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ktesibios
SFN Regular
USA
505 Posts |
 Posted - 07/17/2001 : 02:54:46 [Permalink]
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quote:
I think the city of Los Angeles can find better things to do with OUR tax payer money.
The only time I ever saw one of these cameras go off (at the corner of Fountain and Crescent Heights) my reaction was "Cool! Someone's gonna pay the moron tax!"
Of course, I've acquired a bit of a bias from dodging geniuses who pay more attention to their cell phone than to mere distractions like traffic lights, and the even greater geniuses (mostly found south of the Santa Monicas) who simply can't believe that there's anyone else on the planet. Although it's an unsatisfactory solution, stoplight cameras will just have to do until someone invents a stupidity-seeking missile.
Now that I've vented a bit, I have to say that a still camera triggered only when someone runs a red light (which doesn't bother me at all) is very different from the constant video surveillance which is becoming more common in urban areas. The former only responds to a specific event, while the latter is a blanket expression of a governmental belief that citizen=suspect. Add the new face-recognition technologies and you've really got a Big-Brotheresque threat to democratic society.
It is, because it isn't not, and that's the part that goes up. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2001 : 03:42:30 [Permalink]
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quote:
The only time I ever saw one of these cameras go off (at the corner of Fountain and Crescent Heights) my reaction was "Cool! Someone's gonna pay the moron tax!"
LOL. I used to live not TOO far from there. Grew up off of Olympic near Crescent Heights.
'They' are ruining MY city.
quote:
Of course, I've acquired a bit of a bias from dodging geniuses who pay more attention to their cell phone than to mere distractions like traffic lights, and the even greater geniuses (mostly found south of the Santa Monicas) who simply can't believe that there's anyone else on the planet.
LOL, you mean those idiots who drive the big 'truck like' vehicles? I hate them. I like to get behind someone on a phone and keep honking. Heh, he. In a store I like to follow them around and pretend to be listening to the conversation. Heh, he. One of these days I'm going to break out singing Beethovens Ode to Joy right in front of them, heh, he.
quote:
Although it's an unsatisfactory solution, stoplight cameras will just have to do until someone invents a stupidity-seeking missile.
LOL
quote:
Now that I've vented a bit, I have to say that a still camera triggered only when someone runs a red light (which doesn't bother me at all) is very different from the constant video surveillance which is becoming more common in urban areas. The former only responds to a specific event, while the latter is a blanket expression of a governmental belief that citizen=suspect. Add the new face-recognition technologies and you've really got a Big-Brotheresque threat to democratic society.
That is a point. But the main point was, if we let them put the still cameras in then people will get used to it and we WILL eventualy have all the other spy stuff. Not so far fetched. Plam Springs has them[or was planning to] from what I heard.
Do you every listen to Al Rantel on KABC790 radio? He was debating that a couple of weeks age.
VHEMT |
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Tokyodreamer
SFN Regular
USA
1447 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2001 : 08:17:11 [Permalink]
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While cameras on street corners observing the general public gives me the willies, the thought of being the one on the other end of the camera just sounds like great fun! I'd love that job.
I guess I'm just a voyeur at heart. 
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Ma gavte la nata! |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2001 : 14:25:52 [Permalink]
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quote:
While cameras on street corners observing the general public gives me the willies, the thought of being the one on the other end of the camera just sounds like great fun! I'd love that job.
I guess I'm just a voyeur at heart.
There's was a group I heard about from an e-group I used to be on, that would stage 'performances' in front of the kinds of cameras in banks and stores. If I see the web site again I'll let you know. Want to join? That way being in front of the camera would be fun too.
VHEMT |
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Lars_H
SFN Regular
Germany
630 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2001 : 18:19:25 [Permalink]
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quote:
The state can't watch your every move and even if they had enough cameras they wouldn't be able to process it all.
But whether they do that or not is up to the majority of people.
Also who defines what an overly protective government is?
Is it you? The government itself? The majority of people living under the government?
Theoretically the majority would decide such matters(you probably would need a lager majority to change some of the basic stuff like freedom of speech.)
Unfortunetley the population at large seems to want to be protected like small children from all the evils in the world and themselves.
The worst part is that when they cry about their liberties it is always about stuff like their right to carry dangerous weapons around or their right to unobserved break traffic laws and never about stuff like freedom of speech, the press or the arts.
quote:
Radioactive GM Crops.
Slightly above background.
Safe to eat.
But no activist would dare rip it out.
As they think it gives them cancer.
I think just bulding a Cell-Phone tower in the field would be sufficient.
But can you imaging what kind of dangerous effect the radiation will have on the already modified genetic code of the plants. Be prepared for the attack of the mutant killer Tomatoes.
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Tokyodreamer
SFN Regular
USA
1447 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2001 : 22:13:43 [Permalink]
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But can you imaging what kind of dangerous effect the radiation will have on the already modified genetic code of the plants. Be prepared for the attack of the mutant killer Tomatoes.
You're not seriously saying that a cell phone tower generates enough gene-mutating radiation to affect vegitation, are you?!
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Ma gavte la nata! |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2001 : 22:17:51 [Permalink]
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It might be fun to find out 
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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bestonnet_00
Skeptic Friend
Australia
358 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2001 : 02:56:46 [Permalink]
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A mobile phone tower in the middle of the field might work as well.
Also if mobile phones were placed around the area and turned on they might be scared even if they are CDMA phones (which according to most of the reasonable people who believe they cause cancer aren't anything to worry about).
Oh well, maybe we could do both, slight increase in radiation and a mobile phone tower.
The radiation wouldn't do anything to the plant or any humans, but it might scare some activists off.
Although there is a better idea here:
Radioactive GM Crops.
Slightly above background.
Safe to eat.
But no activist would dare rip it out.
As they think it gives them cancer. |
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Wendy
SFN Regular
USA
614 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2001 : 08:26:39 [Permalink]
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There are entirely too many intrusions on our liberty as it is. Drivers should fork out money based solely on damages to persons and/or property. Nothing else. My parents did a good job raising me. I do not want or need a government that acts as a parent.
Wendy Jones |
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comradebillyboy
Skeptic Friend
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2001 : 19:56:14 [Permalink]
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welcome to sfn wendy.
the traffic cameras are another sign of creeping big brotherism. while i know the govt. is unlikely to spy on me, i am still disturbed with their ability to do so. the supreme court recently ruled that the police cannot look into your home with infrared devices without a warrant. but that means the govt. has the ability to violate anones privacy at will.
comrade billyboy |
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bestonnet_00
Skeptic Friend
Australia
358 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2001 : 03:22:59 [Permalink]
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Your parents may have raised you well.
But not everyones parents are good, and even good parents often aren't enough.
Radioactive GM Crops.
Slightly above background.
Safe to eat.
But no activist would dare rip it out.
As they think it gives them cancer. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2001 : 03:42:42 [Permalink]
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quote:
There are entirely too many intrusions on our liberty as it is. Drivers should fork out money based solely on damages to persons and/or property. Nothing else. My parents did a good job raising me. I do not want or need a government that acts as a parent.
Wendy Jones
Wendy, are you a fellow Libertarian?
If not, you still have the right idea.
VHEMT |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2001 : 03:51:17 [Permalink]
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quote:
Your parents may have raised you well.
But not everyones parents are good, and even good parents often aren't enough.
And your point IS?
Why does everyone think THEY are ok but everyone else is a helpless idiot?
The govenment just can't keep making more and more laws. That's not what a free country is all about. We have laws now and people who do wrong can be delt with, don't keep restricting othes for what they MIGHT do. No Cameras.
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Kristin
Skeptic Friend
Canada
84 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2001 : 11:07:51 [Permalink]
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going to comment on how this could be useful in some situations.
Yesterday, my parents were off at a market buying corn. They were driving on a motorcycle. When they came back and drove off, they found that the front wheel guard was bent severely enough that it was shredding the tire. The person who had backed (or fronted) into this motorcycle didn't bother to tell the riders that it was damaged, which could conceivably have resulted in CONSIDERABLE injury to the both of them.
It would be really nice to find the person who did this and hold them accountable.
I agree that too many of our freedoms are being infringed upon, but public surveillance is not a new concept and there is already (I believe) considerable surveillance in large cities. Also (sounds trite but) people who obey the law really don't have anything to hide. (I speed, but if they catch me, sure, hold me accountable)
Hopefully they would consider limiting those prosecuted by such means to people who are endangering the general public (running red lights during high traffic periods, not letting pedestrians cross or giving a wide enough space for safety) Of course, that would be denying the govt a viable source of income. Ugh. 
Good judgement comes from experience: experience comes from bad judgement. |
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Wendy
SFN Regular
USA
614 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2001 : 11:41:57 [Permalink]
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First off, thanks to everyone who has welcomed me to SFN.
Now to the point. I sympathize with those who are damaged by people who do not take the responsibility to restore the status quo. I had someone put a huge dent (not a ding) in my brand new car before I even got the payment book or permanent license tag. That was five years ago, and I still don't know who did it.
It does not change the fact that there should be no cameras.
Too many people think it's okay to take away the liberties they don't need. You're a responsible driver, so sure, post cameras. You're a Christian, so sure, post the Ten Commandments. You don't own a gun, so sure, make lots of laws about gun control. Open your eyes. Soon you will lose liberties that you DO care about.
Wendy Jones |
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