4 ms·

The citizenry will not overcome the tyranny because most of the citizens are either (1) unaware of how the power effects them (2) do not understand it.

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
careersuicide 13y ago
I think it's actually worse than that. Obviously I have only anecdotal evidence, but as far as I can tell, a large minority (maybe even a small majority) of people support what the NSA has been doing. They don't necessarily understand the technical details, but they completely understand the implications and consequences and they explicitly approve. When I go outside of my usual online and real life social circles the attitude about government surveillance is shockingly complicit. I'm starting to believe the only way to change this isn't to get people outraged or make them understand the effects of pervasive surveillance on freedom. The solution is to instead make it clear just how ineffective it is at its stated purpose of keeping us all safe.
- GVIrish 13y ago
  I disagree, if you make clear how ineffective these surveillance measures are, the natural response for the powers that be is that they need MORE power. "See, if we were able to arrest anyone who spoke about terrorism online or by phone, we could've prevented this attack." "If only we were allowed to jail anyone indefinitely we could've disrupted this sleeper cell." If anything, this is how this whole power grab got started in the first place. "If we could spy on everyone we could've stopped 9/11."
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
Nursie 13y ago
3 - They don't care. 4 - they think it's a good idea because they would never stray from the boundaries set by their benevolent tribal leaders, so this only affects other people . And when it starts to affect them they'll find out that everyone just assumes they're 'other' and does not care about their fate because they think the same way.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

careersuicide 13y ago

I think it's actually worse than that. Obviously I have only anecdotal evidence, but as far as I can tell, a large minority (maybe even a small majority) of people support what the NSA has been doing. They don't necessarily understand the technical details, but they completely understand the implications and consequences and they explicitly approve. When I go outside of my usual online and real life social circles the attitude about government surveillance is shockingly complicit. I'm starting to believe the only way to change this isn't to get people outraged or make them understand the effects of pervasive surveillance on freedom. The solution is to instead make it clear just how ineffective it is at its stated purpose of keeping us all safe.

GVIrish 13y ago
I disagree, if you make clear how ineffective these surveillance measures are, the natural response for the powers that be is that they need MORE power. "See, if we were able to arrest anyone who spoke about terrorism online or by phone, we could've prevented this attack." "If only we were allowed to jail anyone indefinitely we could've disrupted this sleeper cell." If anything, this is how this whole power grab got started in the first place. "If we could spy on everyone we could've stopped 9/11."
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]

Nursie 13y ago

3 - They don't care. 4 - they think it's a good idea because they would never stray from the boundaries set by their benevolent tribal leaders, so this only affects other people . And when it starts to affect them they'll find out that everyone just assumes they're 'other' and does not care about their fate because they think the same way.