Disappointing attitudes

[johnridley]

Pessimism, apathy and resignation seem even more prevalent than I thought.

After reading Bruce Schneier's blog entry about the TSA:
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/03/tsa_lied_about.html

I tried to engage some people at work about it. The general attitude?

"Of course they're lying. It's the government, it's what they do. Who's surprised?"

OK, I expect some of that. But what I got in way more measure than I thought I would was apathy and resignation. They'll always be like that and there's nothing we can do. The machine is too powerful to change. No matter what they say to the people, they'll still do whatever the hell they want to internally. Make too much noise and you may find yourself being strip searched next time you try to fly, and you can't do a thing about it.

Even when told flat out that a branch of the government was repeatedly and systematically lying and isn't really giving any indication that they intend to change, and that it's a branch most people will have to deal with at some point, and that they have secret rules that you can break without knowing it, people still just don't care.

I can see why they'd have that attitude, but I don't like it. I don't see much difference between accepting this viewpoint and just rolling over and giving up on the entire system. If that's the attitude, it's no wonder people don't vote.

Comments

[backrubbear.livejournal.com]

Voting has proved to be an irrelevant metric of interest in the machine that is our government. When 51% of the vote is a "mandate" to do whatever you want, regardless of what the other 49% think, what indeed is the point?

Well, beyond trying to get that extra 2% next time.

[kevinnickerson.livejournal.com]

That's about the level of "Pessimism, apathy and resignation" that'd I'd expect.

But, it's a good thing. Unless it's a bad thing. It's a good thing because it means that people with a real passion can make a difference more easily. Against the grey background of apathy, a person who cares shines out, and has a disproportionate effect.

And, of course, that's also why it's a bad thing. It all depends on who is having the effect.

[kevinnickerson.livejournal.com]

BTW, what is that icon. Amanda has one much like it. I'm guessing some cartoon character.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

That's GIR, the incredibly stoopid sidekick robot of Invader Zim. Invaders are supposed to get this insanely competent killing machine robots who look harmless. For Zim, they dumped a bunch of broken parts and table scraps into a robot shell, and made GIR.
When his eyes are red like that, he's actually in "competent" mode. However, his attention span is about 0.3 seconds; his eyes never stay red longer than it takes to snap a salute and say "Yes, SIR!" before he goes back to watching TV.