I've become paranoid about using the telephone.

[Cyrano]

The National Security Agency (NSA) can tap into virtually every imaginable form of communications. Wired or unwired, cell phones, faxes, CBs, short wave radios, and anything else in the realm of electronic communications you can imagine.

They, of course, can't listen to every one of the billions of telephone, radio, fax, or every way we have of communicating with each other daily. But they have software that contains recognition programs which, in any single communication, contains words such as "kill," "bomb," "assassinate," or any other combination of words that you can imagine, that might reveal a plot, plan, an immanent attack, or anything in the realm of "enemy activities" you can think of.

And yes, it is necessary to protect ourselves from "real" enemies, foreign or domestic. However, the fact that we have these capabilities frightens me. How is this technology being used against American citizens? And how is it being interpreted by those who currently control the executive branch of our government (Bush, Cheney, et al.)?

Will you ever again have a personal conversation without thinking about who's listening and worrying how they might interpret what you say?

[WindRavenX]

1. I don't let them have fear over me.

Period. We have to rise above any irrational fear.

[Cyrano]

11. Self-deleted. Posted in the wrong place. Geeez I'm an idiot.

[itsmesgd]

2. stage weird calls

Call a friend and tell him that you will trade some crack for a baby and give an address that you can see from your window. I doubt anyone would show up, but it would be a funny thing to behold.

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. You have a sick sense of humor

I am duly impressed

[karlrschneider]

4. You're a sick puppy. I love that in a person.

:D

:rofl:

[MsUnderstood]

5. fold fold fold cut fold

Here is your tinfoil hat! Make sure to wear it, even when sleeping.

[Cyrano]

12. But ... but ... how do I know the tin hat won't pick up what I'm saying when

I talk in my sleep?

I'm sorry, MsUnderstood, but how do I know I can trust you? I'm moving into a cave, sealing it, and waiting for those from my home planet to intercept my signal.

I'm sending out the message, "Klatu barada nickto." I'm not sure what it means, but it will either get me beamed up, or destroy this planet.

[Betsy Ross]

6. I assume they are listening

And I continue to communicate as a free American, by land-line phone, cell phone, and through posts to DU. Failing to do so would mean "they" are winning. Exercising our Constitutional rights makes us soldiers against those who would destroy it. Well, that's how I feel about it.

[htuttle]

7. As a general rule...

...I never say anything on the phone, or write anything in an email, that I wouldn't say standing in front of a police officer. Of course, pretty much anything I'd normally say, I'd say in front of a cop, so it's not a real hardship.
Been thinking that way long before this little boots came along, though.

[karlrschneider]

8. Actually, I often say things to cops I would never write down or say on the phone!

Unless I think they're wired...:D

[magellan]

9. This raises the subtle point so many miss

If you so much as worry about what you're saying/faxing/etc because the authorities might take an unhealthy interest in it, your freedom has been curbed. If there are things you won't say, information you won't share, or ideas you won't write anymore, which were perfectly acceptable before, your freedom has been curbed.

No decent law-abiding American should have to self-censor. But it happens every day.

Welcome to Bush**'s Amerika.

[NRaleighLiberal]

10. I am having lots of great, honest conversations with friends -

just like always. I hope that those who are listening enjoy them! don't let fear run - or ruin - your life...there is way too much of that going on these days.

[ContraBass Black]

13. I doubt that real terrorists are dumb enough to talk about those things

On a cell or land line without using metaphors and code words.

[NotGivingUp]

14. i don't feel like my phone conversations are private any more...

not that i've let it affect what i say...i just go under the assumption nowadays that i could very well be being listened to.

[BlueStorm]

15. I'm paranoid to a point

but I am not going to go crazy with it. I know that they have got to be listening. My sister says that there are certain areas that she has gone through in my city, usually the inner city where her phone would crackle and hiss.
Some friend of hers told her its probably the police using some kind of eavesdropping tech to catch drug dealers and users on their cell phones or some shit like that.

Blue