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One of the simplest forms of this is why do we stop at stoplights when no one is around (in the US anyway)? The idea of the Panopticon also goes into laws. Just

One of the simplest forms of this is why do we stop at stoplights when no one is around (in the US anyway)? The idea of the Panopticon also goes into laws. Just because a law exists doesn't mean people follow it, there has to be a mode where we are no longer controlled from top-down, but we modify our behavior because of the power put on us by this fear of being watched or other people judging our behavior so we change it.

FillardMillmore 7y ago
The reference to the stop light is interesting. The structural model of the panopticon need not even apply for the principles behind it to. I don't think I've ever run a red at night, even when no one was around for this explicit reason. How could I be sure there were not traffic cameras around? How could I know there wasn't a cop sitting by, just out of sight, watching and waiting? Better to alter my behavior and play it safe.
- clairity 7y ago
  yes, that's the fundamental insight of foucault's model of micropower: that no one but you need be watching for power to change your behavior. the panopticon was essentially just a visual aid for that.
afarrell 7y ago
> why do we stop at stoplights when no one is around (in the US anyway)? 1) Because we learn habits. 2) Because over-riding habits requires conscious mental attention. 3) Because when you start exercising the concious mental attention to consider blowing through the red light, its easy to imagine a car or motorcycle traveling through the intersection. Many people find the notion of being in a fatal car crash to be quite scary, so they'll slow down anyway, to look around. 4) Because if you're driving when "no one is around", you're probably driving late at night. So, you're extra-cautious in case there is a drunk driver you don't see.
_jal 7y ago
True story: the only ticket I've ever gotten was running a red light. Happened around 1am, on my way home from work. This was in a rural area, nobody on the road for miles, and this idiotic light would stay red for minutes. A cop was sitting in a speed trap just past the light. Revenue generation: it's the law.
- sk5t 7y ago
  Well, that was very unsporting of the cop. Sometimes I'll treat red lights like stop signs, very late at night, as a minor demonstration of sobriety--like, if you want to pull me over, have at it, but you're gonna be bored and disappointed.

FillardMillmore 7y ago

The reference to the stop light is interesting. The structural model of the panopticon need not even apply for the principles behind it to. I don't think I've ever run a red at night, even when no one was around for this explicit reason. How could I be sure there were not traffic cameras around? How could I know there wasn't a cop sitting by, just out of sight, watching and waiting? Better to alter my behavior and play it safe.

clairity 7y ago
yes, that's the fundamental insight of foucault's model of micropower: that no one but you need be watching for power to change your behavior. the panopticon was essentially just a visual aid for that.

afarrell 7y ago

> why do we stop at stoplights when no one is around (in the US anyway)? 1) Because we learn habits. 2) Because over-riding habits requires conscious mental attention. 3) Because when you start exercising the concious mental attention to consider blowing through the red light, its easy to imagine a car or motorcycle traveling through the intersection. Many people find the notion of being in a fatal car crash to be quite scary, so they'll slow down anyway, to look around. 4) Because if you're driving when "no one is around", you're probably driving late at night. So, you're extra-cautious in case there is a drunk driver you don't see.

_jal 7y ago

True story: the only ticket I've ever gotten was running a red light. Happened around 1am, on my way home from work. This was in a rural area, nobody on the road for miles, and this idiotic light would stay red for minutes. A cop was sitting in a speed trap just past the light. Revenue generation: it's the law.

sk5t 7y ago
Well, that was very unsporting of the cop. Sometimes I'll treat red lights like stop signs, very late at night, as a minor demonstration of sobriety--like, if you want to pull me over, have at it, but you're gonna be bored and disappointed.