Here come the Drones

[P. Aaron]

Here come the Drones...

"If everybody had enough money to buy one of these things, we could all be wandering around with little networks of vehicles flying over our heads spying on us," Ms. Cummings said. "It really opens up a whole new Pandora's Box of: What does it mean to have privacy?"

[Ziltoid]

[R. Laevinus]

...I've been putting off buying a crossbow for years, telling myself that there's no such thing as zombies anyway.

Think I just found a reason for investing in one. First drone I catch tailing me is gonna get a broadhead through the fuselage, or I'll be.

[Thunderscreech]

We could also be walking around with cellphones that are continuously transmitting our locations to cell towers, too...Oh wait, that one happened already...

[R. Laevinus]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

We could also be walking around with cellphones that are continuously transmitting our locations to cell towers, too...Oh wait, that one happened already...

That I'm not so terribly concerned about. I'm an honest man, and having somebody know where I am isn't so bad. Besides, if I'm out to commit some nefarious deed, I could just leave the darn thing at home.

But I can choose to divest myself of my cellphone at any time. I can even divest myself of my identification, should I choose to do so, and become a John Doe. I can even still buy a bus ticket in cash and wind up in some strange part of the country where noone knows my name, and get completely out from under the casual observer.

I dislike the notion of snotnosed teenagers and creepy ex-girlfriends watching me for their personal kinks. If I could break the link anytime, I wouldn't mind. Heck, even if it were under government control, I would be only mildly annoyed. (We have a better track record for that sort of thing up here in the North.)

[Thunderscreech]

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

That I'm not so terribly concerned about. I'm an honest man, and having somebody know where I am isn't so bad. Besides, if I'm out to commit some nefarious deed, I could just leave the darn thing at home.

But I can choose to divest myself of my cellphone at any time. I can even divest myself of my identification, should I choose to do so, and become a John Doe. I can even still buy a bus ticket in cash and wind up in some strange part of the country where noone knows my name, and get completely out from under the casual observer.

I dislike the notion of snotnosed teenagers and creepy ex-girlfriends watching me for their personal kinks. If I could break the link anytime, I wouldn't mind. Heck, even if it were under government control, I would be only mildly annoyed. (We have a better track record for that sort of thing up here in the North.)

I really don't care. My day-to-day life isn't that interesting. They want to waste their time watching my every moment, okay, cool, whatever.

I mean, I highly doubt this will happen. stationary cameras are:

• More reliable
• don't run out of fuel
• don't crash into trees
• can be put almost anywhere there is an internet connection and power (basically everywhere these days).
• they cost less, and aren't as prone to imbeciles wielding crossbows who might very well shoot for a drone, miss, and impale some pregnant lady in the stomach. If you don't know how to disable a security camera you are really dumb, for real.

Besides, it would be more effective in the long run, because all of the cameras would be integrated, which would make suspect tracking much more effective.

[Deluge Of Sound]

You can't buy a bus ticket in the US without ID.

[Thunderscreech]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

You can't buy a bus ticket in the US without ID.

You'll have to excuse him, he's from Barcelona Canada.

[R. Laevinus]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

You'll have to excuse him, he's from Barcelona Canada.

And gosh-diggly-darn proud of it, too, thankee kindly!

But no, really, I'm not happy with the idea. It's not surveillance that bothers me - I don't mind security cameras at all. What I mind is having these things under private ownership and operation, as suggested in the article linked by the OP. THAT bothers me, because I have faith that my government isn't that interested in what I do on a daily basis. I would know, I work for them in a policy and application-development area.

But even though I'm not a criminal, nor criminally insane, I can imagine lots of ways these things could be used by certain private individuals to create all sorts of problems for me, and for society as a whole. If you can't think of some ways these things could be put to all the wrong uses in the hands of, say, drug dealers, pimps, or stalkers, you're really not trying very hard.

(BTW, perhaps I should have made it clearer that the crossbow comment was in humour, but I think that 'imbecile' is perhaps too strong a word.)

[Thunderscreech]

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

And gosh-diggly-darn proud of it, too, thankee kindly!

But no, really, I'm not happy with the idea. It's not surveillance that bothers me - I don't mind security cameras at all. What I mind is having these things under private ownership and operation, as suggested in the article linked by the OP. THAT bothers me, because I have faith that my government isn't that interested in what I do on a daily basis. I would know, I work for them in a policy and application-development area.

But even though I'm not a criminal, nor criminally insane, I can imagine lots of ways these things could be used by certain private individuals to create all sorts of problems for me, and for society as a whole. If you can't think of some ways these things could be put to all the wrong uses in the hands of, say, drug dealers, pimps, or stalkers, you're really not trying very hard.

(BTW, perhaps I should have made it clearer that the crossbow comment was in humour, but I think that 'imbecile' is perhaps too strong a word.)

Disregard me, I have no idea what I'm talking about now. Sorry for using the word imbecile.

[R. Laevinus]

Not a problem, I'm not upset. Like I said, I just thought it was maybe overkill for the situation.

[Demon_Hunter]

How long before Google buys that and starts the Live Google Drone Site.

[P. Aaron]

Maybe there is something to the whole tin-foil-hat thing.