Public events often have unintended (and unexpected) consequences. I have been amazed at the extent to which the UVU shooter was on-camera everywhere he went. It’s clear he had no idea how pervasive it is.
To be sure, it takes something as earth-shaking as this assassination to bring the many independently done videos all together. Still, what I take away from this event is that in an era of doorbell, dashboard, traffic and other security cameras, plus people shooting video with their phones, many of us are on-camera more often than not whenever we leave our homes, and sometimes not even then.
The lesson in all this, live your life as you want others to notice it. Doing shabby things you’d be embarrassed to have on-view, in the believe no one can see, is increasingly a false hope. Imagine video of you picking your nose or scratching your crotch on national TV?
What is odd is that the surveillance was installed without any public debate on whether it should be encouraged, or even permitted. “The night has a thousand eyes” isn’t just a song anymore, and it is worse in daylight.
I’m reminded of a TV catch phrase from my youth. “Smile, you’re on candid camera!” I fear that’s most of us today, especially in urban and suburban areas. Another reason, if one is needed, to live in a rural setting.
George Orwell was a prophet.
