In 10 years...

[JacaRanda]

I want everyone monitored so I know who likes Coors wee wee water, vs someone with good taste that likes Sam Adams or a nice IPA.

 

[astroNikon]

The Aliens will have invaded by then. So it won't matter ...

 

[Designer]

I want everyone monitored so I know who likes Coors wee wee water, vs someone with good taste that likes Sam Adams or a nice IPA.

Naturally. You wouldn't want to go visit somebody who doesn't know how to stock his fridge.

 

[Designer]

The Aliens will have invaded by then. So it won't matter ...

Hah! We can spy on the aliens. Find out what makes 'em tick.

 

[bribrius]

The Aliens will have invaded by then. So it won't matter ...

Hah! We can spy on the aliens. Find out what makes 'em tick.

geez. when you guys going to catch on here. the reason we cant find aliens is WE ARE the aliens. You know all those ancient alien artifacts. YOu don't actually think we were originally from this planet do you?

 

[Forkie]

I see the tracking of habits as a not such a bad thing. If a device in my house tracks my energy usage, a rival energy company can call me or email me and offer me the service for less.

I use Spotify radio which plays music based on what's already in my playlist, meaning the radio I listen has more stuff I like and less that I don't meaning I have a better experience.

Facebook learns what type of ads or news stories I like and which of my friends I interact with most, so display the most relevant stories from the friends I actually care about (fewer baby pictures! Woo!)

My iPhone learns what words I use most in messages and the dictionary corrects spelling mistakes more accurately.

People always seem to be worried that governments are going to be spying on us in the future, but they already know almost everything and how much worse are our lives for it? Governments and corporations already know:

Where we live: electoral role, utility bills, TV/internet subscriptions,
Who we live with: Censuses, marriage/child/death registers,
How much we earn: mortgage/loan applications, credit ratings,
Where we are NOW: Google Maps, GPS, smart phones,
Where we work: Payroll, tax codes, national insurance/social security records,
Where we go on holiday (and who with!): Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
Where we shop and what we buy: credit cards, loyalty cards, etc.

The list just goes on. I find these things make life better and more convenient, not worse. Yes it's all for someone elses commercial gain, but that's how the world works.

The internet is the most important invention in history. I genuinely believe that the more the world is connected together, the more chance there is of everyone getting on with each other. In fact, I think it is vital for the world's cultural and social unity and will bring all people from all cultures, backgrounds and levels of economic development closer together and more peaceful.

Just look at this website as a fine example. There are people from every corner of the globe that come here to chat about something we all have an interest in. We can learn from each other, help each other, even MEET each other if we so wish. Imagine if we could have done that 101 years ago when the first world war started - how much better and more enlightened the world might be by now.

Bring it on, I say. Bring it all on. Connect, connect, connect!

 

[KmH]

Uh. What happens when the electricity fails?

 

[JacaRanda]

Light a match?

 

[Designer]

Uh. What happens when the electricity fails?

Then we're up $___ creek without a paddle.

 

[Forkie]

Uh. What happens when the electricity fails?

Not being on Facebook, you obviously missed the recent "Facebook is down all over the world" fiasco. It made television news!

How often does electricity go down, really? Once every couple of years, for a couple of hours at a push? I think the world will survive. And anyway, with solar, wind and water power growing in popularity, one day we'll all be OFF THE GRID BIATCHES!

 

[snerd]

I want everyone monitored so I know who likes Coors wee wee water, vs someone with good taste that likes Sam Adams or a nice IPA.

Dude.............. just mentioning Sam Adams puts you on a list!

 

[pgriz]

The arguement that if I don't have anything to hide, I shouldn't be concerned about being identified, is not a good one, in my opinion. For that statement to be true, the powers that be should be altruistic or at least neutral, I should be able to redress any injustice that such scrutiny may create, and I should not have run afoul of any laws on the books, whether I know of their existence or not. But any system with humans in it, inherently has at the very least some potential for error or poor judgement. If such error or poor judgement impacts me and those around me, I "should" be able to find redress in the justice system. But here again, it appears that you can have all the justice you can afford to pay for. If you don't have the financial resources, then you have no way of redressing a wrong. The third point is that we may quite inadvertently run afoul of a law that we may not even have know about, and if we get charged for violating it, how can we defend ourselves (since it is common to rebut that "ignorance of the law is no excuse"). And do you really trust the legislators in your state or congress or province, to write clear laws that are for the benefit of the population (as opposed to a special-interest group or lobby)? So given the potential for abuse, and the relative lack of power to defend against a false or malicious prosecution, I would rather have less recorded about me. There is lots of stuff that is not relevant to any level of government about how I live my life.

The other problem with all this data collection, is the potential for criminals or hostile elements to hack this data and use it to target me and those around me, either for blackmail purposes, or as a protection racket, or for extortion, or for ransom. Frankly, the less "they" know about me, the more secure I will be.

 

[snerd]

The arguement that if I don't have anything to hide, I shouldn't be concerned about being identified, is not a good one, in my opinion. ......

Well of course not! I was in sarcastic mode when I typed that. That is the #1 dumbest reason of all, that I see and hear more than any other! Don't get me started!

 

[KmH]

Yep. People assume the best and don't plan for the worst.
It's not if, it's when, and for how long the electrical grid craters.
I'm set up so I can live without electricity for a year.

Y'all know about this new facility, right?
How long before the computers take over like in Colossus: The Forbin Project

 

[snerd]

Yep. People assume the best and don't plan for the worst.
It's not if, it's when, and for how long the electrical grid craters.
I'm set up so I can live without electricity for a year.

Y'all know about this new facility, right?
How long before the computers take over like in Colossus: The Forbin Project

Once again, I'm departing the subject matter........... before getting slapped with a political infraction.