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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGovernment Surveillance. Should I Be Worried?
Oddly, I'm not worried about that one bit. As clever as I may be, and as opinionated as I certainly am, I never give a single thought to whether the government is interested in me. In fact, I know it's not. With 320 million people, more or less, in the United States, I'm quite certain that the government is not interested even a little bit in what I am doing, saying, writing or thinking.
I don't threaten anyone. I don't have any power to change anything. I don't have any secrets anyone wants to know. I write websites for small businesses for way less than my work is worth. I type post after post on this discussion forum, none of which are in the least interesting to anyone in power. I collect my Social Security and use my Medicare benefits. I have a mortgage on my house, a car loan and a couple of credit cards I tend to use too much.
Why on Earth would the government bother with any sort of surveillance on me? Or on you, or anyone else, for that matter. Could the government do that if it wanted to? Of course it could, but it doesn't, because I'm not interesting, threatening, or in any way able to really influence anything.
So, I don't worry about the government's capabilities. In fact, I sort of like it that it can, with a warrant, find out stuff about people who, unlike me, do have power, are threatening, and who may be up to shenanigans that could screw things up in a big way. People like Trump and his minions. People like that. I like it that they may have evidence of collusion with the Russian Government.
That would require the ability to conduct surveillance. But, I never worry about surveillance on me. Why would anyone bother? The fact is that nobody does bother. I'm not under any surveillance. Neither are you, if you are reading this and are an active DUer. Nobody cares what I write or say. I can rarely get a response from my congresional representative, and I helped her get elected, for pete's sake. I'm not interesting. I'm not powerful. I'm not dangerous.
And neither are you. So, nobody's listening to your phone calls, logging your Tweets, snooping on your Facebook posts or anything of the sort. Nobody cares, to be quite frank. You can call Donald Trump an orange-haired asshole, as may of us have done right here on DU. Nobody cares about that. It's just not relevant to anyone.
So, is there a camera in your TV? I dunno. There's one on my laptop, my phone, my desk. I use those. The one on my desk is set up for Skype calls. It's plugged into a USB port and is probably on right now. Does anyone want to watch me? Hell, no. So, I don't care about that. It has a microphone built into it, too, that is connected to my PC. I don't care. If it was on, it would pick up the sound of me typing on a keyboard, telling my cat to get off the desk or answering a question my wife asked. Nobody cares about any of that, so leaving my camera on doesn't matter.
The government does not care about any of us. We don't matter to the government. It has other things that take up all of its time. That's what the government cares about.
The government is not spying on any of us. We can all relax. We're just not that interesting, really.
{/rant}
True Dough
(17,354 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)I think he was checking to see what kind of frozen pizza I was putting in the oven. Maybe he checked my trashcan to look for the box this morning.
True Dough
(17,354 posts)microwave oven? They're watching your every move, MineralMan!
TheBlackAdder
(28,237 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,924 posts)They tend to be inaccurate, like when they overcook my popcorn. Your microwave could start reporting that you like pineapple on your pizza, and then what? You'll be relentlessly trolled on Twitter.
MineralMan
(146,341 posts)My oven was made in the 1960s, so I'm sure it has no camera or mic. The microwave is more recent, but it cost about $99, so I don't think anyone built a camera or mic into it either. I use it mostly to heat up coffee I forgot to drink and that got cold.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,924 posts)which is almost as bad as eating pizza with pineapple.
MineralMan
(146,341 posts)Now, anchovies...that's another matter. I keep some in the house all the time. My wife hates them, so I delicately place them on MY HALF OF THE DAMNED PIZZA. Heaven help me if I don't cut it right and there's one on one of her pieces.
oldtime dfl_er
(6,931 posts).
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)fragrance dispensers? Perfect way to expand random surveillance. I was in the shower when I realized. I had to grab a towel from behind the shower curtain, but then I tossed that over its camera and rushed it out to the garbage can.
MineralMan
(146,341 posts)I deliberately stand naked in front of those hidden cameras. My saggy, gravity-ruined 71 year old body is capable of destroying any such camera at first glance, not to mention the eyes and brain of any observers.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)I'm sure of that night were those of a neighbor in a "This property guarded by Smith & Wesson" t-shirt aimed at the liberal fascist government.
bdamomma
(63,941 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,399 posts)normal human parameters. He's been used as a form of inoculation - if they can withstand him, they can look at anyone.
LOL Lib
(1,462 posts)Why worry about them eavesdropping? I will never understand how people from my generation give out their personal info so freely. Privacy starts with a little common sense.
MineralMan
(146,341 posts)and watched a funny dog video on Facebook. That doesn't sound very interesting to anyone, really. But, I never talk about politics or anything else important on that social media site. Why would I? Silliness. Nobody is monitoring Facebook, except Facebook, which uses what interests you to show you ads. I never look at ads on Facebook, so they're wasting their time.
LOL Lib
(1,462 posts)Protecting your personal info starts with common sense. Apparently you are out of touch with how freely some of the the younger generation divulges their personal business.
MineralMan
(146,341 posts)In the first place, I have no employer. I've worked for myself since 1974. In the second place, I use FB to keep in touch with family and friends exclusively and I live a boring, sane lifestyle. Finally, only friends can see my FB page. But, if someone wants to, they can ask me to friend them. If I know who they are, I probably will. There's nothing on there of interest, really, unless you know me.
LOL Lib
(1,462 posts)Think like Kellogg's or Disney (it'sneither, but I'm not giving the real name). They do their due diligence to make sure that everyone from sales on down is not involved in internet nonsense that could cost the company money. They do background checks on every single employee. I understand that you don't share anything on social media that would be troublesome. You are missing the fact that many people don't hesitate to share their "dislikes" publicly. You possess the common sense that many lack. BTW, I can't speak to the exact reason "why" as you asked. It's above my pay grade and the above opinion is strictly my best guess.
BainsBane
(53,093 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)The range envies the microwave's speed, and the microwave worries that its owners will actually start cooking from scratch.
Iggo
(47,581 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)I'm not doing anything wrong. Haven't for years. I quit smoking dope in the early 70s, and that's about the extent of my illegal behavior in my entire lifetime. They didn't have surveillance equipment back then.
Iggo
(47,581 posts)Girard442
(6,087 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)So, how would you post them?
Some places do have those numbers, though. But they don't post them. I only use credit cards at places I trust, and if I order online, I use the one with a very, very low credit limit that I pay off each month. That one has been replaced several times due to fraudulent use, though. My wife's not as careful about where she orders junk. Once in a while someone misused that CC#. We report it and they send us a shiny new one and refund the amount of the bogus sale.
Isn't that how everyone does it?
Girard442
(6,087 posts)If you're lucky, they'll respect your privacy. And if you're not, well....
Iggo
(47,581 posts)Bad things only happen to bad boys.
Squinch
(51,072 posts)Iggo
(47,581 posts)And then I'll wish I'd given a shit about other people's rights being taken away while I had my head down being a good little boy, but by then it'll be too late?
That never occurred to me!
😎
Squinch
(51,072 posts)Iggo
(47,581 posts)Squinch
(51,072 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)Google knows everything I search for and Amazon knows what stuff I buy. I know that because I see ads showing up wherever I go that related to those things. I don't care, really. I never click on any of them. If I want to buy something, I go look for it and buy it. I'm a very tough sell.
Like right now, I'm working on the content for a website for a hydroponic gardening and grow light business. That involves lots and lots of Google searches, as I look up products so I can describe them. So, Google thinks I want to buy some grow lights or other crap like that. So, for the next month, I'll see ads for all that stuff wherever I go on the Internet. Do I mind? Not really. My eyes never really see ads on my monitor. I don't care.
We're under surveillance, of course, but not by the government. Others are far more interested in us and our habits. People who want to sell us stuff are very interested. I just ignore all that. MineralMan don't care about that.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,924 posts)to grow weed in your basement. And your microwave will tell them all about it.
yellowcanine
(35,703 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)Waste of time. Besides, my neighbor across the street back then always had an ounce for sale if I wanted some.
yellowcanine
(35,703 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)spanone
(135,914 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)That way it can scan the entire kitchen. You don't notice it, because it looks like a bit of burned cheese.
spanone
(135,914 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)The camera is that piece of burned cheese that won't come off when you scrub.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,924 posts)and just above the pencil sharpener.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Warpy
(111,405 posts)and both sides of the political spectrum have a lot to say about our government and the men who fancy themselves our leaders instead of our servants, most of it unprintable and against TOS.
In order to monitor us closely enough to retaliate against anyone who offends Dolt45, half of us would have to be employed spying on the other half. Retaliatory efforts would be rendered sporadic simply because of the volume of the type of posts that would deeply offend our thin skinned narcissist in chief.
I do hope, however, that Skinner et al. warn us when the subpoenas for the personal information of high post count DU blatherers arrive so that we can skedaddle.
Other than that, no worries.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,202 posts)"Alexa, is the government spying on me?"
"Of course not. And please remove the tape from your laptop's camera and try to enunciate more clearly."
Squinch
(51,072 posts)these observation gadgets, that is a very, very bad slippery slope.
Your argument that you aren't doing anything wrong and therefore have nothing to worry about is naïve in an age where Donald Trump is president and Bannon is running the show.
MineralMan
(146,341 posts)Orange-haired asshole, and Bannon is worse. Why am I not concerned about saying that?
Because nobody cares what I say. I'm far too small and powerless for anyone to care. Really, nobody I know of on DU is realistic any interest to the government, I'm sure. And that includes some who have fancied themselves otherwise.
Squinch
(51,072 posts)and they wanted you to stop and had access to those things.
If Trump and Bannon had access to cameras in the homes of the newspeople they hate, do you think they would hesitate to use them? How about people who stand in their way for one of their underhanded Russian deals? How about the assistant of someone who stands in their way?
Nobody cares what you and I say. But what if we were private people whose lives happened to make us people whose words they DID care about?
You can't know when you are going to need your right to privacy. I fight for mine because we ALL have to have it for those private people to have it who are of interest to monsters like Bannon and Trump.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,924 posts)And I don't worry about cameras in my microwave - but I don't like the idea that the government can eavesdrop on me in some way, even though whoever did the eavesdropping would find nothing interesting. And who knows - as this administration becomes more dangerous and generally loathsome - I might start being a bit more subversive. But even if I decide to keep sitting harmlessly on my old ass, the privacy rights of other people who are more politically active could be at risk under this regime. That's a very bad thing.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)every last one of them??
Mosquito or flies make the best spies. Them little drones can follow you anywhere
Lady bugs are set up for full 360 scope and fireflies have a night vision cam looking at you.
Pet fleas? please dont even
Insects > summer is coming , dont relax now. Guvamit Spies
http://adventuretime.wikia.com/wiki/File:S6e21_Jake_pointing_to_fly_spy.png
ismnotwasm
(42,022 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)Too funny...
caroldansen
(725 posts)MineralMan
(146,341 posts)I bow in you direction...
58Sunliner
(4,421 posts)I'm good, don't break the law, no fear. Laws change rapidly. It is like trying to understand crazy from a sane perspective, interpret irrational behavior based on accepted logic, and thinking you can predict future behavior.
These people like the idea of chaos, disruption and abuse of authority. They like fear.
So as much as I admire your contributions here, I resent you talking down to people on a subject you apparently do not understand.
"That's what the government cares about."
Which government would that be? Ever live in a fascist state? I don't think so.
Your analogy sets up a distinct class of citizens who should have no fear and the implied bias is if you do fear, then it must be something you are doing, hence your responsibility. That is right in line with blame the victim. It is also called denial.