The latest trend on the internet is social networking sites. Sites like MySpace.com and Facebook.com have become all the latest rage. Many people both old and young have become members and participate in the networking. The development of community, even in the electronic arena is generally good. These sites have also become places where businesses make huge launches hoping to reach a ready market. Some companies have found that when they launch on Facebook, they need new servers to accommodate the traffic which is generated.
The Nashville agrarians were leery of progressivism and new technology. They were sceptical about new advances. Their caution may be valid for such sites. A large portion of the venture capitol funds used to start Facebook came from Accel Partners and a company called In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel is funded by the CIA to put up venture capitol funds in companies with new technologies. With sites like Facebook and MySpace, people share information that they would otherwise not share. Why should the government spend the money to spy, when they can invest the money in a company that will collect the information for them. These sites have allowed the Empire to legally go around any restraining laws keeping them from spying on their citizens.
These sites have become areas for employers, Empire snoops and other unsavory types spy with impunity. These sites have been used for recruiting by the CIA itself. Many employers use the sites to investigate new applicants. The sites allow them access to information that they would not be able to ask in an interview.
MySpace is owned by Mainstream media magnate Rupert Murdoch. Participation on that site does feed straight into the mainstream media. Such sites have great networking potential, but also great danger from many areas. Because it is a computer site, people openly share political affiliation, political commentary, family information and so forth. If you are a Southron who values your privacy, you may want to approach such sites with caution concerning what you share, since whatever is posted there is accessible by anyone, including the Empire, its spooks and those seeking to find out any dirt on you. Besides the Feds, law enforcement has also used Facebook in profiling and catching criminals.
It behooves us to heed the caution of the Nashville agrarians in using new technologies without asking questions and knowing what we are getting ourselves into.
For Southern Independence!
J Murrah
CIA, Culture, Facebook, In Q Tel, MySpace, Nashville Agrarians, Rupert Murdoch, Southron, Web/Tech
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Sound advise in a well written post. I have been slow to even look at sites such as MySpace but recently I have gone to the trouble. There are a lot of folks with very radical ideas out there posting with a very visible footprint. A leader in an independence group in SC essentially lost his job over his internet footprint. It is a good thing to be brave and speaking out is required but there is no point in making it easy for those that disagree to do us harm. We must be active and engaged but smart at the same time.
El Cid,
Many Southrons have lost experienced persecution for their views. Look at the flack Donald Livingston and Tom DiLorenzo have experienced for their association with the League. Being vocal about Southron issues does leave one with a target painted on them. There are many people who share Southron views, but are in danger of loosing jobs, marriages, positions and being subject to ridicule if they expressed them. We need to be “wise as serpents and gentle as doves” when dealing with some aspects of society and employing technology.