Benwa
11-09-2003, 10:27 AM
Heres a story that slipped under my radar. I never remember hearing anything about it, maybe I was under a rock.
http://www.why-war.com/news/2002/07/15/usplanni.html
Its about a plan to recruit 1 in 24 americans as spies against terrorism. The project, called TIPS (terrorist information and prevention system) has since been "disbanded". yet it seems that al that was changed was the name and wording. No theres a VIPS , Volunteers in Police Service that sounds disturbingly familiar http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/vips.shtm
I'm not sure why this disturbs me so much. It seems very much like the book 1984 where citizens constantly snitch out their neighbors to Big Brother. On one hand it encourages people to keep an open eye. But doesn't this engourage vigilantism and mob mentality. It seems good to encourage folks to volunteer time, but why not volunteer for something positive rather than snitching on you fellow citizens. Build a homeless shelter or a playground, plan a block party.
It seems to me at some point you make a broad decision about people. Either you decide they are predominately good or predominately bad. If you believe they are bad you put alarms on your house, buy a gun, constantly watch your back. And the result is it decays the social community very badly. But if you decide they are good then you talk to strangers, trust people, relate to one another, heal the damage. I'm in the category that believes they are good, I used to be in the other camp. It effects your happiness so much. I'd be willing to bet all those who feel lonely and depressed believe people are predominately bad. This silly VIPS program encourages people to believe that others are bad and need to be policed.
http://www.why-war.com/news/2002/07/15/usplanni.html
Its about a plan to recruit 1 in 24 americans as spies against terrorism. The project, called TIPS (terrorist information and prevention system) has since been "disbanded". yet it seems that al that was changed was the name and wording. No theres a VIPS , Volunteers in Police Service that sounds disturbingly familiar http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/vips.shtm
I'm not sure why this disturbs me so much. It seems very much like the book 1984 where citizens constantly snitch out their neighbors to Big Brother. On one hand it encourages people to keep an open eye. But doesn't this engourage vigilantism and mob mentality. It seems good to encourage folks to volunteer time, but why not volunteer for something positive rather than snitching on you fellow citizens. Build a homeless shelter or a playground, plan a block party.
It seems to me at some point you make a broad decision about people. Either you decide they are predominately good or predominately bad. If you believe they are bad you put alarms on your house, buy a gun, constantly watch your back. And the result is it decays the social community very badly. But if you decide they are good then you talk to strangers, trust people, relate to one another, heal the damage. I'm in the category that believes they are good, I used to be in the other camp. It effects your happiness so much. I'd be willing to bet all those who feel lonely and depressed believe people are predominately bad. This silly VIPS program encourages people to believe that others are bad and need to be policed.