The dictionary defines tracking as:
verb (used with object)
1. to follow or pursue the track, traces, or footprints of. 2.to follow (a track, course, etc.). 3. to make one's way through; traverse. 4. to leave footprints on (often followed by up or on ): to track the floor with muddy shoes.
5. to make a trail of footprints with (dirt, snow, or the like): The dog tracked mud all over the living room rug.
A close cousin of the word is stalking, defined as:
verb (used with object)
1. to pursue (game, a person, etc.) stealthily. 2. to proceed through (an area) in search of prey or quarry: to stalk the woods for game. 3. to proceed or spread through in a steady or sinister manner: i.e. Disease stalked the land.
It is one of those subjects that seem "out there" and not really something that affects our day to day life. But, does it?
- Banks track our money - to some degree with checks and instantly and with more detail with a debit card.
- Computers track all online correspondence.
- Phones track all you calls and can track your body.
- Cars also have a tracking device. Onstar makes this available as one of their anti theft features.
- Google earth gets satellite photos of your home so close one can see in the living room window and the licence plates on cars. This is one of the creepiest ones of all and I can feel my skin crawl.
- Traffic lights have camera that track who travels through and can be used for tickets.
- T.V.s have receivers as well as transmitters
- Check processing services give quick reports while you wait at the register about your checking history.
- Facebook and other social networks help one track who, what, where, and what one does every single day, Medical records tell all about our bodies.
- Dental Records can identify our bodies if something were to happen.
- Fingerprints are on file not only for criminals but for most public employees.
- Security questions can name your first pet, favorite color, fathers middle name.
- ID is required for almost everything and usually two pieces one being a credit card to show you have an established banking relationship.
- Banks track all cash transactions over 2,000
- Home monitoring devices are used as an alternative to jail time. Wonder what the next step of this will be? Maybe the elderly with Alzheimer's. Hmmm....
- Credit reporting agencies maintain records of all business supplied input. Try getting something taken off you feel is wrong or unfair and see how far you get.
- Almost everyone asks your birthday and expects that you will give it. We have been so conditioned to do so that we hardly flinch.
- Stores with membership (like Costco) can track your purchases down to what kind of personal products you use.
There is a direct link between privacy and freedom. People have forgotten.
Many believe that ultimately it will all lead to the mark of the beast where one will not even be able to buy and sell without receiving some sort of mark. Even if one doesn't believe in prophesy one cannot deny the change our personal privacy over the last 30 years and if you don't believe in Bible prophesy who, what, how, or why would you explain it? Ultimate dictatorship? Even at the the beginning of the last century folks were skeptical and opposed to even being issued a social security number viewing it as a suspicious infringement to their personal freedom. What would they think now as technology has moved forward by leaps and bounds?
Some may call it paranoid. No, that's just silly.
No one should ever want to know that much about me AND and I don't trust anyone who would. One cannot look at all that is happening and be so willfully ignorant that they choose to be blind. The most common response is that "well if I'm not doing anything wrong why should it matter?" Ask any person who has been tracked or stalked and they will easily tell you why it matters.
1 comment:
That's just creepy.
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