If you are a 'free' thinker and explore ideas 'outside the box', are you a target of the security services?

Question

I refer specifically to use of the internet - do the security services monitor both questions and answers on 'Yahoo answers', and do our questions and answers make it more likely we will get the 'knock on the door' at some-time.
I have some very radical questions to ask and views to express but I am reluctant to do so.

Answer 1

I am a free Thinker and think you should be able to ask any question you want my man. Only fellow users can stop it being out there and if the knock comes -bring it on. Maybe then you'll get some answers! I'll be watching.....

Answer 2

In the United States of America, there is a right protected under the first amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Government that:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Thus, you should not be afraid of being disturbed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the rightful exercise of the freedom of speech. However, it is not wise to call for violent action against the government or stockpile illegal powerful fire-arms under the banner of "freedom of speech" or "freedom of religion", two good examples of this are:

1. The Waco, Texas incident involving the Branch Davidian.

2. The killing of the Puerto Rican nationalist leader Filiberto Ojeda Rios

Answer 3

Well, we live in 'interesting times', like the man said, but if you've really got something worthy of an answer, go ahead and ask...
In the United States, at least, we place great value on freedom, and we try to practice our freedoms. Well, some of us, sometimes, when we're not too busy running for the 5:30 bus, or worrying if we've got rent in the bag this month, mundane worldly concerns that'll be with us 'til we die, most likely, for most people, but there's also life at a Higher Level, philosophy, religion, politics, innovation, invention, creativity, those things are just as, if not more important than promoting the growth of the GDP.
I've met some really odd types in life, they help break the monotony of the day-planner crowd, in my view, I think a smart man sees the merits of both exploration and stability, and tries to balance the two against each other to try and achieve wise solutions to questions/problems. I think if you're one of the people out there out to burn the planet to ashes, you're going to meet criticism, and rightly so, 'cause I don't think anyone's got the right to carry others down the road to hell.as it were. I try to listen to as many people as will talk to me, as I find that different views help me learn, and edify my own. But, I also think that other people are flat-out loons sometimes, some people have some really whacked ideas about life and the world, and some of em are bent on violence. My advice is to do your own thinking in this life, and steer clear of people that have a perpetual chip on their shoulder. Good luck!

Answer 4

Target is a harsh word. Not to be PC we may be of interest for more positive reasons. Remember how the cannon was made after Marco Polo returned home,or how about the machine gun deriving from party conversation in D.C. with Mr Gatling. Information brokers are blooming this year again so better to fear the papparazzi freelance 'journalists.'

Answer 5

Yeah I'm afraid so, keywords are skimmed+picked out, your phone calls are scanned+even worse your mobile network knows where u are and who you call, this is even before satellites.
Watch 'Enemy of the State' the technology was in place when Clinton was in power, God knows what Bush is doing.
The worrying thing is u can post a letter or send an encrypted message and they are lost.
The anti terror laws have got legitimate law abiding citizens in George Orwell 1984 territory.

Answer 6

Ask the questions. If people fear asking only questions then democracy has truly gone down the plughole.

If you want to know how to make a bomb then I'd investigate you. But if it's a philosophical, ethical, political, social, cultural... question, ASK!

The Internet may be monitored but it also links free-thinkers.
Ask and be damned. Ask and taste freedom.

Answer 7

Well with Bush's spy news all over they probably do watch over things on the net to some extent, but I highly doubt unless you are really out there with your ideas say like building a bomb or saying you wanna murder someone that no one would bother watching you. As long as your views are not threatening or hurtful to anyone you should be fine.

Answer 8

I hear lots of stories about that and I tried it once to see if anyone could find me on myspace... so far no knock, I think your ok as long as you ask questions in a hypothetical term. But yahoo answers are Nazi's and will delete tons of questions they don't like.

Answer 9

Not if your actions speak louder than words! LOL!
I may be conservative, but I will be the first in line to defend your right to whatever you want to say as long as you are not doing the saying from a position of authority over others that have no recourse.
We do online... students don't

Answer 10

I have some fairly "different" spiritual and political opinions and have posted them online here, although I try to use discretion.

No problems yet, but who knows. I live in Canada though, don't know if that makes a difference.

But I'm not going to let the fear of something that might happen prohibit me. Well...too much! :)