IS IT JUST ME OR DOES EVERYONE SEEM TO ACT LIKE SHEEP?

DSP · (#1 (**permalink**))

I was listening to this radio show this morningand they were talking about ONSTAR(sattellite) and how they can control your car, lock the doors, etc. and how now it's possible to tell where you are even if your cell phone is off. The hosts were saying how they felt intruded on and violated, yet they still use these devices. To me this is like smoking knowing it's gonna kill you except it's not addictive(well doesn't seem so anyway). They also mentioned how with all the searches going on in schools that he next generation will get used to being spied on and then Big Brother will really be in effect. Now if everybody knows this why are people still using devices like ONSTAR and GPS cell phones? Proponents of this always use the save your life scenarios as if people never lived with out these devices as recent as 15 years ago. If people know what's going on and don't like it why are they going with the flow?

Backatya · (#2 (**permalink**))

Maybe for the same reason many people moved from buying video players to buying DVD players even though they really wanted to stick with their video players.

For the same reason I ended up getting a debit/credit card again after a spell of over 5 years without one where I was determined to use cash and cheques only.

For the same reason that though I would sometimes like to take only Â£5 out on my ATM card, I end up taking at least Â£10 (or even Â£20 in some places) like everyone else.

I definitely do not want an oyster card, but it would be hard for me to earn a living without one...unless I want to pay over double (in cash) for the same journeyin order to restrict the monitoring and survaillence on my daily travels.

You getting it yet?

Sometimes you have no choice to go down a certain route in order to function in life.

Respect

DSP · (#3 (**permalink**))

Backatya wrote:

Quote:

Maybe for the same reason many people moved from buying video players to buying DVD players even though they really wanted to stick with their video players.

For the same reason I ended up getting a debit/credit card again after a spell of over 5 years without one where I was determined to use cash and cheques only.

For the same reason that though I would sometimes like to take only Â£5 out on my ATM card, I end up taking at least Â£10 (or even Â£20 in some places) like everyone else.

I definitely do not want an oyster card, but it would be hard for me to earn a living without one...unless I want to pay over double (in cash) for the same journeyin order to restrict the monitoring and survaillence on my daily travels.

You getting it yet?

Sometimes you have no choice to go down a certain route in order to function in life.

Respect

Quote:

YouALWAYS have a choice, the system will make you feel like you don't.

Quote:

btw, I'm still determined to use cash.

Backatya · (#4 (**permalink**))

DSP wrote:

Quote:

YouALWAYS have a choice, the system will make you feel like you don't.

Is that so? So I can still watch videos on Betamax then and playmusic on 8 track system in my car.

Quote:

Remember to ALWAYS have a choice, there must be options available

Quote:

Respect

DSP · (#5 (**permalink**))

Backatya wrote:

Quote:

DSP wrote:

Quote:

YouALWAYS have a choice, the system will make you feel like you don't.

Is that so? So I can still watch videos on Betamax then and playmusic on 8 track system in my car.

Quote:

Remember to ALWAYS have a choice, there must be options available

Quote:

Respect

Quote:

Actually, yes you can if you really want to. There are still beta maxes out as well as beta videos, they're junk, but they're available.

Quote:

But to get more serious, within reason you still have a choice to live a certain lifestyle. Many of us are too selfish or lazy or unmotivated to actually make concious efforts to live life the way we would like. It's like some of us have already been defeated in our minds, or socially engineered to accept limited choices. I remember telling myself I would not buy water. Yes I bought a water filter(some govts are purposely facilitating water of less quality), which was a compromise, but we have to take a stand sometimes and not jus talk for the sake of sounding good. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices inorder for the matrix not to have so much control over our everyday lives. Personally I can't live like that. Too many aspects of this modern urban lifestyle are not worth the hassle. It's possible to condition one's self to live how we were meant to live, but it boils down to the individual and what sacrifices they are willing to make instead of jus empty talk.

DarkCloud · (#6 (**permalink**))

DSP,
Its true you always do have a choice, butit is also true that those choices are not always very convenient.
No matter how you look at it, there will be factors (compatibility, cost etc) that will make those choices not really worth it.

Subtle coercion comes to mind. We are posting on this webboard, we have a choice not to because our IPs are logged and can thus be traced (if the need arises), Cell phone activities can be tracked, but it is also tru that it has made communication a lot easier, wouldnt want to sit around on a 2-way for obvious reasons too. But within reason, as long as you are not breaking any law, we all continue these activities and we all assume it is a small price to pay. How true that assumption turns out to be, is another matter entirely and only the future could decide that.

Backatya · (#7 (**permalink**))

DSP wrote:

Quote:

But to get more serious, within reason you still have a choice to live a certain lifestyle. Many of us are too selfish or lazy or unmotivated to actually make concious efforts to live life the way we would like. It's like some of us have already been defeated in our minds, or socially engineered to accept limited choices. I remember telling myself I would not buy water. Yes I bought a water filter(some govts are purposely facilitating water of less quality), which was a compromise, but we have to take a stand sometimes and not jus talk for the sake of sounding good. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices inorder for the matrix not to have so much control over our everyday lives. Personally I can't live like that. Too many aspects of this modern urban lifestyle are not worth the hassle. It's possible to condition one's self to live how we were meant to live, but it boils down to the individual and what sacrifices they are willing to make instead of jus empty talk.

Quote:

@ DSP

Quote:

Whilst I understand where you are coming from, and though it is probably true for the majority of people that we kind of just 'follow-fashion', be careful of assuming too much about what people do and don't do in an effort to keep 'control' of their life. Also be sure that you are not a 'sheep' yourself (in certain circumstances) before calling out people about their 'sheepedness'

Quote:

P.S. if you will insist on quoting my whole post everytime, my next response is going to consist of "....."LOL

Quote:

Respect

DSP · (#8 (**permalink**))

To me there seems to be an epidemic of complacency(sp?) As long as poeple can satisfy their material lust then that's all that matters. I get questioned alot about certain things I do and why I do them that way, because I usually get the "Well who does that in this day and age?" comments. It's funny because even when you decide to live that way some people call you paranoid and criticize you for not going with the flow, even those who are somewhat aware.

Pele · (#9 (**permalink**))

DSP, I think you have a case here. Looking at all the popular TV shows in the states these days, how can you not conclude that. Another important issue that adds to this, is the shorter memory span that people have these days.

MyThoughts · (#10 (**permalink**))

Interesting, and I'd agreee with subtle coercion on certain things...just like chip and pin over here in the UK.

But where do u draw the line on other occasionsbetween sticking with the status quo (getting left behind) and moving forward with the times?

DSP · (#11 (**permalink**))

MyThoughts wrote:

Quote:

Interesting, and I'd agreee with subtle coercion on certain things...just like chip and pin over here in the UK.

But where do u draw the line on other occasionsbetween sticking with the status quo (getting left behind) and moving forward with the times?

Quote:

Good question, which leads to my question...what is "getting left behind"? What is "progress"? Does it really improve the quality of life or is it just something that saves time, but adds more stress to my life(is that an even trade off). My grandfather lived to be 102. The satellite, cell phone, andextra security cameradidn't give him those 102 years, so I know it won't add extra years to my life.One of mygrandmothers lived to be 85 years old and didn't have a laptop or cell phone to 'enhance' her everyday life.We take for granted that people were stronger back then, and many werewise and healthy.

Quote:

It ties in to what Bele was saying about short memory span,due to the lack of thinking required, because we have all these devices that "think" for us in the name of progress. When you don't think you become a mushbrain like a sheep. It's like we're being conditioned to believe certain things enhance our life when they may do the opposite(ie cancer, stress related illness, lack of sleep, lack of brain activity).

Quote:

I'm not saying everything is bad, butwe tend to get carried away and let something or someone else have way too much control overour lives.