(Untitled)

[greenjet]

So this afternoon I was heading back home after a trip to Home Depot, where we manly men stock up on "tools" and "hardware" and "lumber" for our manly-men "projects", when suddenly all the warning lights on my dash lit. When they went back out, the tach, speedometer, and fuel gage all read zero. Astounding as I had just filled the tank up and was

Comments

[lovinlorne]

According to the commercials, the On*Star people are to be trusted with your life, so I guess I'd listen to him.

[greenjet]

Well, the idea that there's someone there when bad things happen is nice. It's when they sit there and tell me stuff about what's wrong with my truck that it gets weird.

But yeah, the truck's heading into the service department Tuesday.

Anyway, it's the black box under the seat that'll get you thrown in jail, not the On*Star folks. ;)

[hitwoman]

I'm not sure what exactly anyone at OnStar could do with information about your car. Assuming, of course, you don't do anything illegal, 'cause I'm thinking committing a major crime while you're being tracked on satellite is probably not the wisest move.

Stay on the right side of Johnny Law and all will be well. ;)

[greenjet]

I have issues with the notion that being spied upon is okay as long as you're not doing anything illegal. 'Cause, you know, right now it's just looking for terrorists.

Oh, and drug lords.

Next week, they'll be looking for people who object to NBC's new fall line-up.

[hitwoman]

Well, I don't necessarily think it's okay, and I didn't mean to make it sound like I'm a big proponent of OnStar or anything. I just can't see how, right now, it's a bad thing for some guy you don't know in Chicago to know that your transmission is wonky. I think, in your shoes, I'd just be glad that someone somewhere knows what the problem is. Then again, I hate having to deal with dealerships and autoshops and trying to explain to someone what that noise sounds like or how it's driving, so skipping any and all of those steps is a Very Good Thing in my book.

And if they're looking for people who will almost certainly object to NBC's new fall line-up, I'm already on that list.

[greenjet]

I think, in your shoes, I'd just be glad that someone somewhere knows what the problem is.

Well, yes. The rest is just something to think about. I mean, if it really bothered me that much, I'd just pull the fuse from the On*Star system and be done with it.

[florrie]

Wow. Both my cars are old enough that they have wires and bits in the engine that you can hit with a shoe if they go wrong. I think I like it that way.

[berttheevil]

Technology like that is so much simpler.

My DVD player was jumping and not playing DVD's properly, and so my dad decided to have a look at it. He had it for about a week and then decided I needed to buy a DVD cleaner which are about £10.

I said, nah, forget that. BAM! I hit the player on the top while a DVD was playing and jumping and sticking and it started playing better than it had ever done before.

A little violence goes a long way...

[greenjet]

I've had those kinds of cars too. Overall, I think the ones with computers and satellite communications are easier to live with. Until they inform on you, of course.

[platypush]

Big *OnStar* Brother is watching you.

Seriously, it's a good thing as far as security of person goes, because it's a technology that is promoted as enabling safety and assistance for people who need help. It's a bad thing as far as civil liberties go, because it's a technology that is capable of being used to invade your privacy. So my standard answer is that it's a neutral thing, as with all technology - it's how it's used that makes it good or bad. But don't mind me. I'm in such despair about the current state of the world (influenced by both the US election and the Canadian one) that I'm going to move to a deserted island and only allow people who are of like mind to inhabit utopia with me. *g*

[greenjet]

...it's how it's used that makes it good or bad.

Oh, come on. How can I fuel my paranoia with comments like this?