The upside of having cameras everywhere
Cameras are everywhere. It seems like there is one hanging on every building we pass (including homes), and that doesn't even count the zillions of cell phones with cameras. In some places, the cameras even give errant drivers traffic tickets.
They are definitely everywhere, and sometimes, it not only feels like "Big Brother" is watching, but his extended family as well. I had twelve years of Catholic education, and was reminded almost every day that God was watching what I did, thus I was deterred from a lot of things that might get me into trouble.
A recent poll showed that about 50% of Americans do not describe themselves as members of any religious denomination, so the Almighty's observance of our transgressions probably isn't considered much of a threat by half of the population.
"Terms and Conditions" and its upcoming sequel, "Amendment" both use the potential bad side of our "surveillance society" to tell their stories. There is a lot of concern for our Fourth Amendment rights, and this is not unwarranted, to be sure. Government has the ability to wreak so much havoc on our freedoms, so well dramatized in George Orwell's 1984.
There is a potential upside to this, however.
Knowing that your particular transgression, or just plain dumb behavior, might go viral on You Tube, and generate a lot of negative publicity, might just be a deterrent to foolishness. Police body cams might just ensure professional behavior on the part of the few law enforcement officers who need it. (I heard one pundit even suggest body cams for all government officials, elected and unelected. Hmmm. Maybe that is not such a bad idea...)
In short, knowing that there are unpleasant consequences for uncivil behavior, and that those consequences might be more immediate, should lead to more circumspection for most of us. To be sure, there are some people who are just plain @$$holes, and will never be otherwise, but their numbers are blessedly few. Most of us are decent people who treat each other the way we want to be treated.
What you are thinking of doing might just come back to bite you.
So remember, not only is God watching, but someone with an i-Phone is, too.
They are definitely everywhere, and sometimes, it not only feels like "Big Brother" is watching, but his extended family as well. I had twelve years of Catholic education, and was reminded almost every day that God was watching what I did, thus I was deterred from a lot of things that might get me into trouble.
A recent poll showed that about 50% of Americans do not describe themselves as members of any religious denomination, so the Almighty's observance of our transgressions probably isn't considered much of a threat by half of the population.
"Terms and Conditions" and its upcoming sequel, "Amendment" both use the potential bad side of our "surveillance society" to tell their stories. There is a lot of concern for our Fourth Amendment rights, and this is not unwarranted, to be sure. Government has the ability to wreak so much havoc on our freedoms, so well dramatized in George Orwell's 1984.
There is a potential upside to this, however.
Knowing that your particular transgression, or just plain dumb behavior, might go viral on You Tube, and generate a lot of negative publicity, might just be a deterrent to foolishness. Police body cams might just ensure professional behavior on the part of the few law enforcement officers who need it. (I heard one pundit even suggest body cams for all government officials, elected and unelected. Hmmm. Maybe that is not such a bad idea...)
In short, knowing that there are unpleasant consequences for uncivil behavior, and that those consequences might be more immediate, should lead to more circumspection for most of us. To be sure, there are some people who are just plain @$$holes, and will never be otherwise, but their numbers are blessedly few. Most of us are decent people who treat each other the way we want to be treated.
What you are thinking of doing might just come back to bite you.
So remember, not only is God watching, but someone with an i-Phone is, too.
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