I warm my chilled self by holding onto the thought that recognizing our self-censorship is the first step to fighting against it.
I warm my chilled self by holding onto the thought that recognizing our self-censorship is the first step to fighting against it.
I was already doing that, but because "The Internet never forgets", not because of surveillance.
Or in other words, I've already assumed either outright surveillance from the ISP or the botnetted-computers my friends/family use to go to visit my Facebook crap, or later database breaches/hacks conducted by criminal elements.
I mean, all you have to do is look at /r/cringepics, "lamebook", 4chan, etc. etc. to realize that people actually are watching what you post, commenting about those things you post (in forms easily queried by Google) and those people don't work for NSA (who in any event can neither retain the entire Internet indefinitely, nor actually look at everything that's captured even if they felt like it).
So watch what you say if you feel you must, but I don't see why NSA in particular would cause a shift in your behavior, if having things you said come back to bite you later is something you're worried about as a concept, you've long had reason to be concerned.
I recently flew to DC (for the StopWatchingUs protest) and even did a body scanner opt-out. Went through without a squeak. The government...they don't care about terrorism. They're just grabbing for power. Even if they did finger me somehow, the TSA is too hairbrained to figure it out.
Just remember that by saying exactly what is on your mind is exactly what makes you a patriot. This is the founding principal of our country. By doing this, you are fighting the same way our founders did.
I'm a little shocked there isn't more outrage in the 'Land of the Free'. Things have degraded to the point that I would think there would be a story on major TV news sites every night.
So long as the people get their professional sport, VMAs with scantily clad women and can buy alcohol and cigarettes very cheaply, their needs are being met and they are not interested in the big picture.