I found the book, and now the movie (that just showed up on Amazon) The Circle as disturbing as 1984, or the Net, or Black Mirror...
The connections you draw between the over-use of enhancements through technology for experiencing the world, the possibly excessive use of social media, stories like 1984 and the message about the dangers of losing our privacy from The Circle, opens a pretty wide set of views up for discussion.
I have neither seen the movie nor read the book. I read a synopsis and watched a trailer. What is happening in the world and happens in The Circle is a voluntary surrendering of privacy. The issue turns out to be about a consequential surrendering of freedom. A sort of bait and switch of our values. There are those who don't see privacy and freedom as the same thing. The captivating experience of social media, unambiguous positive feedback from the group, any group, can seduce many people into emersing themselves in this technology.
This is not like staring at your satnav screen or your radar. They may be related in the brain but, now we are adding a social element that straight electronic technology doesn't have. All these people are practically given a node to live on, in some cases they aren't even asked. The Internet was formally Darpa net, sponsored by the Department of Defence for the exchange of science research information
. In less than 5 years after it was openned to the public, originally like a kind of wired ham radio network, no commercial ventures allowed, it was mandated that schools and libraries offer access. It had been a race faster than any maxi, AC, speedboat,or rocket race. After the landing on the moon, the race for Space has been more like a foot drag
but, getting everyone connected electronically is the
priority for nearly everyone, but especially for the governments of the world. We are truly in danger of losing our ability to go sailing by losing our Will to go sailing. Sailing is independent. It can be done on a DIY plan. Marketers and info mongers might lose track of a sailboat. With cell phones and Go Pros and satellite imagery your movements can be known but how do you influence a sailor at sea?
It seems to be desirable to restrict people's movement, keep them from moving from one country to another. We neither want outsiders coming here (I'm not talking about the US specifically, everyone) nor do we want members of our own groups to "defect" to somewhere else. Yet individually, we want that freedom. Sailors tend to be more individual. Independence is important to us
. While others may drink the cool aid or take the blue pill. Sailors are more likely to walk, sail, away from the expectation that they have to make the choice
. Society is losing patience with that independence
. Freedom has not given people the happiness they thought it would. The alternative is to offer a place in a predefined group and scramble for control of that group in place of freedom. The group mind is maturing and we are seeing the consequences to the individual of that maturation.
Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated. Unless you have a good knowledge of sailing skills and can get the %$ll away.
- Will ("conspiracy theorist", Dragonfly)