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Written by Aeon McNulty
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Thursday, 05 April 2007 |
I'm not necessarily against the use of surveillance cameras -
especially in dangerous areas - but these new devices fitted with
loudspeakers will not be used to prevent violent crime; they cannot.
They will be used to badger, rebuke and embarrass the public for
perceived anti-social behaviour. It will begin with littering but it
will rapidly and inevitably expand to cover illegal parking, smoking,
environmentally "unfriendly" behaviour and anything else that our
overlords feel, in their infinite wisdom, we shouldn't be doing.
If, at some point in the future, I am suddenly harassed by the
grating and horribly disembodied sound of some whiney, safely faceless
bureaucrat with a superiority complex, or a recorded child's voice
selected to cause me embarrassment, I will do my civic duty and
enthusiastically smash the wretched thing to pieces. I expect I will
not be alone.
I think it's singularly appropriate to give George Orwell the last word:
"The telescreen was giving forth an ear-splitting whistle which
continued on the same note for thirty seconds. It was nought seven
fifteen, getting-up time for office workers. [...] 'Thirty to forty
group!' yapped a piercing female voice. 'Thirty to forty group! Take
your places, please. Thirties to forties!' Winston sprang to attention
in front of the telescreen, upon which the image of a youngish woman,
scrawny but muscular, dressed in tunic and gym-shoes, had already
appeared. 'Arms bending and stretching!' she rapped out. 'Take your
time by me. ONE, two, three, four! ONE, two, three, four! Come on,
comrades, put a bit of life into it! ONE, two, three four! ONE two,
three, four!...' "
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
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