The Panopticon and you!
So I have yet to hear back from that interview. I figure they want to actually interview a bunch of people before giving word out. I also figure that I would be so hard to replace in my current role that that might hinder me. But then again, so might the lack of experience.
So I got my first paper back. Got a 19 out of 20. So I guess I am doing something right. Got a new paper due next Wednesday, this one is on surveillance. It’s also about a panopticon. Which is a prison concept that this guy invented in 1781, I think. It’s basically a way to watch someone without them watching you, so you are always under the assumption that you are being watched and thus act differently. Less violent, more calm. To take it to a metaphorical concept, it is a two-sided mirror, in a psych’s office. You tend to act “less crazy” when you are being watched. So no matter if someone is on the other side of the mirror or not, you assume they are there and thus act “less crazy”.
This same concept was applied to a call center environment, which I immediately identified with. I found a research paper on customer service call centers and the “Electronic panopticon” effect on them. Which is an interesting concept. Think back to all the threats that your supervisor has said to you while in a call center job. “I can see everything on your computer.” “I listen to everything you say.” Statements like these are used to govern over you even when you are not being directly governed. They use your own “guilt” to rule over you.
I was talking to Greg last night about this and he brought up an interesting point. When you are told about these measures being used against you, and you see through it. You tend to exploit it and not give a fuck. You almost challenge the system. So it seems that for a few of us, this system of control hurts the controllers more then it assists.
Ah, wow, I totally just rambled a shit tons! Sorry for that. Anyways it’s interesting when put into an environment that I know so well.
So I got my first paper back. Got a 19 out of 20. So I guess I am doing something right. Got a new paper due next Wednesday, this one is on surveillance. It’s also about a panopticon. Which is a prison concept that this guy invented in 1781, I think. It’s basically a way to watch someone without them watching you, so you are always under the assumption that you are being watched and thus act differently. Less violent, more calm. To take it to a metaphorical concept, it is a two-sided mirror, in a psych’s office. You tend to act “less crazy” when you are being watched. So no matter if someone is on the other side of the mirror or not, you assume they are there and thus act “less crazy”.
This same concept was applied to a call center environment, which I immediately identified with. I found a research paper on customer service call centers and the “Electronic panopticon” effect on them. Which is an interesting concept. Think back to all the threats that your supervisor has said to you while in a call center job. “I can see everything on your computer.” “I listen to everything you say.” Statements like these are used to govern over you even when you are not being directly governed. They use your own “guilt” to rule over you.
I was talking to Greg last night about this and he brought up an interesting point. When you are told about these measures being used against you, and you see through it. You tend to exploit it and not give a fuck. You almost challenge the system. So it seems that for a few of us, this system of control hurts the controllers more then it assists.
Ah, wow, I totally just rambled a shit tons! Sorry for that. Anyways it’s interesting when put into an environment that I know so well.