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Nov. 22nd, 2002 01:20 pmEvery now and then, when talk of some new method of surveillance of the populace comes down the pike, I inevitably get into a discussion with someone where they say "If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide, so you have nothing to worried about." Being an "I like my civil liberties" kind of guy, I usually come up with some witty and vaguely indignant response.
I used to use the Pastor Niemoller "First they came for...." quote, but it's too long, somewhat preachy, and too far departed from people's memories to make an impression.
Lately, I've started by saying "Really now?", and the proceeded to ask increasingly personal questions of the person until they say "It's none of your business!", and let them figure out the rest. Useful and effective, but a bit confrontational.
So, I put the following to the assembled:
Query: If you're so inclined in the first place, how do you argue against the point of "If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide, so you have nothing to worry about."?
I used to use the Pastor Niemoller "First they came for...." quote, but it's too long, somewhat preachy, and too far departed from people's memories to make an impression.
Lately, I've started by saying "Really now?", and the proceeded to ask increasingly personal questions of the person until they say "It's none of your business!", and let them figure out the rest. Useful and effective, but a bit confrontational.
So, I put the following to the assembled:
Query: If you're so inclined in the first place, how do you argue against the point of "If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide, so you have nothing to worry about."?
