Going off-grid

[The Benny (Macho)]

The Observer (UK newspaper) has an odd piece today entitled "Ten ways to thwart Big Brother". I don't normally read the Observer but apparently the whole 'Big Brother is watching us all the time' attitude is quite a common theme of theirs, lamenting the amount of CCTV cameras dotted around the country and the way purchases and mobile phones can all be tied to an individual and tracked. The article is from an 'off-grid expert' with tips on how to go under the radar.

In addition to fairly sensible advice like safeguarding email and browsing it also has things like "Travel to a town you have never visited before, to an area with no CCTV cameras and ask a homeless person to buy a pay-as-you-go mobile phone for you" which seems a little excessive, but then goes even further with things like "living without mains power, water or sewerage".

Does it seem a little over the top to anybody else? To me it reads like this guy would be very much at home among those militia groups in the US stockpiling weapons in preparation for the day the government comes swooping in with its black helicopters to lock up these people who dare to 'live free'.

[Gabriel013]

I think the amount of watching going on is excessive, but then so are the lengths you can go to avoiding The Man.

[Rosie17]

I think it's ridiculous that people have a problem with CCTV, i feel much safer when i am out and about knowing someone is watching my back, half of the time, I dont even think about it. xxx

[Gabriel013]

They can be very revealing about the lack of inhibition some people have.