We have discussed Panopticons before, but never the reaction our
society may have to it. So let us discuss this in today's issue.
What is a Panopticon: Let us redefine what a panopticon is
before we look into societies reactions. It comes from the concept for
the perfect prison where a guard can see and hear everything each and every
prisoner does, but the prisoners never see that guard. As such, the
inmates never knew who was being watched and when. Thus they had to
behave as if they were being watched at all times. This was designed to negate
the need to have a guard interact with any prisoner let alone have to restrain
them as the inmate’s fear of being watched made them behave. However, it
was deemed cruel and unusual punishment due to the paranoia it could cause.
And now our society has developed into a pseudo-panopticon.
Our societal Panopticon: As the number of cameras increase, our
privacy decreases. Also, our internet, TV, radio and other technology aid
the cameras in knowing our every move. And once people begin to realize
that there is no privacy, they fear if they are being watched. They end
up with the same fear and anxiety that mad the panopticon prison "cruel
and unusual". In short, people will become more and more paranoid of
what, and whom may be watching. Things like petty theft, various
lawsuits, and other crimes go away as people know they can no longer get away
with a crime or that they cannot sue on false pretenses. So the only
freedom you will gain is by living with the fear of being watched. But
there may be an escape.
Internet safety: Ironically, technology may be the
one place you are safe from being watched. The sole place you can act out
and speak freely. The reason is because the internet allows for
encryption of your data. You can put up a barrier on the internet which
prevents people from knowing who and what you are online. As such,
pseudo-names become our official names, and our emails become our official
addresses in this society we have developed. And to pay for the items we
want, electronic currency that is also encrypted to such a degree that it
becomes untraceable. So we are safe in the technology that took our
personal privacy away in the first place.
Conclusion: America's and the worlds future
children will grow up in a world where all is recorded and can be pieced
together to find out anything and everything about us. And I am not talking
about governments, but anyone and everyone who simply wants to watch the lives
of others. We will face a level of oppression from each other like we
have never experienced, with the sole place we can escape being an encrypted
online identity. Welcome to a dystopian future where we are seen even
when we do not want to be.
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