Has Big Brother Gone Too Far?

Many of you know I’m a George Orwell fan. So, the title isn’t a question about the reality show and the producers having already agreeable folks willing to bare breasts for Showtime (not that I’ve ever seen it… we don’t get Showtime. No really!) What I’m talking about is his book, 1984 (Boy is that laughable now) a novel that states the elite establishment or “Party” will have a way of watching your every move. Okay, that’s only part of the story but in the book and for our culture much is to be said about the “Big Brother” concept.

Last week someone suggested that I get a GPS tracker to follow my every move during a race. Well, that got me thinkin’… We already know email is suspect to outside viewing but we iChat or Skype over the Internet and don’t even think whether our conversations are really secure? There are so many things we do now we don’t even consider the implications… We have options to post our YouTube videos privately but are they? Our employers (the real Big Brother) can record our every keystroke and web history. And parents, who are parents, can be considered brother “BIG” by doing the same for their children. We use XXXChurch to assign accountability but who else is really watching? Adclick, spyware, trojans… OMGdnss, I’m so “yesterday” I don’t even know who’s watching me today… stuff is filling our homes, office’s and who knows what but some pimple-faced, high school kid on the take for Steve Jobs!

Honestly, I’m not trying to be cute, I’m wondering who else but me is scared and happy at the same time?

I love technology. But when… WHEN, not where, do we draw the line. After answering that question; move on to where. Or, visa versa; either way the result should be the same.

Thoughts... Anyone?

Another happy submission for thought on art and culture over at the Watercooler. Join us each Wednesday for Watercooler Wednesday and share your comments or thoughts.

Comments

[Audra Krell]

Happy and scared perfectly describes how I feel. I love technology but am terrified of it. It makes me feel powerless to draw a line. As soon as I would figure out when to draw the line, it would be moved!

[alexsandra]

The phrase "Big Brother" often comes to mind these days in our media driven lives and culture. We willingly contribute with things like blogs and youtube. Not a judgement on my part...more observation. I feel like an observer, like we take turns being Big Brother.

Personal aside...I visited the place where Orwell wrote 1984:the remote Isle of Jura off the westcoast of Scotland.