As the Orwellian dystopian model becomes a technological reality in various forms, people are starting to have some very real and obvious concerns, as well they should. Yet, they have already been Monitoring us for quite some time, and when I gave it thought, realised we have had years of social credit systems, scoring and levels of what they deem ‘acceptable’ to be able to take part in society. Already discussed in Ninety Eighty-Four Ever. Being locked out of opportunity for bank accounts, housing, loans and mortgages, and other things you needed to ‘qualify’ for. But before the technological insertion into society, you could still work around that, get a job, work cash in hand, pay your way. Now that is what is being felt, but was decades in the making, where they start to shut out those last few ways of making your way without having to be approved, then ask for further approval if you want to do anything normal like work, get married, have kids and so on. At all stages of that there is a government hydra trying to insert themselves into that, to be in control of it, to dictate and steer it where they would like it to go. Funnelling you and what you do into the system.

It’s what we have come to know as free speech that is currently taking a hit, and the online safety act that appears to be for one thing, but is actually for another. The reasoning of it being to ‘protect the children’ usually means either the opposite, and is in fact a gateway to them, or it’s just a complete ruse, using an emotional tool like children to sway adult mentality. The idea of free speech is what’s being discussed at the moment, and where the line should be drawn with what people are ‘allowed’ to say online. Being able to be free to say what you want does not mean you automatically get to be free of any consequences of what happens thereafter. So, it’s the consequences that are also being talked about, as some people have found themselves at her majesty’s pleasure for simply writing some words, in the heat of the moment, with a regretful attitude being implied by later deleting said words of fury. And really, it strikes me as odd that people might fight for the right to be offensive, of hateful, or whatever it is that they want people to think, online. In the virtual world where you think you have an audience, clearly it means much to some people, yet, I wonder, would they walked down their local street at the same time of day, and started shouting the same words so everyone could hear them? An outburst, that if witnessed in real life would have got people talking, but not in a supportive kind of way. More like being audience to a spectacle making a scene, quite deliberately, in public. And would then be talked about thereafter because of it.

We have been censored in some way for such a long time, that it never seemed quite right that the internet didn’t seem to be, because the physical world is. Media editors get to decide the programming, newspapers editors decide the content, the spelling and language, books editors deciding what is acceptable to print. Teachers telling you what you can and can’t say, parents telling you, the world teaching you as you grow up how to present yourself and so on. But online, that has all been thrown out the window, instead wanting you to reveal the things that back in the day you might dare to secretly write in your diary, being mortified if it were found and read. Wanting a little privacy to say what you wanted without fear of repercussion or reprisal. Because we knew, even then, words, thoughts and actions do indeed have consequences. If writing things down and saying things wasn’t an issue, then no one could ever be done for grooming, or brainwashing someone, or for planning a terrible crime. Because they were only words, right? Words and Meaning are important, but one should not overlook intention when looking at the words that are being put into the spotlight for media purpose. How they were presented, when, why and for what effect, and anything being used as an ‘example’ for a specific rule or change of law, should definitely be treated with a healthy dose of scepticism. Some people can be very Crafty with words, and in being able to ‘capture your attention’ with what they want you to see and know. So, it’s necessary to be able to filter and choose what you absorb and engage in, and most importantly, know who and what it is you are giving your time, thoughts and energy to…

(c) MKW Publishing

A reading of my article – The World Got Smaller