The film Black Mirror and the article “If You’re Not Paranoid You’re Crazy” shared the common belief of the idea of privacy or more so the “idea” of private or secret information. Both highlighted the willingness people have to have their privacy violated if given the option to do so because one might believe that choice is not a violation. Moreover, as with the example of having the tracking monitors put into the car gave people a discount on car insurance, people believed that they “have nothing to hide” but often do not take into consideration the smallest private act such as picking in their noses while driving. People also tend to believe that unless they are famous they have no reason to be “paranoid” or under watchful eye. However, as mentioned in the article, people often do not consider the other things that can be done with such a simple device. Just like the computer I am typing on in the Buckman computer lab has a camera in it. Before reading the article, I thought, “Oh, that’s cool CBU got an upgrade” not thinking that the cameras could be used to monitor this computer lab, prevent thefts but nonetheless secreting violating my privacy just like the “guy who admitted to spying on his girlfriend through her camera”. Furthermore, we have a tendency to trust that our government or people of authority would not violate our privacy without telling us as it violates our right to privacy. As Americans, the word “right” holds an unforeseen power to us. We think because it is our “right” the government will not dare to violate such sacredness. Nonetheless, we see such violations when you get a new phone number but receive calls from telemarketers or when we agree to have a device placed on us to receive a discount. In such times, money is more sacred than privacy or protecting someone’s privacy.

In addition, Black Mirror illustrated people’s willingness to air their “dirty laundry” just as people do on social media. People will often post their most embarrassing moments for attention. As sharing becomes the norm, people value privacy less just as the main character was required to show his most private moments with a stranger at the airport security.  The movie and article make one wonder what the future has in store for us. Will the government one day require us to be injected with tracking devices? What happens to babies when they are taken to the nursery after birth? Why would people want a device implanted that records and broadcasts their memories? People value their special moments in life and don’t want to forget them. In the case of Black Mirror, people illustrated a willingness to violate their privacy if they felt that they were doing so for a good reason or personal gain. However, the film also illustrated the idea of conformity and consequences for not conforming. For instance, the young lady without a recording device could not help Jason because she had no brain chip to dial the police. They were not willing to offer assistance to her because she did not fit into society. Lastly, at the end, we saw how conformity also is painful when the main character could vividly see and remember every detail that was not present.