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but we argue that if a kid is okay with this bureaucratic elf spying on them in their home, it normalizes the idea of surveillance Bazollocks. Before the Elf t

• unclebucknasty 12y ago
  There's a pretty massive difference between being watched and/or sanctioned by some strange, foreign, powerful figure and being "surveilled" and disciplined by loving, interactive parents with whom you are emotionally bonded and who also otherwise care for you, provide for your every need, painstakingly explain wrong and right, etc.
• onion2k 12y ago
  "The idea that surveillance is universally nefarious and undesirable, even when limited in nature or scope, seems a tired and stereotypically American trope to me." Clearly there are some obvious benefits to some surveillance, but whether or not they outweigh the negative aspects is an issue that's clouded by the fact surveillance isn't being done legally, reasonably, or in a limited scope a lot of the time. The problem arises when everyone feels they're under surveillance but no one seems to see the benefit. I think people would be much more willing to accept (limited) surveillance if we weren't continually told that crime rates are worsening, we're constantly under threat from terrorism, and everyone is a suspect. Couple that with the fact that most of the media coverage of surveillance is when it's being misused and you have a recipe for people not wanting to be watched at all.