2007-10-25

Paranoid about RFID?

One of today's topics on the Edmonton network of Facebook is about the "Mark of the Beast" and how Big Brother is going to Microchip all the people in the world. The chip will be placed in the right hand or on the forehead, hence the moniker "Mark of the Beast".

The topic originator is convinced that this will happen in the near future - "just Google it, you'll see!" He is also convinced that we will have no choice in the matter.

So, I did. The one that sounded like it might be a real article can be found here, and it was on the third page of Google. The rest were paranoid, tabloid type hysteria. "This will be published in the AP next week" The original date of that comment was Sep 9th! I haven't heard or read anything in legitimate press about it, nor was there anything in Google.

I Googled RFID (radio frequency identification) as well and there I found several articles that were not from the paranoid. It seems that yes, people are being tagged in certain instances, but with their knowledge and consent. Passports are using RFID, as are books, grocers, pet owners and pretty much any company that has a large inventory they need to keep track of for example the US Defense Department. In fact RFID has been around since WWII when they used it to keep track of planes.

One of the potential uses it can be put to in humans, is to keep medical history. If a patient arrives in the ER unconscious, they can be scanned to find out if they are allergic to medications before having them administered and possibly killing them. Another is to keep track of children, especially those that would be at high risk of kidnapping. Keeping track of parolees and sex offenders, pedophiles and the like. That is where the line starts to blur and where the paranoids get their fuel from. Once a child has become an adult, does the chip die? Does it have to be surgically removed? Will governments remove them? Again, more fuel for the paranoids. I can just hear the paranoids saying "Oh, but my medical chip can be altered to provide them with everything I do, everywhere I go, what I think". With the population as large as it is and the number of other things out there that are tagged, tracking individuals to see what they are up to (are you really so important?) based on a tag that was not intended for that purpose, it just isn't likely to happen.

I can see potential for abuse and yes, it infringes upon my rights - if it becomes a requirement. I am not going to get all up in arms about the government trying to tag me without my knowing it though. Just like I am not going to worry that they can track where I am by the gps locator in my cell phone (well, if I ever get a new cell phone that is).

14 comments:

Leah J. Utas said...

Believe what you want, cousin. I'm adding an extra layer to my tinfoil beanie tonight!
Seriously, the potential for abuse is astounding, but so is the potential for good.
That said, I have no desire to be chipped.

the Bag Lady said...

dfLeah, you crack me up! I don't wear my beanie at night - I layered the tinfoil on the bedroom ceiling so it wouldn't screw up my hairdo!
There is no F***ing way they are putting a chip in this chick. That said, I allowed them to put one in my dog.
Oh, and it's snowing here. Environment Canada was interviewed on the radio yesterday and promised "no snow in the next 5 days" You just can't trust anyone anymore, so watch out for those government agents sneaking around, putting chips in unsuspecting victims when they are asleep...

Leah J. Utas said...

dfBag Lady - Good idea about the ceiling, but aren't you worried the government will get suspicious about you buying all that tinfoil?
Fly under the radar, I say.

Reb said...

You two crack me up! No, I have no intention of being chipped either.

Leah, the bulk tinfoil is not a problem anymore, you just get it at Costco or somewhere - space it out a couple of weeks though.

the Bag Lady said...

Yup, Costco is the best for tinfoil. Those big, big boxes hold enough to cover the whole ceiling, and an extra layer over the bed...

Hilary said...

Chips? Baked Lay's for me please.. bbq flavoured.

My favourite tin foil hat link...

http://eclectech.co.uk/mindcontrol.php

you're welcome. ;)

Virginia Lee said...

Ha! I had a $0.75 coupon for genuine Reynolds Wrap that I got today. AND it's heavy duty! It's even the big kind. I can make me a whole outfit...yeah, that's what I'll do.

Meanwhile, anyone heard from Mulder or Scully?

*blink*

:D

If I had a dawg I'd tag him. I don't think I need to tag any cats I'll have because I won't let them outdoors. Dawgs gotta go tho.

Reb said...

Hilary, I haven't tried the baked Lays, are they any good? I looked at the Lays stacks, but they just had too much stuff that wasn't pronouceable (?sp?).
Love the video!

Virginia Lee we have to tag & license our cats here even if they don't go outside - I let mine out on leash.
Good timing on that coupon, although you may want to be careful, that might be so they know who is protecting themselves.

Hilary said...

Reb, I like the baked chips, though a lot of people seem to feel otherwise.

I'm not a fan of regular chips for the most part. I don't like greasy food and I swear I can smell the oil when someone opens a package. I don't get that from the baked Lay's though.

So, to me they're good.. especially the barbequed ones... dipped in tzatziki sauce.. or ketchup. That's not supposed to sound appealing at 10 am, but darn.. it does.

Reb said...

Well, I'll have to give them a try.
Thanks

Crabby McSlacker said...

I totally love that the comments have turned from an exploration of privacy & technology into a discussion about potato chips.

My kinda blog!

(And I like Terra Chips and Trader Joe's blue potato chips--I like at least the illusion that there are some healthy antioxidants hiding in the crunchy salty goodness).

Reb said...

Thanks Crabby, that is how most of my life goes - start one place, wind up somewhere else entirely.

Blue potato chips? We probably don't get them here, but, I'll have to look around.

Terrie Farley Moran said...

Hi All,

I have to go with Crabby on this one--any conversation that starts with Big Brother chips and ends up with Blue chips (corn or potato) is absolutely my kind of conversation!

I'd rather be chipper than chipped. (Not exactly a pun--but I'm not as talented as Hilary)

Terrie

Reb said...

Wouldn't we all Terrie! It was pretty good though.
Thanks for stopping by.