Despite high school English teacher Sister Judy’s instruction to write clear, crisp, and succinctly, I love, or rather find amusing, the long 19th century prose with their sometimes page long sentences, without that period. i.e Byron’s Child Harold’s Pilgrimage. Caught this in your piece:
“Anyway, here’s the impulsive choice I made that I later questioned, grew frightened by, and then resolved to banish from my skull, lest I betray my suspicions about “the system” in a fashion that might be deemed subversive by future Postmasters General and their goons, who, chances are, will soon have fleets of drones equipped with medium-range scanners tuned to the blips and beeps of nano-bots cunningly implanted in our bodies by the handling of official-looking envelopes printed with the words “Refund: First Installment.”
As always, very thoughtful. Privacy is a fragile good in such a thoroughly exhibitionist and conformist culture. To insist upon it seems peculiarly countercultural now, and that alone is worrisome.
The only photo remembrance I get on my Android phone is a photo of my dog the day I had to put him down. That's a " where you were" I don't need be be reminded of , and I cry every year when it comes up. I didn't even think of all the other things that are sucked out of this phone.
Feels like we're all famous and the paparazzi are the vendors of these surveillance products and the government is the National Enquirer, soon to be renamed National Inquisitor. Most of us never wanted fame or fortune, but we get to be treated that way with our loss of privacy. However we wanted Easy. To keep in touch easier, to find and connect more easily with like-minded individuals.
Just like a predator locates its prey, it sits on the easiest, least demanding path to the watering hole.
That's the funny thing about rights. Once you give them up -- even if you never cared that you had them in the first place -- they're almost impossible to regain. Not without a lot of shooting and "Call out the armed militia!"-type stuff, that is. I'd rather endure the long TSA lines and all the other inconveniences and just keep what few rights (as illusory as they are) that I still have, thank you.
Privacy, the inherent right to be secure in our own homes, papers and thoughts, has been the target of snake oil salesman and tyrants for decades. So much so that we held the hammer as the final nail was driven soon after 9-11, when we helped drive the last nail it and our, coffin in the name of Patriotism. Sacrificing two centuries of liberty at the altar of imagined safety.
The world of ones and zeros has taken over and is relentless in it's pursuit of trying to figure out humanity. The problems lie in having an infinite number of possibilities between one and zero, none of which are known to the computer. Digital anything is like taking a photo through a screen door.
Dare I comment? Love your insight Walter. The digital world has boogie men and yet we convince ourselves they’re not under our bed so we can sleep. Thank you for the reminder. (I fully expect to get several restaurant recommendations over the next few days in my feed!) Bravo, New World!
Despite high school English teacher Sister Judy’s instruction to write clear, crisp, and succinctly, I love, or rather find amusing, the long 19th century prose with their sometimes page long sentences, without that period. i.e Byron’s Child Harold’s Pilgrimage. Caught this in your piece:
“Anyway, here’s the impulsive choice I made that I later questioned, grew frightened by, and then resolved to banish from my skull, lest I betray my suspicions about “the system” in a fashion that might be deemed subversive by future Postmasters General and their goons, who, chances are, will soon have fleets of drones equipped with medium-range scanners tuned to the blips and beeps of nano-bots cunningly implanted in our bodies by the handling of official-looking envelopes printed with the words “Refund: First Installment.”
Hah.
As always, very thoughtful. Privacy is a fragile good in such a thoroughly exhibitionist and conformist culture. To insist upon it seems peculiarly countercultural now, and that alone is worrisome.
We don't even know what the destination is, but "at least we're moving." Chilling...great post!
Extraordinary essay. Beautifully articulated, thought provoking, chilling. Thank you.
The only photo remembrance I get on my Android phone is a photo of my dog the day I had to put him down. That's a " where you were" I don't need be be reminded of , and I cry every year when it comes up. I didn't even think of all the other things that are sucked out of this phone.
A great read once again.
Feels like we're all famous and the paparazzi are the vendors of these surveillance products and the government is the National Enquirer, soon to be renamed National Inquisitor. Most of us never wanted fame or fortune, but we get to be treated that way with our loss of privacy. However we wanted Easy. To keep in touch easier, to find and connect more easily with like-minded individuals.
Just like a predator locates its prey, it sits on the easiest, least demanding path to the watering hole.
That's the funny thing about rights. Once you give them up -- even if you never cared that you had them in the first place -- they're almost impossible to regain. Not without a lot of shooting and "Call out the armed militia!"-type stuff, that is. I'd rather endure the long TSA lines and all the other inconveniences and just keep what few rights (as illusory as they are) that I still have, thank you.
Great essay!
Privacy, the inherent right to be secure in our own homes, papers and thoughts, has been the target of snake oil salesman and tyrants for decades. So much so that we held the hammer as the final nail was driven soon after 9-11, when we helped drive the last nail it and our, coffin in the name of Patriotism. Sacrificing two centuries of liberty at the altar of imagined safety.
Great writing!
Excellent. Dystopian. Modern. Legit. Thank you.
I guess that's why you're Walter Kirn. Good job, Bro.
The world of ones and zeros has taken over and is relentless in it's pursuit of trying to figure out humanity. The problems lie in having an infinite number of possibilities between one and zero, none of which are known to the computer. Digital anything is like taking a photo through a screen door.
Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, that is.
Excellent. As always.
Thanks, Walter. iCop? The Post Office…for Christ sake?
Dare I comment? Love your insight Walter. The digital world has boogie men and yet we convince ourselves they’re not under our bed so we can sleep. Thank you for the reminder. (I fully expect to get several restaurant recommendations over the next few days in my feed!) Bravo, New World!