The Path to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions
As KXLY reports, Spokane is about to get a brand spanking new reverse 911 system. You ask, what in tarnation is a reverse 911 system? Well folks, it’s what the fascists police are using these days to make sure that everyone knows everything about every situation. Let’s setup a scenario. There’s a hazardous chemical spill on your neighbor’s front lawn and it manages to catch fire. The Spokane Sheriff’s office will now be able to robo-call you to relay the message. Never mind the fact that you probably don’t really care about your neighbors front lawn.
Really? Are we really getting to the point where we need to have an automated phone call whenever something happens in the neighborhood? I can’t even imagine what would happen if the City of Los Angeles decided to roll something like this out. My phone would be ringing off the hook. What ever happened to locking your doors and sleeping with a gun under your pillow? Oh right, this is California and I tend to forget that guns kill people. It must be better to be scared shitless of any possible danger. I can see how this new system would do just that. After all, fear is a great tool of motivation.
I can’t wait for the first phone call like this: “Hello, this is the Sheriff’s office. Your husband is about to come home drunk with a gun and catch you with the pool boy. Just, you know, FYI.” Can you imagine the lawsuits that will fly? Then again, I don’t think lawyers are actually making enough money these days with the skyrocketing cost of living expenses – especially with fancy new 911 systems in every town.
On the other hand, have any of you actually ever been to Spokane? Yes, Felicia, we know that you’re from Spokane and it snows a lot. But seriously – it’s sort of a speck on the map. Do you really think that there’s going to be a serial murderer lurking through your neighborhood and people won’t be talking about it?
[phone rings] “Whaaaaat? No I don’t want to buy a chemical spill! Can you hear me? Are you from the cable company? Oh, whatever… no thank you!” [tries to hang up but leaves phone off the hook for days]
Clearly this is the answer to all of our problems.
4 Comments
Sometimes we just "don't need to know".
Well, we have something a bit similar, but specifically for lost children. It’s an extension of the Amber Alert: when a kid is reported missing, people get sms’s saying to look out for the kid. Also recent robberies, as the police always want tips.
Also, if my neighbour’s toxic waste was on fire, I’d want to know so I could evacuate. Unless I LIKED breathing in cancerous fumes…
I can agree with you on the Amber Alert – as long as it's an opt-in list. If I didn't specifically ask to receive the alerts then I'd be upset if they started coming in.
My issue with this system in Spokane is that it doesn't request residents permission to start calling them.
Hm, I actually don’t know if it’s op-in, though then I’d wonder where they are getting the numers from.
Not having a mobile myself, I have to read about these things in the paper : )