Black Mirror Theory

The 'black mirror theory' is a term invented by a UK television series creator, Charlie Brooker. And it describes the tendency for human society's uptake of new technology to virtually always entail unforeseen, and unintended consequences which alter the way people live their lives.

The 'black mirror' means the screen you have on your wall, on your desk, in your hand, which you turn on at some point.

...How to bribe and corrupt a female spy

The whole thing is of course pretty dystopian in the television series, as much of Charlie Brooker's work always has been, and it also still now maintains this same dystopian vision about the modern world.

I don't hold the view that things are bound to be dystopian no matter what. Certainly not anymore. Yes, no doubt whatsoever there are going to be major disruptions and catastrophes and social dysfunction ahead for the world - that is unavoidable. But we simply cannot over-do the focus that things are bound to be bad no matter what, or that there won't be those of us who will do well without breaking laws or engaging in the fraudulent aspects of all modern economies.

Here, in this Blog, for all of us who participate here, we aim to do well.

I like technology. I don't need to give it up. And neither should any of you, give up on technology. 

How to bribe and corrupt a male spy: 'your mission, Mr X,
should you choose to accept it
is to have these amazing deluxe London socks.'

I think the NSA probably has a reasonable role in archiving everyone's communications as a side-effect of being able to interdict serious potential threats - that was never the issue to begin with; the issue was who was misusing those archived recordings, secretly, and for malevolent reasons and their own interests?

And can we trust the half dozen or so recently-appointed women heads of divisions inside today's CIA?

I guess I would put the question back to them: what do you see when you switch on that black mirror you women now have!