Comment Re:"Home Guard"--Very Apropos... (Score 1) 404
A fink?
I suppose that by the dictionary definition of the word, that would be accurate. In reality, however, I think that carries a very different connotation. I think a fink is generally accepted as a person who "tattles" on others, no matter how petty the infraction, for their own personal gain. I am fairly certain that is what you meant in your usage.
I would not call a person reporting suspicious activity around my local resivior or airport a fink any sooner that I would call you a fink for calling the police if you saw someone that appeared to be breaking into my home or selling drugs on the local school yard. I'm not talking about ratting out a bunch of hippies smoking a joint in the park, I am talking about crimes against society. Crimes that actually effect people.
I am all about having privacy in my home. I have NO expectation of privacy in public. Hence, calling it public. If I don't want someone knowing something, I don't make it public. It stays at home or on my person or in my head. I have even LESS expectation of privacy at work or in restricted access areas. I EXPECT that I will be watched at all times. Therefore, I don't go or don't do anything that I am not supposed to (posting on slashdot aside...:-). You can drop the "sensitive target" qualifier if you want. As long as I am in a public place, I assume that someone is watching. Maybe not even with a camera...maybe just watching the low-tech, old-fashioned way (holes in the newspaper). If you want to call the police because you saw me speeding or jaywalking, fine. Go ahead, fink. On the other hand, if I see someone getting mugged in an alley, I am damn sure that I will call the cops shortly before I commence kicking (or attempting to kick) the crap out of the assailant. I personally view this as my civic and moral duty. I am sure the ACLU will find some problem with me "finking" on the criminal, but I don't give a damn. Call me a fink, but if I see a real crime being committed, I will do something about it whether there is a camera or not.
Finally, you can be sure that we agree on one thing. I will not stand for the government to invade my privacy. I am a free citizen of a great nation and I have no intention of giving that up willingly...or at all. I believe the major difference between the two sides of this argument is the expectation of privacy. That's really what I see the core issue being. I don't care if you want to watch me walk down the street. If I want to avoid the cameras, I can.
I get the feeling someone is watching me...oh wait...it's that camera in the corner. :-)
I suppose that by the dictionary definition of the word, that would be accurate. In reality, however, I think that carries a very different connotation. I think a fink is generally accepted as a person who "tattles" on others, no matter how petty the infraction, for their own personal gain. I am fairly certain that is what you meant in your usage.
I would not call a person reporting suspicious activity around my local resivior or airport a fink any sooner that I would call you a fink for calling the police if you saw someone that appeared to be breaking into my home or selling drugs on the local school yard. I'm not talking about ratting out a bunch of hippies smoking a joint in the park, I am talking about crimes against society. Crimes that actually effect people.
I am all about having privacy in my home. I have NO expectation of privacy in public. Hence, calling it public. If I don't want someone knowing something, I don't make it public. It stays at home or on my person or in my head. I have even LESS expectation of privacy at work or in restricted access areas. I EXPECT that I will be watched at all times. Therefore, I don't go or don't do anything that I am not supposed to (posting on slashdot aside...:-). You can drop the "sensitive target" qualifier if you want. As long as I am in a public place, I assume that someone is watching. Maybe not even with a camera...maybe just watching the low-tech, old-fashioned way (holes in the newspaper). If you want to call the police because you saw me speeding or jaywalking, fine. Go ahead, fink. On the other hand, if I see someone getting mugged in an alley, I am damn sure that I will call the cops shortly before I commence kicking (or attempting to kick) the crap out of the assailant. I personally view this as my civic and moral duty. I am sure the ACLU will find some problem with me "finking" on the criminal, but I don't give a damn. Call me a fink, but if I see a real crime being committed, I will do something about it whether there is a camera or not.
Finally, you can be sure that we agree on one thing. I will not stand for the government to invade my privacy. I am a free citizen of a great nation and I have no intention of giving that up willingly...or at all. I believe the major difference between the two sides of this argument is the expectation of privacy. That's really what I see the core issue being. I don't care if you want to watch me walk down the street. If I want to avoid the cameras, I can.
I get the feeling someone is watching me...oh wait...it's that camera in the corner.
