What a surprise. With news that the Thai ministers have passed the regulation that give greater power to the government to monitor what Thai citizens can and cannot see, with harsh punishments for publishing contents the government deem inappropriate, the Thai government show that it does not respect or value freedom of speech. Meanwhile, the USA that has previously tapped the citizens' phone and obtaining email content without warrant has reversed its course. Perhaps the new Thai constitution should have an untouchable amendments like the US constitution. One of them being the rights of expression.
Feds can't secretly seize email without a warrant
Showing posts with label insight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insight. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Google and 1984: privacy issues
I suppose my recent blogs have been mostly comparisons between events that happen and literature. So I might as well continue to follow the trend.
With the latest unfolding of the Google Maps Street View, is it possible that we are seeing the trending toward Big Brother from 1984? Or are people being too anxious? Are we losing our privacies?
According to a dictionary definition, privacy means
How far should the issue of privacy be taken? And how much should we be concerned?
Taken to the extreme, almost anything can be viewed as privacy violation. For example, taking a photo with people you do not know in the photo. In this case, people would view it as being too extreme, and do not view it as a privacy violation. The question that follow then is this: how much is acceptable? The example is acceptable, but when the photo is shared publicly, is it still acceptable? Is it more acceptable for the photos to appear in Flickr or yahoo! photo, than Google Maps even if they are the exact same pictures?
What does it mean to have your privacy violated?
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/12600/1103/
With the latest unfolding of the Google Maps Street View, is it possible that we are seeing the trending toward Big Brother from 1984? Or are people being too anxious? Are we losing our privacies?
According to a dictionary definition, privacy means
the state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people.Based on this definition, Big Brother is a loss of privacy. But how about Google Maps and other google tools, such as personalized search / news? Considering that google has been storing user information and search tracks, are we at a loss of privacy here? According to the dictionary definition, google search is a violation of privacy. Google Maps, on the other hand, is not a violation of privacy as long as the people do not appear on there or if they are blurred, as suggested by the article below.
How far should the issue of privacy be taken? And how much should we be concerned?
Taken to the extreme, almost anything can be viewed as privacy violation. For example, taking a photo with people you do not know in the photo. In this case, people would view it as being too extreme, and do not view it as a privacy violation. The question that follow then is this: how much is acceptable? The example is acceptable, but when the photo is shared publicly, is it still acceptable? Is it more acceptable for the photos to appear in Flickr or yahoo! photo, than Google Maps even if they are the exact same pictures?
What does it mean to have your privacy violated?
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/12600/1103/
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Aesop's Fables and Thailand
The Frogs Asking for a King
THE FROGS, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent ambassadors to Jupiter entreating for a King. Perceiving their simplicity, he cast down a huge log into the lake. The Frogs were terrified at the splash occasioned by its fall and hid themselves in the depths of the pool. But as soon as they realized that the huge log was motionless, they swam again to the top of the water, dismissed their fears, climbed up, and began squatting on it in contempt. After some time they began to think themselves ill-treated in the appointment of so inert a Ruler, and sent a second deputation to Jupiter to pray that he would set over them another sovereign. He then gave them an Eel to govern them. When the Frogs discovered his easy good nature, they sent yet a third time to Jupiter to beg him to choose for them still another King. Jupiter, displeased with all their complaints, sent a Heron, who preyed upon the Frogs day by day till there were none left to croak upon the lake.
Interesting indeed.
Day 2: Propanda and shit
The progress has been interesting. It would be very interesting in the direction that we are heading.
Day 2: 1 June 2007
The problem is this... The result of the poll, at least for Hutch mobile phone users, are distributed by Contact Hutch via SMS, despite the fact that the users did not subscribe to any SMS news service or any kind of notification service. I'm not sure how it is for the users of other mobile companies, but considering that Hutch is owned by CAT, it seems like the government / junta want as any people to know of this particular poll result. Amazing.
It seems like I am staring right into the middle of the government propaganda. Amazing.
Even more amazing is the fact that we don't know whether what we believe is what really believe or what we have been conditioned to believe by the news around us.
The one thing that is most troubling is this: "When the trees fall in the woods, and nobody is there to hear it, then does that tree really fell?"
How much of the world we know is the real truth and how much is the perceived truth?
Scary.
Day 2: 1 June 2007
- Reported 2-3000 people have been protesting against the junta. Some are Taksin supporters. Others are just against the military period. Although the protesters have been asked to move location by the polic and the military, it had been rather peaceful.
- According to ABAC poll, 91.7% of Bangkokians support the court ruling, and 98% of Bangkokians want things to progress in peace.
The problem is this... The result of the poll, at least for Hutch mobile phone users, are distributed by Contact Hutch via SMS, despite the fact that the users did not subscribe to any SMS news service or any kind of notification service. I'm not sure how it is for the users of other mobile companies, but considering that Hutch is owned by CAT, it seems like the government / junta want as any people to know of this particular poll result. Amazing.
It seems like I am staring right into the middle of the government propaganda. Amazing.
Even more amazing is the fact that we don't know whether what we believe is what really believe or what we have been conditioned to believe by the news around us.
The one thing that is most troubling is this: "When the trees fall in the woods, and nobody is there to hear it, then does that tree really fell?"
How much of the world we know is the real truth and how much is the perceived truth?
Scary.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Historic day
I suppose today, May 30th 2007, may remain one of the historic days in Thai history. Today may possibly serve as the turning point of the Thailand with the result of the court ruling regarding the dissolvation of two major polical parties: Thai Rak Thai and Democratic party.
The consequences of such decision are imminent, and perhaps will change the face of Thailand drastically. If the court suggests the dissolvation of Thai Rak Thai, or both parties, what we are about to see is possibly the end of democracy as we know it. Thailand has a very brief history of democracy, and not even a full democracy, but it is still one. Without the two major parties, we will be seeing collection of smaller parties that are not respected or accepted by the majority of Thai people. Such power vacuum would only give rise more military involvement than before. It remains true that we are about to have a new constitution, but remember, this particular consitution is supported by the MILITARY who OVERTHREW the DEMOCRACTICALLY-ELECTED government. Anything that gives room for the military to intervene, even in times of peril, would only lead to long term loss of democracy and rise of dictatorship. What is peril? Were we really in a state of peril when the September 19th coup was staged? To some, yes. To many, no. The peril, or the so-called peril, at that time was considered "peril" because there are people who do not respect the voice of the majority. Of course, it is the minority who had always changed and shaped this world. It is true that the majority is not always correct. But in the course of democracy, if we choose to have democracy at all, this is a rule we must play by.
We either choose to respect the opinion of the majority or not at all. We cannot choose the time and place to respect or not to respect it.
Make your choice. Democracy or none.
The consequences of such decision are imminent, and perhaps will change the face of Thailand drastically. If the court suggests the dissolvation of Thai Rak Thai, or both parties, what we are about to see is possibly the end of democracy as we know it. Thailand has a very brief history of democracy, and not even a full democracy, but it is still one. Without the two major parties, we will be seeing collection of smaller parties that are not respected or accepted by the majority of Thai people. Such power vacuum would only give rise more military involvement than before. It remains true that we are about to have a new constitution, but remember, this particular consitution is supported by the MILITARY who OVERTHREW the DEMOCRACTICALLY-ELECTED government. Anything that gives room for the military to intervene, even in times of peril, would only lead to long term loss of democracy and rise of dictatorship. What is peril? Were we really in a state of peril when the September 19th coup was staged? To some, yes. To many, no. The peril, or the so-called peril, at that time was considered "peril" because there are people who do not respect the voice of the majority. Of course, it is the minority who had always changed and shaped this world. It is true that the majority is not always correct. But in the course of democracy, if we choose to have democracy at all, this is a rule we must play by.
We either choose to respect the opinion of the majority or not at all. We cannot choose the time and place to respect or not to respect it.
Make your choice. Democracy or none.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Fear
What is one's greatest fear?
Although we all think we fear death, but for most us, fear of death is most likely beyond us. Of course deep inside we may fear it, but because we are never close enough to it, it had never really mattered all that much.
But death is generous. Maybe a little too generous lately.
During New Year Eve of 2007, Thailand found itself stuck in a power struggle. Who knows who the opposition is. Nevertheless, that is not the point of this particular post. On that particular day, eight bombs were placed in Bangkok. Not only was this unforeseen, but an act of this multitude had never been on displayed in Bangkok. Of course there were shootings on the street, coup de tat, and bomb threat, but never before had a bomb been set without prior warnings. Well, I guess that's at least what I can remember, which is probably within the past 20 years.
For the first time in a very long time, living in Bangkok is like living in southern Thailand. There are people who fear death and fear going out to public places. There are also people who just go out anyway. Maybe they aren't afraid. Maybe they are, but simply concluded that had they were destined to die, they would have die anyway; they don't need to get stuck in a bomb explosion to die, they can die from a toothpick getting stuck in their throat if they were destined to die.
How does it feel to fear death? For me, the new year episode and my road trip have provided me an interesting insight into this particular fear. It was rather interesting actually. You are facing a real fear and that one particular misstep can result in you getting in deep trouble. It opens up a new dimension to your perception and senses.
Still, it is not funny to know that going out can mean getting into trouble physically. What would one choose? Live a careful, sedentary life in fear of death? Will you live a "carpe diem" style where "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today" is the motto? Or rather a middle ground somewhere in between? Or is there no easy middle ground in circumstances such as what we are seeing that is about to unfold in the near future?
Although we all think we fear death, but for most us, fear of death is most likely beyond us. Of course deep inside we may fear it, but because we are never close enough to it, it had never really mattered all that much.
But death is generous. Maybe a little too generous lately.
During New Year Eve of 2007, Thailand found itself stuck in a power struggle. Who knows who the opposition is. Nevertheless, that is not the point of this particular post. On that particular day, eight bombs were placed in Bangkok. Not only was this unforeseen, but an act of this multitude had never been on displayed in Bangkok. Of course there were shootings on the street, coup de tat, and bomb threat, but never before had a bomb been set without prior warnings. Well, I guess that's at least what I can remember, which is probably within the past 20 years.
For the first time in a very long time, living in Bangkok is like living in southern Thailand. There are people who fear death and fear going out to public places. There are also people who just go out anyway. Maybe they aren't afraid. Maybe they are, but simply concluded that had they were destined to die, they would have die anyway; they don't need to get stuck in a bomb explosion to die, they can die from a toothpick getting stuck in their throat if they were destined to die.
How does it feel to fear death? For me, the new year episode and my road trip have provided me an interesting insight into this particular fear. It was rather interesting actually. You are facing a real fear and that one particular misstep can result in you getting in deep trouble. It opens up a new dimension to your perception and senses.
Still, it is not funny to know that going out can mean getting into trouble physically. What would one choose? Live a careful, sedentary life in fear of death? Will you live a "carpe diem" style where "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today" is the motto? Or rather a middle ground somewhere in between? Or is there no easy middle ground in circumstances such as what we are seeing that is about to unfold in the near future?
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