Big Brother is shouting at you

**Major Tom** · 18th-September-2006

Big Brother is shouting at you

Big Brother is not only watching you - now he's barking orders too. Britain's first 'talking' CCTV cameras have arrived, publicly berating bad behaviour and shaming offenders into acting more responsibly.
The system allows control room operators who spot any anti-social acts - from dropping litter to late-night brawls - to send out a verbal warning: 'We are watching you'.
Middlesbrough has fitted loudspeakers on seven of its 158 cameras in an experiment already being hailed as a success. Jack Bonner, who manages the system, said: 'It is one hell of a deterrent. It's one thing to know that there are CCTV cameras about, but it's quite another when they loudly point out what you have just done wrong.
'Most people are so ashamed and embarrassed at being caught they quickly slink off without further trouble.
'There was one incident when two men started fighting outside a nightclub. One of the control room operators warned them over the loudspeakers and they looked up, startled, stopped fighting and scarpered in opposite directions.
'This isn't about keeping tabs on people, it's about making the streets safer for the law-abiding majority and helping to change the attitudes of those who cause trouble. It challenges unacceptable behaviour and makes people think twice.'
The Mail on Sunday watched as a cyclist riding through a pedestrian area was ordered to stop.
'Would the young man on the bike please get off and walk as he is riding in a pedestrian area,' came the command.
The surprised youth stopped, and looked about. A look of horror spread across his face as he realised the voice was referring to him.
He dismounted and wheeled his bike through the crowded streets, as instructed.
Law-abiding shopper Karen Margery, 40, was shocked to hear the speakers spring into action as she walked past them.
Afterwards she said: 'It's quite scary to realise that your every move could be monitored - it really is like Big Brother.
'But Middlesbrough does have a big problem with anti-social behaviour, so it is very reassuring.'
The scheme has been introduced by Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon, a former police superintendent who was dubbed Robocop for pioneering the zero-tolerance approach to crime.
He believes the talking cameras will dramatically cut not just anti-social behaviour, but violent crime, too.
And if the city centre scheme proves a success, it will be extended into residential areas.
The control room operators have been given strict guidelines about what commands they can give. Yelling 'Oi you, stop that', is not permitted.
Instead, their instructions make the following suggestions: 'Warning - you are being monitored by CCTV - Warning - you are in an alcohol-free zone, please refrain from drinking'; and Warning - your behaviour is being monitored by CCTV. It is being recorded and the police are attending.'
Mr Bonner said: 'We always make the requests polite, and if the offender obeys, the operator adds 'thank you'. We think that's a nice finishing touch.
'It would appear that the offenders are the only ones who find the audio cameras intrusive. The vast majority of people welcome these cameras.
'Put it this way, we never have requests to remove them.'
But civil rights campaigners have argued that the talking cameras are no 'magic bullet', in the fight against crime.
Liberty spokesman Doug Jewell said: 'None of us likes litterbugs or yobs playing up on a Saturday night, but talking CCTV cameras are no substitute for police officers on the beat.'

Does anyone else find this as disturbing as I do?
I don't like this idea of having cameras everywhere, especially talking ones.

'And if the city centre scheme proves a success, it will be extended into residential areas.'
I don't agree with having these things as it is, but I really dislike the idea of having them in residential areas. Surely the city centre would have far more crime there anyway, so why extend them to other areas?

And look at this moron:
'It's quite scary to realise that your every move could be monitored - it really is like Big Brother. But Middlesbrough does have a big problem with anti-social behaviour, so it is very reassuring.'
So it's scary but reassuring? Hmm...

'It would appear that the offenders are the only ones who find the audio cameras intrusive. The vast majority of people welcome these cameras.'
I wouldn't particularly want a camera monitoring my every move outside my own home. Given that this government is happy to intervene all the time into people's personal lives, I really do not trust this idea.

**Marx** · 18th-September-2006

Where's this from, MT?

In one of the small shopping areas of my hometown, they've had this for a while - at least a year (though i'm sure more) - the example of the bicyclist reminded me of an identical situation I saw.
I don't see any major difference between these cameras and any others aside from the fact that they yell, which if they stopped someone knifing another kid or what-ever, then not a bad thing.

**Dr David Banner** · 18th-September-2006

MT I agree I think we know who will be getting the most instructions from these. It is because of so much crime and social breakdown (caused by feminism by a large degree) and of course in any moral chaos a tyrant soon comes on the scene to "sort things out" and democracy is gone...
So it would be interesting to see how much good they really do.

The state is too damn bossy every where you go these days.
We understand we all need defense from extremists but what quality of life will be the price...?I think the western governments and esp Europe will become more and more dictitorial.
I expect more shabby treatment for ordinary men all round but if it pushes men too far it will all collapse like a house of cards.
I mean the whole of Europe USA etc..

**Major Tom** · 18th-September-2006

Quote from karl

Where's this from, MT?

In one of the small shopping areas of my hometown, they've had this for a while - at least a year (though i'm sure more) - the example of the bicyclist reminded me of an identical situation I saw.
I don't see any major difference between these cameras and any others aside from the fact that they yell, which if they stopped someone knifing another kid or what-ever, then not a bad thing.

From the Daily Mail website.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

**Marx** · 18th-September-2006

lol, sounds about right for my hometown too.

I don't think this would work in Atlanta. Nobody cares. They would steal the cameras.

- David, Atlanta, USA

Thanks for the link, btw.

**Yan Yan** · 18th-September-2006

Sometimes (nay, often) I feel fortunate to live in my dysfunctional little country where the law is mostly ignored and the only way to survive is by 'getting along'.

Surveillance cameras to protect property are rare but do exist. We're not in the Stone Age doncharnow. Cameras put up in public areas would be stolen overnight. When there are guys who think nothing of scaling an eighty foot coconut tree to get the pennyworth of ingredients for their nightly tipple, what price a silly little pole with a valuable camera on top?

**Dr David Banner** · 18th-September-2006

Give something to watch :approach with PLACARD:

FIND OUT HOW TO CUT CRIME
www.antimisandry.com

**Marx** · 18th-September-2006

Ha! Excellent, Brad!!
:dance:

**Celtic Druid** · 19th-September-2006

It's yet another infringement on our freedoms, marketed under the guise of ensuring a reduction in crime. Here in the UK we have more surveillance cameras than any other country. Now we have loudspeakers working in unison with these probing cameras. What next directional microphones? if that isn't already a reality without our knowledge.

We recently had another story, whereby a local council had installed over thirty thousand computer chips in 'wheely bins,' without any public consultation. Their existence was only revealed by an inquisitive member of the public. I suspect this "new toy" will mostly enable the operators ability to play god, bellowing commands from above, much to his or her amusement - rather than actually providing a cost effective means of combating crime.

With any socialist ideological driven goverment, the key is to restrict the power of the individual - and the main tool is the ability to monitor those that are deemed a threat. A social infrastructure is manufactured to enable this, today we have many intrusive technological monitoring devices, being implemented in a trojan horse fashion. When such clandestine actions are discovered, we mostly gullible minions are told "it's for the greater good" (sound a familiar tactic?).

The key for the 'powers that be,' is too familiarize the public with these invasive devices and practices. So that eventually the public becomes so associated with their presence they just blend into their acceptance as to "how things are."Then, the next generation will grow up and assimilate their george-orwellian nightmarish enviroment, without knowing or understanding anything else.

**Yan Yan** · 19th-September-2006

With any socialist ideological driven goverment, the key is to restrict the power of the individual - and the main tool is the ability to monitor those that are deemed a threat. A social infrastructure is manufactured to enable this, today we have many intrusive technological monitoring devices, being implemented in a trojan horse fashion. When such clandestine actions are discovered, we mostly gullible minions are told "it's for the greater good" (sound a familiar tactic?).

Well put CD. It just begs the question of why free men put up with it.
Yes I know it's an absurd question. It's like asking why 'The Land of the Free' imprisons more of its own citizens than any other country? (And they want the rest of the world to follow suit).

I suppose it goes something like this:
Eminent economists and bankers have proved beyond doubt that the countries with the best 'law & order' are the wealthiest and vice versa. It's hard to disagree.

So extrapolate that ad absurdiam and you have a situation where only those who make money for the State and love it like a mother are allowed to remain 'free'.

Feminism fits very nicely into this scenario. Coincidence?

While we spend our time deriding the simplistic feminist rhetoric, we tend to forget that some very smart people are running this show.

Thanks for your insight CD. I agree. Gotta post quick.