Yesterday, on my way to work I saw two
drones circling the highway. They were flying low in a menacing way. I had no
choice but to drive underneath them.
The creepiest thing about The Hunger
Games was the constant surveillance that citizens were subjected to, the hover
crafts that dropped out of the sky without notice at their doorsteps. Lois
Lowry used a similar device in The Giver, though of course she did it first.
It surprised me to see drones in the
relatively rural area I drive through. According to the Washington Post, there was little to no opposition this winter when Congress quietly opened up U.S. airspace to aerial drones. A big push came from the military, which is preparing to bring home drones that were used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I don't care what "experts" say. I see their only purpose as surveillance and I
don't like it. Law enforcement is using them under the banner
of "keeping us safe". But sinister aircraft operated by unknown entities
in remote locations seem to have an ulterior purpose.
I think it's that element that makes
them seem creepy. Give me the thrill of watching a kid fly a kite, or a hot air
balloon floating overhead with a person at the helm, or a fighter jet steaming
through the clouds under the command of a gutsy pilot. Give me the human element,
someone invested in the risk and the thrill of human achievement. A drone does
not convey that. It doesn't feel like the sort of achievement we will be proud
of in the future. It seems ironic that at the same time our manned space
program has stalled, unmanned drones are flying overhead.
Have you seen a drone? What do you think of them?
13 comments:
I haven't seen a drone overhead, but it would give me the creeps. Your post made me think of HAL or the Terminator--that fear of losing control of the machines made to 'think.'
We constantly seem to have helicopters circling round our town at night. Not drones, maybe, but noisy and disturbing.
I haven't seen one and I agree it's creepy. My guess, considering where you live, is that it's Homeland Security on the prowl for undocumented Manitobans.
I haven't seen one and I think when I do it will creep me out.
That would be creepy. Shades of 1984 and those you mentioned. *shiver*
Tricia,
I saw another one today. What gives? I HATE them.
Frances,
Helicopters always make me think of med flights. But why the night circling?
Steven,
Ha! Undocumented Manitobans? Of course! Why didn't I think of that?
Liza,
There is something about them that emits sinister vibes. You'll know one when you see one. No mistake.
Jemi,
Thanks. Yeah,remember The Giver and those crafts that dropped out of the sky? Always knowing exactly where everyone was?
Weird. I have never seen a drone.
Diane,
I saw another one yesterday.
Are you under the influence of Hunger Games too? :-)
I read the books, borrowed from my niece (12) while on Christmas holidays in Florida last December. And it is true, there is something genuinely Orwellian on all that.
Pet,
Interesting question. I guess I'm under the influence of something! Is it paranoia?
Okay, this is how lame I am: I didn't even know about drones! I mean, I've heard of such things, but had to Google it! I guess I wouldn't have known one if I saw one. We have lots of other low-flying military stuff go overhead, and yeah, it gives me the creeps.
J.B.
I had only heard of their controversial use in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Here, I'd only heard of them being used at high altitude for scientific purposes, such as collecting weather data. Until recently. You aren't lame. Congress is lame. Shame on them for doing this under the cloak of darkness without any public discussion.
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