Confessions of an Eavesdropper

Confessions of an Eavesdropper
In the way that gays have reclaimed the word “queer” and black rappers the N-word, “eavesdropping” should be reclaimed by those of us who listen in on others’ conversations. Reappropriation is the cultural process by which a group reclaims—re-appropriates—terms or artifacts that were previously used in a way disparaging of that group. For example, since the early ...

No spying – then and now

No spying - then and now
Our generation has a proud tradition of fighting and exposing unacceptable surveillance, e.g. exposing Cointelpro, the covert FBI spy campaign against “subversives” like Martin Luther King. And in resisting apartheid security police oppression – the list goes on. We who are not of the Facebook generation should consider carefully how we “share” our identities, how ...