[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I know the quote and would have put it myself but I've used it many times before so refrained like you.

Indeed. However relevant some quotations may be, like anything used too much, it starts to sound unoriginal, and in fact, starts to lose it's meaning.

I agree with you, but you and I are becoming the minority in society, after all you only have to look at the amount of information available online on us already, particularly if you engage in online society like facebook or twitter (which if I had to hazard a guess I'd say that you did not).

Well, I disagree that we are a minority in our thoughts. I would submit that the current political division within the United states into "red" and "blue" states as evidence to the contrary. While i realize i'm generalizing, it is my thought residents of Blue states are more apt to trade liberty for security while those residing in red states are not.

As for facebook, or twitter, your right. I would never use such sites in any capacity. It has been my view since before the days of "geocities" and everyone was into making their personal web page or weblog, that putting too much personal information on the internet is a very bad idea. The reasons for that start on identity theft and branch outward from there. Suffice to say, "Homey don't play that".

Now, it may be easy to rebuttal that with your non-compliance with modern online society that you are exempt from that, however you are in a minority, and with each passing generation that minority gets smaller. Within two generations posting your life story on facebook (or whatever the fad is then) will be a norm, and with things like google glasses it will be even easier to capture life moments and share them with the internet denizens.

Maybe, maybe not. Thought I do find myself drawing a metaphor to the intention behind things like The Colosseum in ancient Rome. It's whole purpose was to keep the Plebians happy and their minds off their troubles, less they would get upset and do things the rulling class wouldn't like. I'm not saying that technology, internet, toys, games etc are designed with that in mind, but the net effect (pardon the pun), is the same.

I have often wondered, were it not for computers, games, etc, diverting me, and any motivation and dedication i posses, what would I have accomplished? I have often thought back to wondering what it would be like in the before the advent of computers. (I grew up with computers, or is that, computers grew up with me? My first PC was an 8086 IBM clone). I think past generations accomplished much more with their lives without the diversions we have now. On a side note, have you seen It disgusted me the first moment I saw it. It's like peoples whole lives centered on, and revolving around, stupid little electronic boxes.

Now, what does that mean in regards to privacy and rights in the real world, well as life and society takes the current restrictions as norm then there will be less blanching at the possibility of further restrictions, particularly if they are seen as being necessary for the greater good of society. Mark my words, soon there will be a small chip that you can have placed in your hand, it will open doors for you, start your car just my gripping the steering wheel in a certain way, you will be able to get on and off buses and trains without having to buy a ticket in advance, and you will be able to buy your shopping just by picking it up from the shelf.
It will be easy, convenient, and it will also monitor everywhere you go, to help find lost children and elderly relatives who have gone walkabout. Of course, some will say that "It's the mark of the devil" or that "the government is herding us like sheep" but they will be dismissed as 'Yubbas' and when no-one dies after using the chips, the convienience will override any fears of constitutional infringement or loss of privacy.

You have a point about convenience. My wife is a self admitted "whore to convenience". Although, I think along the way though, there will always be people raising concerns about legal, ethical, or moral boundries.

At the end of the day, convenience will triumph over security, history has shown us this much so far. By all means, resist, many will, but when we die, history will march on, and the youth will inherit the Earth.

Well, at the end of the day, we are all just dust and bones. When it comes to changes in our constitution, bill of rights, liberty, freedom, and everything that is important that makes up home to me, I will always resist. Not just for myself, but for my family. At the end of the day, I would rather go out fighting for what I believe in; at least then I can leave this world knowing I tried and did my best. To blatantly borrow Paton, "If a man does his best, what else is there?"