UK takes security theater nonsense to a new level (again)

[Deviant Ollam]

So, how many of you have seen this...

no, that's not a fake or a spoof. (one person commented on the flickr page where it was mentioned that they initially thought this was the work of Banksy, but it is in fact real.)

yes, the nation that brought you ubiquitous surveillance and is racing faster than anyone else towards an orwellian dystopia now is doing even more than New York or D.C. to criminalize public photography.

as one person commented, that pretty much makes this flickr group fucked, eh?

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: UK takes security theater nonsense to a new level (again)

*is somehow reminded of England and their mass surveillance system*

Granted, I have been asked not to take pictures in public places, even it was just of my friends shopping, etc.

Darn those flickr people.

[Grifter]

Re: UK takes security theater nonsense to a new level (again)

If I was in that Flickr group it would only make me only want to go out and get more pictures. But I'm a dick like that.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: UK takes security theater nonsense to a new level (again)

If I was in that Flickr group it would only make me only want to go out and get more pictures. But I'm a dick like that.

i'm right there with you. the thing is, it's not really being dick-ish in my opinion to have that gut reaction. the best and most immediate way to help curtail nonsense rules and regs is to make an absolute joke of them as soon as possible.

i like to often make the argument "imagine if alcohol prohibition were re-instated tomorrow."

or, perhaps even better, substitute the concept of coffee prohibition. let's say some politicians get on a high horse and say, "caffeine is bad for you and we're not going to let you hurt yourselves with it anymore." i'm of the opinion that it would not only be a good thing, but i would say it's in fact your duty in a free state to go out and start forming coffee and tea speakeasies all over town. run illicit lattes in your car across state lines. make sure that every single individual among your circle of friends who wants caffeine can still get it.

the result is that people will immediately start realizing that everyone in their communities (from the shifty hooligan to the beloved grandmother to the trusted preacher) is disrespecting the law. everybody's sin is nobody's sin... and everyone's crime is no crime at all.

if regular, non-criminal john and jane public go out and start taking photos of all the cameras they can find (and in the process get hassled by the law, take up resources, and make a general mess of the courts, etc) then the whole matter becomes a waste of time, the police and government become a laughing stock, and things get set right a whole lot faster.

see, this is also why i'm fine with all the morons who run out and readily buy the latest flavor of windows the moment it hits the shelves. (unless they're my clients in which case i beat them with cluebats until they stop asking me to install vista.) the more people who grab a beta microsoft O/S, the more people will realize the company doesn't have its act together, etc etc etc.

just my $0.02.

[noid]

Re: UK takes security theater nonsense to a new level (again)

You all should check this out

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/03/05...he-london.html

[velderia]

Re: UK takes security theater nonsense to a new level (again)

It's a bit slightly off topic but... Eww. They should've hired a better graphic designer.