NationStates Jolt Archive

Yeah, it's true folks, as the end of the college year here at OSU nears, Baker Hall East has been turned into a virtual police state out of fears of a burglar/assailant!

RA and OA patrols have been stepped up, only one exterior door remains unlocked (and once we get in, we have to show our ID at a table,) and twenty-four hour quiet hours have been imposed, ResNet can crack into our computers and view our files whenever they feel like it and now we have to use our room keys to open our bathrooms.

Now, this may seem trivial, but it speaks about far more than just a rash of vandalisms and thefts in a building. It speaks about something greater than that. Have we become so afraid as a society that we're willing to sacrifice freedom of movement, privacy, comfort and dozens of other things just out of a little fear?

A college dorm is perhaps one of the most liberal (read: open) of places in the United States, if not the world. And it just scares me, the thought that if it can happen here...

On the lighter side, I have proposed forming a secret police unit, so as to remove "undesirables" and lock them up in the bomb shelter tunnels undernath the building. I'm certain that would make me very amused. :D

Seems to me that such a practice should be illegal. Oh well, you can't trust the government...

Or reslife, unelected tyrants they are.

You're right though. It's a scary trend.

Why not smear crap all over the walls? That will surely show them that they've done you wrong.

:D

Yeah, it's true folks, as the end of the college year here at OSU nears, Baker Hall East has been turned into a virtual police state out of fears of a burglar/assailant!

RA and OA patrols have been stepped up, only one exterior door remains unlocked (and once we get in, we have to show our ID at a table,) and twenty-four hour quiet hours have been imposed, ResNet can crack into our computers and view our files whenever they feel like it and now we have to use our room keys to open our bathrooms.

Now, this may seem trivial, but it speaks about far more than just a rash of vandalisms and thefts in a building. It speaks about something greater than that. Have we become so afraid as a society that we're willing to sacrifice freedom of movement, privacy, comfort and dozens of other things just out of a little fear?

A college dorm is perhaps one of the most liberal (read: open) of places in the United States, if not the world. And it just scares me, the thought that if it can happen here...

On the lighter side, I have proposed forming a secret police unit, so as to remove "undesirables" and lock them up in the bomb shelter tunnels undernath the building. I'm certain that would make me very amused. :D

What the hell are you doing in your dorm? I hope you haven't been there all night; it looked like there were some pretty swingin' parties over on Indianola and Frathouse row.

I had to work, so I couldn't go to any. Goddamn work.

Yeah, it's true folks, as the end of the college year here at OSU nears, Baker Hall East has been turned into a virtual police state out of fears of a burglar/assailant!

I'll be starting OSU June 20th... I've been downtown several times at night and have never had a problem. Although, I have noticed the past couple weeks LOTS of police hanging around, but they weren't being annoying or anything, just letting us go about our buisness. Thanks for the heads up!

Why not smear crap all over the walls? That will surely show them that they've done you wrong.

:D
Nah, the demented kid aready did that to our bathroom, and I still have to linger around to write this bitch-of-a-paper, I swear, the damn things trying to take my soul.

I'm not an American, so who is ResNet?

has someone actually been HURT? have thieves gotten into LOCKED rooms?

are the patrols armed? surely stealing a guys ipod is a capital offence

Eroded civil liberties? Authorities spying on you without good reason? Presumed guilty until proven innocent?

Welcome to the "Patriot" Act. Prepare to be questioned by the feds for referring to part of the motherland as a "pseudo-police state".

Eroded civil liberties? Authorities spying on you without good reason? Presumed guilty until proven innocent?

Welcome to the "Patriot" Act. Prepare to be questioned by the feds for referring to part of the motherland as a "pseudo-police state".

You are right, thats what's happening, a testing of the "patriot act". The burglar/assailant being used as the excuse. Why most americans don't see this, is that america does not have a historical referance of similar goverment practices, like e.g. the Germans who have Hitler. If you compare the "Patriot Act" with Hitler's "Enabling act" of 1933, you will find similarities.
The american people were surprised that the germans didn't see what Hitler was doing, they didn't even know about the death camps. Now we europeans are seeing the same evil arise in the US, not exactly the same of course, it has taken a different shape, but evil none the less. And we are surprised that the american people can't see what's happening. :(

You are right, thats what's happening, a testing of the "patriot act". The burglar/assailant being used as the excuse. Why most americans don't see this, is that america does not have a historical referance of similar goverment practices, like e.g. the Germans who have Hitler. If you compare the "Patriot Act" with Hitler's "Enabling act" of 1933, you will find similarities.
The american people were surprised that the germans didn't see what Hitler was doing, they didn't even know about the death camps. Now we europeans are seeing the same evil arise in the US, not exactly the same of course, it has taken a different shape, but evil none the less. And we are surprised that the american people can't see what's happening. :(

*Closes eyes and crosses fingers* Peace in our time. Peace in our time. Peace in our time...

Thats a pretty unfortunate situation to be int middle of.
A lot of police activities like the one you're in the middle off are carried out by people with good motives and bad execution. The powers-that-be want to protect innocent civilians, but end up penalizing those innocent citizens through the very actions it takes in the name of Protection. Its easier for the Gov't. to get away with because people can and do put up with injustices in order to "protect" themselves. If your predicament were turned into a story, Ionesco would be the author doing it. Welcome to the Absurd.

has someone actually been HURT? have thieves gotten into LOCKED rooms?

are the patrols armed? surely stealing a guys ipod is a capital offence
People have actually been hurt, locked rooms have been opened, and more than just iPods are being stolen. One guy I know lost over $3,000 dollars worth of stuff.

Only when campus police come through are the patrols armed, but each RA/OA patrol is double strength now.

If you don't like it, why don't you go to a different school? There is more than one college you know.

If you don't like it, why don't you go to a different school? There is more than one college you know.
Why don't I go to another school? Because it's the last two weeks of school. I have finals next week then I go home.

I am not complaining, I'm illustrating a point about a concern for our society.

Yeah, it's true folks, as the end of the college year here at OSU nears, Baker Hall East has been turned into a virtual police state out of fears of a burglar/assailant!

... ResNet can crack into our computers and view our files whenever they feel like it ...

Now, this may seem trivial, but it speaks about far more than just a rash of vandalisms and thefts in a building. ...

How is cracking your computers going to help prevent burglary and vandalism? Are they using computer controled robots?

You are right, thats what's happening, a testing of the "patriot act". The burglar/assailant being used as the excuse. Why most americans don't see this, is that america does not have a historical referance of similar goverment practices, like e.g. the Germans who have Hitler. If you compare the "Patriot Act" with Hitler's "Enabling act" of 1933, you will find similarities.
The american people were surprised that the germans didn't see what Hitler was doing, they didn't even know about the death camps. Now we europeans are seeing the same evil arise in the US, not exactly the same of course, it has taken a different shape, but evil none the less. And we are surprised that the american people can't see what's happening. :(

Well, if you'd read the bill being discussed in the theocracy thread, (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=423636) you'd know that you're not supposed to try to learn lessons from things that happen in other countries.

What's wrong with you?
American history isn't good enough for you?
You have to go looking elsewhere for that fancy imported history?
Why do you college boys all hate America? [/sarcasm]