They're hooked up, but not to a network.

Yet.

It sounded intelligent, and I was interested, so I looked up in the online dictionary "opticon". I know what the prefix pan means, but no idea what opticon means other than the company that makes bar codes for scanners..
Now, that would make sense.

I know a woman who was harrassed by a man who worked in one of those government installations that we kind of "dream up" in Sci Fi movies. Two years ago, and that's before that movie about government spy agencies hearing what you say on a cell phone that's turned off, she told me a crazy story about a guy who just for the fun of it was calling her and leaving messages that he could hear what she was saying on her turned off cell phone. Then, he would just break in on her at her computer at any time and send messages that would interrupt anything she was doing online. They were controlling her computer remotely!
So, then, being a man of sound mind and body, I just looked at her like, "woman if this is true, it's really out-of-this-world sci fi stuff..", and I preferred to think of her as mentally ill and schizo.
Then, then they came out with the movie recently with just that kind of technology.. I can't remember the name of it.
Anyway, we're approaching that kind of surveillance possibilities, and I don't doubt some of it is now possible.
This is what I told her, and it is what I still believe...
Our only hope is to be happy and lead a kind and generous life no matter what happens.
We can't let fear run our lives. The day that happens, all hope is lost.
We must be kind in the face of malintent. We must be outlandish, bold, brash, rather than succumb to passifism.
Otherwise it is Orwelian 1984 right now!

>> How do you explain exhibitionism?
Would survelliance not encourage aberrant behaviour?

Good point.

I would reply by saying that the definition of aberrant behavior is changing, and will likely undergo further transformations, some of which may be spurred on by technology.

My hunch is that there is, and will continue to be, a tension between two processes: 1. Surveillance fosters conformity. 2. Universal "broadcasting" of personal behavior influences dominant social mores.

So we may end up with a bland and tightly controlled, yet liberal society, in which individuals are given great freedom to "let their freak flag fly," but that these freaky acts no longer have the transgressive impact that they once did.

Perhaps I should have used the example of "Brave New World" rather than "1984."

<<Freedom is slavery.
Pay your taxes this year, yet? Tell your boss to stuff it? Drive 95mph with impunity? Buy wine directly from France without huge tarrifs and trouble from a custom's agent? Choose to have a beer at lunch on a Thursday? Choose to get high at home in the evening? >>

I always like to think of it as "consent" rather than slavery Mickey.. These institutions, mechanisms and rules are there (hopefully) to balance collective rights with the rights of the individual - and they only exist because the majority of people submit to them.. mind you.. I am not too sure the Russian, Chinese or French Revolution was started by the "majority" - but is certainly was a large and well motivated minority which the momentum ( with a few interesting twists and turns) to challenge and overturn the status quo.. or maybe everything really just stayed the same :)

Cheers

Mr Idealism