What's the future of The Corroboree

[Halcyon Daze]

The way things are going with this surveillance state, I'm starting to really wonder how we can keep on with things the way they are. Surely it's only a matter of time before people start getting watched/black-listed/raided by nosy cops based solely on their comments/ PMs/ political views. Maybe even from a few years back.

I'm seriously wondering how The Corroboree may change as people adjust their online presence to fly under the radar etc.

[Halcyon Daze]

Here's an article on how Australia is spying on it's own.

http://www.eurasiareview.com/11112013-australia-spying-analysis/

[gtarman]

I think you might just be getting a bit paranoid mate...although with all the shite that's been going on in Australia of late I can't say I blame you. I think it's important to keep things in perspective to avoid freaking out in dramatic times such as these.

I mean, at the end of the day, we're only gardeners and plant-nerds. We may have obscure interests that some misinformed folks may mistake the meaning of, but the proof is in the pudding - I look around here and all I really see is a kind-hearted group of people, a pumpkin-growing contest, a sunflower-growing contest and a rather tasteless collection of cacti-related pornography lol.

If it's all a big front for selling meth to school children, I certainly haven't received my share of the profits is all I'm sayin'

Edited November 11, 2013 by gtarman

[Subaeruginosin]

Ya don't really need to wonder yourself to hard, just look at how strictly the self incriminating rules are in forced compared to what they used to be. The police have been watching this site and reading PM's here for years. There's threads about it.

You should probably just relax, doubt you have much to worry about unless your using the site to sell illegal drugs.

[gtarman]

The police have been watching this site and reading PM's here for years. There's threads about it.

Says the guy who joined a month ago lol. But nah I think I remember you saying you've been around before

I'm sure at some point a cop might browse the forums from time to time (waste of taxpayers money, but hey), but I doubt they're reading all our PM's with bated breath lol. Will everyone just take a chill pill and stop trying to get so excited.

I actually think it's funny to imagine myself as a cop reading these forums. I have to really use my imagination to make this place look like a community of hardened criminals who represent any kind of danger to society. And I think if somebody were to be reading all my posts and/or PM's then well bloody good luck to 'em haha...I get a kick out of thinking that we might be teaching the police a thing or two about gardening anyway.

I like to think that maybe the guy in the surveillance van is secretly growing a pumpkin at home and is torn up inside that he can't join in the competition and post pictures of it.

[Halcyon Daze]

I'm more concerned about the forum than myself. I have nothing to hide after my little clean out, but if the shit ever hit the fan then it would seriously change things around here.

Not being paranoid but just raising the issue for conversation sake.

[Subaeruginosin]

Says the guy who joined a month ago lol. But nah I think I remember you saying you've been around before

How vigilant.

Nah, I’m just fucking with ya braz. But I should have probably been less ambiguous in what I said, in that it has been claimed in past threads that they have had access to PM’s in the past and I’m quite sure they monitor, troll and even try to gain respected member status on all Australian forums where the possibility of illegal activity or civil disobedience might occur. They wouldn't be doing their jobs properly if they didn't.

But I do agree it’s a complete waste of taxpayers money, particularly on this site where the overwhelming majority of members are peaceful gardeners, who may occasionally show an interest in plants that are rarely heard of in popular culture and may have a borderline legal status.

[quarterflesh]

Trust me..... im not a cop i swear. Or am i

[gtarman]

I'm more concerned about the forum than myself. I have nothing to hide after my little clean out, but if the shit ever hit the fan then it would seriously change things around here.

Not being paranoid but just raising the issue for conversation sake.

Yeah fair enough. That's definitely a valid comment I suppose with all the right wing attacks on freedom of association and expression, and of course the batshit-crazy war on drugs...it's sad that they're still ignoring the actual problems and instead casting their net of criminalization so wide that even the harmless, well-meaning and responsible folk like the ones around here are getting caught up in it. It's almost embarrassing how ridiculous it is.

Edited November 11, 2013 by gtarman

[Alice]

Again, it comes down to what you make public here. Who can say for sure what they do or don't watch?

If you draw attention to yourself by making incriminating/suggestive posts, then you must realise that there is a chance that they will show an interest, no matter how benign you might think your activities to be.

You choose what they see.

I don't think we will see any dramatic changes in posting style here, I think we already play nice and have a good set of guidelines to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

Edited November 11, 2013 by Alice

[upside]

I was watching some cop show the other night from NZ. what caught my attention was the fact they were out on patrol one night and through a slip of the tongue,, the voice over explaining what they were doing said how they were out looking for trouble. I understand he meant trouble making civilians,, but I thought how ironic! lol

[Slybacon]

I see Forums turning to Hidden Services.

[C_T]

surprised there isnt more invite only forums.

many years ago invite only, closed forums were the centerpoint of information but this seems to have been forgetten in recent years for open public forum discussing.