Listen Up

By Gordon Hopkins With the proliferation of conspiracy theories and misinformation on the web, people today believe there is a uniquely paranoiac streak that runs through today's society like never before.Those people clearly were not around in the 70s and 80s. I, however, most definitely was and I can assure you, I grew up during the golden age of paranoia.In 1968, Congress passed a law that provided warrants for wiretapping in criminal investigations. From that moment on, everyone was convinced that the government was listening to their telephone conversations. Every time you heard a click or buzz, which happened a lot on those old telephones, you were convinced some government agent disguised in a Ma Bell jumpsuit and hardhat, was sitting atop a telephone poll, listening in on you conversation with your mother about why Aunt Mabel can't come to the Christmas party because she always gets drunk and knocks over the Christmas tree.Because that is the exactly sort of thing the FBI wants to know about you.All kidding aside, some people, a great many people in fact, were the subjects of electronic surveillance in those days. For example:“Mrs. Henry Brandon, the wife of Henry Brandon of the 'London Sunday Times,' recently mentioned the letter of Secretary of Interior Hickel which received considerable publicity due to its anti-Administration stand. She said that Mr. Hickel had only been able to see the President twice in the past fifteen months. She also said that Henry Kissinger of the White House staff is going to be told by Harvard University personnel that he is 'not welcome back at their University.'”This passage appeared in a memo dated May 11, 1970, to President Richard Nixon from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.Remember this. Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.These days, electronic surveillance is still a thing. The difference is, nobody seems to mind so much. Oh, sure. There's lips service paid to online privacy but let's be honest here. Today, people willingly invite surveillance devices into their homes and openly talk in front of them. Even talk to them. It is mind-boggling to me how blasé we have all become to the notion of being listened to day and night.The other difference, and perhaps this is the kicker, is that it isn't the government we know is listening to use (although I'm sure they are), it is advertisers.I said something the other day about my roof needing repair and now my social media feed is inundated with ads for roofers. We have now reach the pinnacle of “targeted advertising” and I am disturbed thinking about where we go from here.Yet, the knowledge that I am being listened to in the privacy of my own home doesn't even give me pause when I talk baby talk to my cats, knowing I sound like a complete idiot.I do feel a bit bad for whoever has to listen to recordings of me saying things like, “Who want's a treat? Do you want a treat? Yes, you do. Yes you do. You want a treat, my little smoochie-woochie-oochiekins. Who's a good boy? You are.”Of course, that poor souls also gets to listens to hours of, “Get down from there, you psychotic hairball!” and, “Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!”

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