What IS Big Brother?

Question

I've heard so much about it, but I guess I'm not too keen on it, since I don't have cable anymore, I don't watch the news. And, I'm sad to say, I can't even afford a newspaper subscription. Can someone fill me in on Big Brother and the Patriot Act?

Answer 1

In his classic novel, 1984, George Orwell described a totalitarian society in which the government, referred to as the Party, had almost total control over the people. The supreme ruler of the Party was Big Brother. Posters announced that "Big Brother is Watching You". Telescreens droned endlessly with brainwashing propaganda about wondrous government programs. Coins, stamps, books, films, and banners proclaimed the three slogans of the Party: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.

Police Patrol helicopters darted among the roofs of the buildings, allowing police to snoop in people's windows. As insidious as the Police Patrol was, the government agents most feared were the Thought Police. The telescreens not only transmitted governmental policies, they also transmitted back to the Thought Police both sounds and pictures from inside the homes.

Distinctions between people were reduced through referring to them as "Comrade" rather than as "Mr." or "Mrs.". People were taught to hate their enemies through thought-control from the telescreens that drove the people into frenzied displays of rage and hate. Neighbors were enlisted by the Thought Police to spy on each other to root out unorthodoxy from society.

People lived by rigid schedules dictated by the Thought Police. Loud alarms were transmitted from the telescreens to announce when people should be doing the tasks that were specified by the Party, such as their daily exercises.

Walter Cronkite, in his Preface to the paperback edition of 1984 published by The New American Library, said Orwell wrote his novel as an essay on "power, how it is acquired and maintained, how those who seek it or seek to keep it tend to sacrifice anything and everything in its name." (p. 2) That statement gives us the key: the real purpose of control is power; power over others. Knowing that political leaders seek control over us should not surprise us, for government is an evolutionary thing and usually evolves towards more control.

Answer 2

The term big brother is from a book by George Orwell the title is 1984 it was off by normal time standards but very much on in terms of thinking! It is about the government monitoring all people to control their thinking and resulting behavior It is a good read I would recommend reading it as it is a cultural icon. The liberals who want their brand of big brother thought control to prevail are upset because the patriot act allows the government. to monitor personal communications to check for security threats. People that say "I am going to kill the president "their communications may get monitored. I personaly support the Patriot act but for liberals a successful terrorist attack on America would weaken the Bush administration and give them an opportunity for political gain so they are against the Patriot Act

Answer 3

"Big Brother" is the mythical leader of "The Party" in George Orwell's book, "1984". The idea is that the Party has eyes and ears everywhere, always knows what you're doing, and you had best not cross them. In the book, Orwell was referring to the Soviet Union (it was written a few years after WWII), but the term is often used to refer to a government that spies on its citizens.

The Patriot Act gives the federal government powers to look into certain activities of citizens, and as such, the term "Big Brother" is often used in reference to it. Not without valid reason, in my personal opinion. The Fourth Amendment is supposed to protect us from unnecessary search and seizure, which would include unreasonable spying on citizens, but whether or not it will do so remains to be seen.

Answer 4

Big brother means that the government or the powers that be are watching every thing you do. At all times.Cameras, recording listening in on your phone conversations It means watch what you do for BIG BROTHER is watching you. And it has a lot to do with the Patriot Act because in the name of searching for terrorists that's what they are doing . Watching you!!!

Answer 5

The term "Big Brother" is essentially taken from a book called 1984 by George Orwell. In "1984", Big Brother is the totalitarian leader, and sees all. He has cameras, microphones, agents, (anything you can name), everywhere so your every action and word is recorded.

Big Brother also punishes anybody accused of conspiring against his country. Even conspiracy is an offense and can seek jail time.

Hence the reference to the Patriot Act. Patriot Act enables the US to place cameras anywhere as they please. It also allows them to seize information, tap wires, and use satellites for recon purposes.

Patriot Act also enabled the arrests of "suspected terrorists", and the unlawful detainment of them in places such as Guantanamo Bay.

Answer 6

Big brother is a literary creation of G. Orwell in 1984 Kinda of tyrant wich spies on every move of every citizen; Big brother is just a way to name global state spying on people - including public cameras and so on Patriot act is one way of permitting that "big brother" to spy more and more by taking more of ppl liberties. Don't be afraid of Big brother; If you are who you seem you are there are chances "he" absolutely won't care about you.

Answer 7

big brother is a slang term for government.
the patriot act is the reason the government will be able to put a copy of this whole conversation in each of our files, listen to our phone conversations and coming soon to a government near you drag you out of you house in the middle of the night never to be seen again!! lol

Answer 8

Read a book entitled "1984" for the original use of the term "Big Brother"

Answer 9

a million. sure, yet no longer because they do no longer have the money. 2. The experts are an similar, i believe, in spite of the indisputable fact that the manufacturers have replaced, yet they weren't inevitably the voices you heard besides - they were commonly backroom team consisting of researchers, who replaced virtually each and every 365 days. 3. safe practices causes, and they needed better land for the completed operation. 4. can no longer help, sorry. 5. See answer 2.

Answer 10

Big Brother is the government.