<story><title>Writers Say They Feel Censored by Surveillance</title><url>http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/arts/writers-say-they-feel-censored-by-surveillance.html?_r=0</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>cryoshon</author><text>Chilling effect has been achieved, all according to plan.&lt;p&gt;To reiterate, the design of surveillance is population control,no more or less; terrorism is merely an excuse for technological implementation that was desired since time immemorial by the powers that be.&lt;p&gt;Now, onto the implications that the NY Times was too friendly to state:&lt;p&gt;1. People are self-censoring dissenting views in regular conversation outside of people they trust&lt;p&gt;2. People are self-censoring dissenting views in written communication&lt;p&gt;3. People are self-censoring their own minds as a result of #1 and #2&lt;p&gt;Therefore,&lt;p&gt;4. Dissenting communications and dissenting thoughts are reduced in frequency, leading to a snowball effect as ideas are more and more suppressed&lt;p&gt;In terms of the scope, while the poll was only of writers, it seems as though the majority of writers consider themselves to be victims here.&lt;p&gt;I think it&amp;#x27;s safe to say that the implications I listed are also applicable to other segments of the population-- most importantly, the segments of the population that are the usual hotbeds of dissent, because they are more likely to be paying attention to advances in government power which would create a chilling effect.&lt;p&gt;The chilling effect produced by the endless rounds of disclosure of government abuse of surveillance is probably not going to go away anytime soon. Unfortunately, self-censorship is one more nail in the moribund democracy here in the US. Keep in mind that even if a person does not self censor, the mainstream media (which should now be understood as including major internet news hubs such as reddit) will likely prevent off-narrative news from spreading.&lt;p&gt;So, what&amp;#x27;s the solution? I don&amp;#x27;t know. Still waiting on a hot new SV startup to &amp;quot;disrupt&amp;quot; the surveillance state.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>wahsd</author><text>The problem is that today&amp;#x27;s jello-spined journalists give too many shits about surveillance. Sure, every single journalist should take massive precautions to encrypt every single thing and source, no matter how banal; but once the proper precautions have been taken they should go on balls to the wall attack. Shame, de-obfuscate, highlight, an expose the hell out of government and business. There should be zero mercy! If journalists should fear anything, it is that some other warrior-journalist will slay a corrupt government agent or business crook and gain all the praise.&lt;p&gt;Dear journalists, it&amp;#x27;s time to drive the rats out of America. It is your responsibility as the fourth branch of government to open the curtains, let in the burning sunlight, and exterminate the vampire roaches. Show no mercy, and provide no harbor. Your job is only done when you die exhausted from seeking out the source of the constant stink of corruption. Make people understand complex matters of corruption, do your jobs, do what you wanted to be.</text></comment>
<story><title>Writers Say They Feel Censored by Surveillance</title><url>http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/arts/writers-say-they-feel-censored-by-surveillance.html?_r=0</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>cryoshon</author><text>Chilling effect has been achieved, all according to plan.&lt;p&gt;To reiterate, the design of surveillance is population control,no more or less; terrorism is merely an excuse for technological implementation that was desired since time immemorial by the powers that be.&lt;p&gt;Now, onto the implications that the NY Times was too friendly to state:&lt;p&gt;1. People are self-censoring dissenting views in regular conversation outside of people they trust&lt;p&gt;2. People are self-censoring dissenting views in written communication&lt;p&gt;3. People are self-censoring their own minds as a result of #1 and #2&lt;p&gt;Therefore,&lt;p&gt;4. Dissenting communications and dissenting thoughts are reduced in frequency, leading to a snowball effect as ideas are more and more suppressed&lt;p&gt;In terms of the scope, while the poll was only of writers, it seems as though the majority of writers consider themselves to be victims here.&lt;p&gt;I think it&amp;#x27;s safe to say that the implications I listed are also applicable to other segments of the population-- most importantly, the segments of the population that are the usual hotbeds of dissent, because they are more likely to be paying attention to advances in government power which would create a chilling effect.&lt;p&gt;The chilling effect produced by the endless rounds of disclosure of government abuse of surveillance is probably not going to go away anytime soon. Unfortunately, self-censorship is one more nail in the moribund democracy here in the US. Keep in mind that even if a person does not self censor, the mainstream media (which should now be understood as including major internet news hubs such as reddit) will likely prevent off-narrative news from spreading.&lt;p&gt;So, what&amp;#x27;s the solution? I don&amp;#x27;t know. Still waiting on a hot new SV startup to &amp;quot;disrupt&amp;quot; the surveillance state.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>golemotron</author><text>The sad thing is that you don&amp;#x27;t have to have real surveillance to do this. All you need is the belief that the surveillance is going on.&lt;p&gt;It would be a great plot for a movie: Snowden et al, were given fake information to lead the world to believe it was being surveilled, eliminating a lot of bad behavior.</text></comment>