Spooks in the guild? Intelligence collection and online gaming

[LongBlade]

On a more serious note, does it strike anyone else that there is an element of psychosis in these massive dragnets?

The discussion in the articles posted by Rex doesn't suggest any of these agencies ever found bad guys "hiding in plain sight," but they do place a lot of emphasis on speculating that it could be done.

There is also the suggestion that the weapons accuracy in FPS games is some kind of secret - as if without the Calls of Duty in the world no one would know effective ranges of rifles or pistols.

I dunno. This all strikes me as a huge logical error in inductive reasoning: the 9/11 hijackers played Microsoft Flight Sim, therefore anyone who plays MSFS needs to be monitored. There is nothing about that kind of thinking that seems healthy, reasonable, or compatible with a free society.

[GDS_Starfury]

oh, so now you think we're living in a healthy, reasonable, compatible and free society?  does your madness know no bounds sir?  next you'll be claiming Canadistanians aren't just really pale Americans!

[Dolan50]

If your going to build a data base on the people that have the potential for being the most dangerous enemies of the state I guess wargammers would most likely be the logical place to start.

I would think the "My Little Pony" or "Farmville" crowd wouldn't be seen as much of a potential threat.
That is unless your waging a war on boredom.

[GDS_Starfury]

personally Im scared shitless by GJK and his spotlight counter corner clipper!

[eyebiter]

After 9/11 a faction inside the American government decided such an event would never be allowed to happen again.  And if it meant monitoring every form of communication on the planet to accomplish this goal, then so be it. 

Problem is, after throwing billions of dollars into creating this intelligence apparatus, do we feel safer?  We gave the intelligence community a blank check, and they developed the most advanced monitoring system in human history.  Are we really surprised that the system designed to track terrorists now watches everyone on the planet for potential threats?

[Dolan50]

Can't say I feel much safer with the NSA spying on Americans.
I personally feel more vulnerable.

Americans shouldn't be targets of interest and I'll bet if it was put to a vote most or at least a very strong majority of a Americans would vote this out.
This is a tool that only a totalitarian government could love or want.
Our elected officials seem to be the only ones interested in keeping this program funded and running.
I doubt any potential terrorist would find me a personal target of interest.
Makes you wonder who your enemies really are!

We have lots of cameras installed in the last couple years on all the major street corners where I live too.
Makes you wonder also what the Government is actually preparing itself for.

I fear driving on the US highway system more than terrorist.

My odds of being a victim of terrorism probably are about the same as winning the Florida Lottery.
With my luck they both would happen on the same day!

[LongBlade]

After 9/11 a faction inside the American government decided such an event would never be allowed to happen again.  And if it meant monitoring every form of communication on the planet to accomplish this goal, then so be it. 

Problem is, after throwing billions of dollars into creating this intelligence apparatus, do we feel safer?  We gave the intelligence community a blank check, and they developed the most advanced monitoring system in human history.  Are we really surprised that the system designed to track terrorists now watches everyone on the planet for potential threats?

I saw a news post on that the other day.

The choice of the octopus is clever. At once it suggests the sinister menace of Cthulhu, the unlimited reach of our technology, the yummy taste of octopus as a meal, and the vulnerability of the octopus to a number of natural predators. A brilliant choice, but flawed.

[LongBlade]

oh, so now you think we're living in a healthy, reasonable, compatible and free society?  does your madness know no bounds sir? 

I know. Call me an incurable romantic in search of the American Dream. Folks like me need to be watched closely because espousing the desire to perpetuate Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness shows just how dangerous we are.

[GDS_Starfury]

here ya go:



because Im pretty sure you lost yours.

[Dolan50]

What outrages me even more is that we can throw billions of dollars at this program to spy on Americans,yet on any given night in this country we have over 50,000 veterans living homeless on the streets of this nation and who's only crime is they can't land a job.

Nice set of priorities our elected officials  have here.

[LongBlade]

here ya go:



because Im pretty sure you lost yours.

Thanks. This time I'm going to use the Heavy Duty tinfoil. That should hold them in.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

After 9/11 a faction inside the American government decided such an event would never be allowed to happen again.  And if it meant monitoring every form of communication on the planet to accomplish this goal, then so be it. 

Problem is, after throwing billions of dollars into creating this intelligence apparatus, do we feel safer?  We gave the intelligence community a blank check, and they developed the most advanced monitoring system in human history.  Are we really surprised that the system designed to track terrorists now watches everyone on the planet for potential threats?

I saw a news post on that the other day.

The choice of the octopus is clever. At once it suggests the sinister menace of Cthulhu, the unlimited reach of our technology, the yummy taste of octopus as a meal, and the vulnerability of the octopus to a number of natural predators. A brilliant choice, but flawed.

You are saying Octopus Overlords is a tool of the NSA?

[Windigo]

here ya go:



because Im pretty sure you lost yours.

LOL, I am on conference call and I had to mute my headset... good one... (fuck you star)

[bob48]

So what is 'Leeeeeroy Jenkins!' code for?

LOL - I thought you didn't play WoW?

[LongBlade]

So what is 'Leeeeeroy Jenkins!' code for?

LOL - I thought you didn't play WoW?

He doesn't. We just gave the code word the cell has been compromised. Fall back and reorganize on the special Moonlight Online server.