Recently, we discussed how voluntarily being a blogger is different from being monitored by Big Brother. The gist is that in the book, 1984, Big Brother monitored everybody to get them to conform. Despite being monitorable, being an open blogger is different because your public presence is actually a protection from Big Brother; people would notice if you disappear. In addition, blogging requires you to do interesting things with your life to attract an audience, which is far from conformity.
That whole post came around because of the rising popularity of Twitter. Some people see it as a way for Big Brother to keep an eye on you. It’s a way for the world to keep an eye on you. Well, let’s take the concept a step further. Go visit Justin.tv to see what one guy, Justin, is doing. He has a web cam on him 24/7. You can watch Justin sleep, go out with friends, eating (he’s having a burrito with friends now), go to the toilet, and everything else. Talk about not being able to hide.
What Justin is doing is a bit too public for my own personal comfort, I might do it for a day, but not for life as he aims. Despite my own hangup, I think that what Justin Kan is doing is marvelous. Having witnesses to everything you do requires you to do things above board all the time. In addition, it forces others who deal with you to do the same. Sure, the government can keep tabs on him, but Justin has viewers who would support him if anything unfair were to happen. If anything, we should turn the tables and put cams on our Government.
Related Posts
Exhibitionism or Making It Easier for Big Brother?
Twittervision is Addicting
Twitter
Twitter in Politics
