anything.)
If their ownership of the technology we use to communicate puts us at a disadvantage, change the way you communicate.
tblue
(16,350 posts)Great point!
but I am saying it by typing it into a DU thread.
But you get my drift.
Cyrano
(15,075 posts)one doesn't live near friends and family. Even smoke signals and semiphore flags are useless if the distance is great.
Squinch
(51,075 posts)how strongly you feel about the intrusion. If you feel strongly, you can drastically reduce it.
I didn't even own a computer till I was in my late 20's. I maintained relationships with people who were all over the country. It can be done. It is not convenient, but if you feel strongly, which you seem to, and I think you are right to, then it is worth considering reducing your "NSA footprint." (Did I just coin a phrase?)
Cyrano
(15,075 posts)nearly impossible to avoid. Land-line phones, snail mail, credit/debit cards, drivers licenses, social security numbers, taxes, etc. And let's not forget the facial recognition databases that are being created. It's getting harder all the time to "drop off the grid."
Squinch
(51,075 posts)but that has been true since Social Security numbers were first brought into wide use. This latest scare concerns phone and internet use and I think you can limit that exposure.
PS. It turns out I didn't coin the phrase. I googled it, and another DUer used the phrase and had an interesting take on it that didn't get much notice:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023022215