A New World
Here is my contribution to this week’s Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle.
To read the other contributions, click on the blue froggy. This week’s photo was contributed by Kent Bonham.
Copyright Kent Bonham
Trak. Surveillance for the paranoid age. Keep Track on Your World with TRAK!
Husbands watching wives. Wives watching husbands. Lovers, friends. Employees can’t take a leak without employers knowing. Employers, in their turn, watched by their staff.
Everyone’s watching everyone else. And Trak gets richer. They have no competition. Trak shut them down. Because Trak was watching them.
But who watches the watchers? Trak.
Trak watches everyone. The new World Order.
So come on in and buy a package. It’s your turn to watch your loved ones twenty-four seven.
Because you know they’re watching you.
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Friday Fictioneers
draliman on life 
If you do nothing you’re ashamed of, why would you care who watches?
Good piece.
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That’s what I think too, though it has its limits (I hope).
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Very creepy company….a lot of “traking” and no trusting.
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Yes. I fear they’ve seen deep into the human psyche and gotten rich off of it.
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Unsettling story. Tracking my UPS package will never be the same.
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Because while you’re tracking it, they’re tracking you heh heh 🙂
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Wow Draliman, I love your take on this weeks prompt. It has however made me nervous lol In some ways this could become our reality. Well done ! 🙂
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Thanks! I fear that it could indeed become reality. Surveillance by law enforcement for security it one thing, but I don’t fancy being watched by everyone all the time.
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Hi Dr Ali.
I challenge you to “Post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or a short paragraph and each day nominate another blogger for the challenge”
I don’t usually do this sort of thing but I am now.I know you are a busy man but I love the way you write and your slant on life and I just wanted to ask you to consider doing this. I am currently on day 2 at http://gillmcgrath.com/2015/06/25/the-challenge-day-2/ Holly who challenged me is found at Holly @aheartafire.
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Hi Gill,
Thanks, I might give it a go. I’ll make sure I have the material together first, though, since it’s consecutive days.
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Thanks Dr Ali. I am delighted that you might give it a go! Don’t feel pressured though. I know it can be quite time taking simply doing the link up bits, let alone ‘the process’ of producing something !! ❤
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Shouldn’t Mr Trak have a ‘c’ ( for see) in the name? As it is he doesn’t pass the spell check!
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It’s one of those “clever” brand names. Or he made a mistake on his company’s incorporation papers 🙂
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People like that don’t make mistakes, even when they do. He can’t even c he left the c out!
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Ha ha 🙂
Tunnel vision.
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Or perhaps the letter R was put in there to cover up it is tak / tack on sale!
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Yeah! “Tak” – an updated version of Reggie Perrin’s “Grot” 🙂
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Yeah!
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Its creepy being watched all the time.. i hate surveillance
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I’m okay with it as long as it’s law enforcement, I think that makes me safer. I wouldn’t fancy being watched all the time, though.
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Safety is more important for sure.
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It’s a fine line between safety and invasion of privacy, one governments are struggling with at the moment.
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I have no fear. This is probably a spawn of reality shows and will one day soon lose its popularity. Who wants to sit around and watch neighbors, friends, and relatives who are probably as boring as you are for month after month. Oh the stress of having to behave properly at all times because you know you’re being watched. People will crack and out will go Trax. 😀
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I bet most people would get fed up after 10 minutes. I know I would!
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I like your take on this one. Very contemporary.
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Thanks! Things do seem to be going this way.
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Santa Claus is one of their best clients.
As is Mrs. Claus, I hear….
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She only needs them one night a year though, to make sure hubby isn’t making any “unscheduled stops” on the one day she lets him out.
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I can see the confrontation now…. “Sit down, Kris! I want to have a little discussion with you about all of those ‘milk and cookies’ you keep stopping for…” (Pops the video tape in the player)
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I can see his face turning as red as his suit 🙂
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Great play on words here, Ali. It’s a rather creepy thought that people could be ‘watching’ us 24/7. But who knows what the future holds? A realy good ‘take’ on the prompt. 🙂
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It is really creepy. What with CCTV, drones, tracker apps on phones, people hacking web/nanny cams… 😦
I’m glad you liked it!
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Excellent! (I’ve got that word in my head now. I woneder why …?)
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Thanks, and Party On! 🙂
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Copywriter in training! Nice job! 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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You are sitting at your computer with a drink nearby reading this comment. Do you see what I am doing? 😀 Well done Ali! ^..^
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Yeeks! Switch off the web cam, switch off the web cam 🙂
I’m glad you liked it!
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I did!
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And you’re not wrong!
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See? Your story is not far off the mark!
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Although I am doing nothing wrong I sure as hell don’t want anyone seeing me doing it!
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Ditto! Police surveillance in towns is one thing but I don’t want someone tracking me around the countryside – or at home.
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I laughed when everyone balked at the government getting caught – NSA. Internet businesses have been doing it for years, and probably better than the NSA. Phones, cars – yeah, they’re watching! Thank god I’m boring and ugly!
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Yeah – I visit one website, then suddenly there’s adverts everywhere for similar items. Spooky 😦
The NSA’s business is security, but internet businesses are trying to make massive wads of cash by watching what we’re doing and they’re very good at it.
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I am SOOOOOO glad I’m not working anymore. Really. It was bad enough having bosses looking over your shoulder. The idea of them tracking you with software and cameras is just too appalling to contemplate. I retired just in time.
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Just recently there was a news story about someone being fired from her job after she removed her company’s tracking software from her mobile phone. Yeeks 😦
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This could be the start of a modern dystopy.. but hey.. isn’t TRAK the codename for Google?
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Shhh, that’s supposed to be secret… they’ll be all over you now!
In fact, with talk of surveillance and “NSA” and so on in my story and the comments, I wonder if I’ve slipped onto a watch-list somewhere…
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With many surveillance programmes, there is usually a fine line between an invasion and protection.
Although I can understand why many would complain, however, if they were attacked via the net or harmed in some way which could have been prevented through the use of surveillance, then guaranteed they would then complain how there is not enough preventative measures to have stopped them.
A very interesting, and as you tell, thought provoking piece.
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There are a lot of people who complain about things “on principal” without thinking it through, then switch sides when it suddenly affects them personally. I think I read somewhere that the UK has more CCTV than nearly everywhere else, but I’m sure before long police drones will be commonplace as well. They’re already using them. Which I’ll be perfectly happy about if I’m ever mugged in front of one and it instantly swoops down and tasers the mugger heh heh 🙂
I’m glad you found my story thought-provoking.
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Brilliant! let us remember if we plan to be ‘naughty” we must always cover our digital tracks as Santa found out. Nothing has changed since Solomon except for the props. Great story.
You always amaze me how much you can put into a few words. I judge a good story by if it pops into my head and starts me thinking or smiling at a later time. Your stories are like that.
Francesca Smith makes an interesting point!
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It’s amazing how companies track one’s activities around the internet. I looked up TVs for my boss once and suddenly every second website I visited was trying to sell me TVs.
I’m glad you enjoy my stories! For short stories I tend to stay away from flowery descriptions (which I’m rubbish at anyway!) and either do dialogue for humour or short sharp sentences to “make a point”.
Francesca does make a good point (see my reply).
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it looks like a good candidate for hackers anonymous.
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It does. Let’s hope they have a good firewall!
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When the Wall fell, many folks in East Germany wanted to see their “secret files.” Often, they were told, “You may not want to know who was reporting on you.”
The watchers are everywhere. Are cookies a nice snack with milk, or another way Big Brother gets into our minds through our computers.
Great, creepy and very realistic story.
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I can imagine there would be people who would be shocked to find out who was reporting on them. A lot of people did it out of fear of the Stasi, I think. These days it’s just a bit more subtle.
I’m glad you liked my story!
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Yes, fear played a large role in many of the “tattlers.” If you did not tell on your neighbour, the consequences could be deadly!
Yes, there is a subtlety at work now. I suspect the increased use of drones will make the watching more evident!
But as you commented, a drone that saved you from a criminal might not be such a bad thing. Unfortunately, the power will go to some people’s heads. 😉
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It’s that “fine line” again. Very tricky.
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Just replying to Phylor’s comment which I was tracking. Great great (Did I say it was great?) read on East/West Germany set both before and after the fall of the Wall is The Leipzig Affair by first-time novelist Fiona Rintoul. Best book I’ve read in ages.
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I’ll take a look!
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I really liked this. Such menacing, persuasive undertones. Well done.
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Thanks! I’m glad the menacing nature of the story came through.
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When people are completely deprived of their privacy, they aren’t free any longer, no matter if they have something to hide or not. We’re heading this way, but I think the pendulum always goes the other way eventually. Great story, I like how you include all the elements of total surveillance, especially the involvement of the big company.
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I’m glad you liked it! I’m not sure which is currently involved in the most surveillance – governments or corporations.
I certainly don’t want my every move tracked.
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The day I feel that I need my loved one’s every movement or transaction tracked is the day they need to stop being my loved one 🙂
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Very true. There’s got to be trust.
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Looks like we are heading that way.
DJ
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Yep.
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Loved the story. I love my oyster card but not what it tells Big Brother all about my travels.
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I’m sure that via Clubcard Tesco knows more about my spending habits than I do.
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Good story, Ali.. I imagine that at some point most of those watchers will grow rather bored and stop paying attention. You know what they say about familiarity . . . But for now, the Trak you’ve invented has a pretty creepy “Big Brother” type quality.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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I’m sure when they notice people losing interest Trak will find some way to draw them back in.
Most people’s lives are pretty boring. I know no-one would want to watch me for long!
I’m glad you liked it!
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Oh, this could happen so easily, or perhaps it already is on some level. I wonder if everyone was watching everyone would people change their behavior. Hmm. I want to know more about this one. It’s a great idea!
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People would be watching what they’re doing the whole time. It would be a dark world, I think. Though people largely ignore CCTV these days, it’s so normal it’s become almost invisible.
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Exactly. Maybe people would start to ignore it. I can see that happening, too.
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We’re good at ignoring things. Eventually all sorts of stuff achieves “normalcy”. I’m even getting used to seeing the occasional police officer around the place carrying a Taser rather than just handcuffs and CS spray.
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That’s how it starts…
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Dear Draliman, Interesting story and I think I agree with Amy – this could happen. Sometimes don’t you feel someone is looking over your shoulder? Turn around quick! Nan
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Dear Nan, I think it’s already happening 😦 Ali
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Very funny. The product has a great sales hook…”because you know they’re watching you.”
Still, I never bought into the outcry over my country’s collection of citizens’ email and phone activity. Of course it’s overzealous and probably illegal, but in my case must be boring as hell. I pity the poor analyst who has to spy on me!
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Yeah, that sales hook will grab people for sure. No-one wants to be the only one not in on it.
Anyone spying on me would soon fall asleep too 🙂
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Dear Ali,
This is a little more realistic than I want to think about. Very well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it! I fear that this is just around the corner.
Ali
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I fear that you’ve just painted a picture of the future. It has become so easy for malicious people to do huge damage that the onlyi response seems to be to watch everybody more closely. I just hope someone keeps watching the watchers. Good story.
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I hope so too. In fact I wanted to put the line “But who watches the watchers?” into the story but couldn’t make it fit.
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Ha, I just realised I did put it in the story. Embarrassment mode heh heh 🙂
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Orwell’s 1984 just gets closer and closer.
Great theme in this story. Nice work.
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It’s been coming closer for a while. Clever chap, that Orwell.
I’m glad you enjoyed my story. If it is just a story…
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A nightmare world here. A bit like East Germany not that long ago but magnified. (Are you watching me? Is Rochelle? I don’t like your wallpaper.)
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Yeeks!
I had a number of things in mind when I wrote this – old East Germany, Orwell, some more modern takes.
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Creepy! I don’t want to think about how true this could be one day. Is that NewSpeak I hear on the wind? Yikes.
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This is a pretty Orwellian tale! Hopefully surveillance won’t get any more prevalent than it currently is.
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I certainly hope so!
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THought this was a fiction piece…but oh so true? Nicely done!
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And getting truer all the time…
I’m glad you liked it!
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Cctv cameras kind of all over … Creative
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Cameras, trackers, drones… the full works!
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Now I feel watched too…. Pawkisses 🙂 ❤
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Eyes are everywhere…
But we enjoy seeing the photos of your adventures, LB 🙂
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You are probably on to something here. I had best be careful about what I say…Trak is probably watching… 😉
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They probably are. At least, someone is…
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There is a reason why they are doing so good. Secrets = worries = sales for them. An enjoyable read Ali. 🙂
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There’s nothing like preying on the fears of the populace when you’re looking to make a quick buck 🙂
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Haha, great take on the prompt!! I love this.
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I’m glad you liked it!
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