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comment by ooli
ooli  ·  4271 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Eternal Value of Privacy

    discussion recently about whether to put cameras on Austin streetcorners. In public places. Pointed at public intersections. Pros: Austin has a huge hit and run problem, especially against bikers -- this will end that and save lives. Cons: it infringes upon my privacy. What?!

I feel that the cult about "surviving" "living long" and the horror of death, is more or less purely occidental and rather new in our history.

Of course I'd like that anyone (cyclist or not) live the longer possible. But there are some things with more value than my life.

I suppose, I already could live to 150 if I submit to a drastic medical surveillance, have a tube in my ass and my heart monitored 24h a day. I could easily reach 100 with a better diet, some exercise and medical checking every other month. And if I accept some camera in my front yard I 'd probably reach 80 year.

My point is: What sacrifice I'm willing to do, to live longer.. And what will be the quality of this longer life. Seriously if living to 90 need you to have a camera in every public place.. It sucks, and I probably rather take the risk to be hit by a car.





user-inactivated  ·  4271 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. I'm not anti-death, I'm pro-fucking-justice. Your "argument" is that you (and by extension all other cyclists and pedestrians) would rather die at the age of 25 than install basic security measures in public places. You know what? Let's fire the Austin Police Department and end all search warrants, because I don't really mind getting shot anymore. You've convinced me.

user-inactivated  ·  4270 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Let's fire the Austin Police Department and end all search warrants

Yes please. The police aren't going to stop you from getting shot, they will just punish whoever shot you. It's not protection they provide but retribution.

user-inactivated  ·  4270 days ago  ·  link  ·  

You are joking, right? I can't tell anymore with this issue.

user-inactivated  ·  4270 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'm exaggerating a little. I do think that civil liberties need to be absolute, because we have no other practical means to restrain law enforcement, and the law is cruel.

user-inactivated  ·  4270 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Oh, okay. I look at it from the opposite point of view: law needs to be absolute, because we have no other practical means to restrain human nature, and humanity is cruel.

user-inactivated  ·  4270 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Humans make the laws, and enforce them.

user-inactivated  ·  4270 days ago  ·  link  ·  

To be sure. But the democratic majority does to some extent normalize the human nature.

It's an impossible argument, I think. Shades of grey with no factual evidence on either side.

ooli  ·  4271 days ago  ·  link  ·  

What you would sacrifice for your goal: I pay happily taxes so the police Department and justice court would be funded. I dont want any privacy about how much I make. I dont try to hide any tiny amount from the IRS. Money is not a too big sacrifice to do for some greater justice.

But dont try to know what I do with my money. Or where, and when I go. I dont care how much criminal you will catch with your cams , I dont want any on my porch.

I bet you just have your priority the other way around. Cause instead of a cam you could hire some policemen to do a better job at actually... You know , preventing crime and investigating it, instead of just filming it.

But it's cheaper to put a cam and call it a day.. And you dont like wasting your taxes. I like my natural right for privacy better.

user-inactivated  ·  4271 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I'm not sure you understood the point of my analogy.