--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been asked to explain why I don't…" description: "\"I've been asked to explain why I don't worry much about the topics of privacy threat...One reason is that these scenarios seem to assume that there wil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/bruce-sterling-3596_assuming_i-ve-been-asked-to-explain-why-i-don-t-w_2787811.png" --- # I've been asked to explain why I don't worry much about… ![“I've been asked to explain why I don't worry much about the topics of privacy threat...One reason is that these scenarios seem to assume that there will be large, monolithic bureaucracies...that are capable of harnessing computers for one-way surveillance of an unsuspecting populace. I've come to…” quote by Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/bruce-sterling-3596_assuming_i-ve-been-asked-to-explain-why-i-don-t-w_2787811.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/bruce-sterling-3596_assuming_i-ve-been-asked-to-explain-why-i-don-t-w_2787811.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/bruce-sterling-3596_assuming_i-ve-been-asked-to-explain-why-i-don-t-w_2787811.png) > “I've been asked to explain why I don't worry much about the topics of privacy threat...One reason is that these scenarios seem to assume that there will be large, monolithic bureaucracies...that are capable of harnessing computers for one-way surveillance of an unsuspecting populace. I've come to feel that computation just doesn't work that way. Being afraid of monolithic organizations especially when they have computers, is like being afraid of really big gorillas especially when they are on fire.” [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear of monolithic surveillance is exaggerated; reality shows that large systems are not omnipotent. **In simple terms:** Surveillance fear is overstated. Key Takeaway Critically assess threats of centralized power. Themes technology surveillance skepticism Mood cautious analytical Type critical informative When to use this quote - policy debates - tech ethics - public discourse Key Concepts privacy systems analysis Questions to Reflect On - What real threats exist to privacy? - How can individuals protect themselves? A Different Perspective May underestimate genuine privacy risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-afraid/) [Bureaucracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy/) [Computation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computation/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Free speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-speech/) [Gorillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gorillas/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Privacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privacy/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Surveillance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surveillance/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Unsuspecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unsuspecting/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [Never get angry. Never make a threat. Reason with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/never-get-angry-never-make-a-threat-reason-with-people/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [I feel the word 'privacy' is under threat, majorly. We are forgetting that a celebrity is also a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riya-sen/i-feel-the-word-privacy-is-under-threat-majorly-we-are-forgetting/) [Riya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riya-sen/) > [An unforseen future nestled somewhere in time. Unsuspecting victims no warnings, no signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slayer/an-unforseen-future-nestled-somewhere-in-time-unsuspecting-victims-no/) [Slayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slayer/) > [With satanic joy in his face, the black-haired Jewish youth lurks in wait for the unsuspecting girl whom he defiles with his blood, thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/with-satanic-joy-in-his-face-the-black-haired-jewish-youth-lurks-in/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Fate intervened. Some of us, that day, she led inexorably through the gates of death. Some of us, innocent and unsuspecting, took, unwillingly, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-jackson/fate-intervened-some-of-us-that-day-she-led-inexorably-through-the/) [Shirley Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-jackson/) > [“Ninety percent of a shirt that not only was bright purple and green but with a design on it that, if you moved too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/ninety-percent-of-a-shirt-that-not-only-was-bright-purple-and-green/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [Occasionally an unsuspecting innocent will stumble into a movie like this and send me an anguished postcard, asking how I could possibly give a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/occasionally-an-unsuspecting-innocent-will-stumble-into-a-movie-like/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [My mother was a feminist, and she gave me some tools of self-possession and self-empowerment, but now that I have lived here for forty-three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/my-mother-was-a-feminist-and-she-gave-me-some-tools-of-self/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [For a long time I felt that FDR had developed many thoughts and ideas that were his own to benefit this country, the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-bean-dall/for-a-long-time-i-felt-that-fdr-had-developed-many-thoughts-and-ideas/) Curtis Bean Dall > [The affected modesty of most women is a decoy for the generous, the delicate, and unsuspecting; while the artful, the bold, and unfeeling either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-affected-modesty-of-most-women-is-a-decoy-for-the-generous-the/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [A cut glass English accent can fool unsuspecting Americans into detecting a brilliance that isn't there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/a-cut-glass-english-accent-can-fool-unsuspecting-americans-into/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“It is unclear if corporate governments are truly the dunces of human health or if they are just faking it in order to propagate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unclear-if-corporate-governments-are-truly-the-dunces-of-human/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, often violently, just like love. It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/accidents-ambush-the-unsuspecting-often-violently-just-like-love-it/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/a-movie-is-not-about-what-it-is-about-it-is-about-how-it-is-about-it/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## More by Bruce Sterling > [They used to be seen as insane or unthinkable acts of madmen. But if they take place they'll be called 'war' too. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/they-used-to-be-seen-as-insane-or-unthinkable-acts-of-madmen-but-if/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“You give a guy a license to steal, you've got to expect him to use it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/you-give-a-guy-a-license-to-steal-you-ve-got-to-expect-him-to-use-it/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“America hadn't really been suited for its long and tiresome role as the Last Superpower, the World's Policeman. As a patriotic American, Oscar was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/america-hadn-t-really-been-suited-for-its-long-and-tiresome-role-as/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“But the economy's out of control. Money just doesn't need human beings anymore. Most of us only get in the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/but-the-economy-s-out-of-control-money-just-doesn-t-need-human-beings/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [It's going to be really interesting to see what the heroin market does in the next two years or so. One thing you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/it-s-going-to-be-really-interesting-to-see-what-the-heroin-market/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Information wants you to give me a dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/information-wants-you-to-give-me-a-dollar/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Architects thrive after massive urban disasters. The abject collapse of East Berlin gave us the only city in Europe with a mighty host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/architects-thrive-after-massive-urban-disasters-the-abject-collapse/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Information wants to be free. Believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/information-wants-to-be-free-believe-it/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [The internet brought many laudable things, but prosperity, stability, accountability and honest politics were not four of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/the-internet-brought-many-laudable-things-but-prosperity-stability/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I was once a student in a punk T-Shirt hooked on screwed-up scenarios. That's how I became the esteemed cultural figure that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-was-once-a-student-in-a-punk-t-shirt-hooked-on-screwed-up-scenarios/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [ “If America suffers from drugs, perhaps you should ask what America is lacking, \[“What an asshole,”\] Eric King commented suddenly. They ignored him.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/if-america-suffers-from-drugs-perhaps-you-should-ask-what-america-is/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“Forget trying to pass for normal. Follow your geekdom. Embrace nerditude. In the immortal words of Lafcadio Hearn, a geek of incredible obscurity whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/forget-trying-to-pass-for-normal-follow-your-geekdom-embrace/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I like to get paid for doing basic research, so it's pleasant to write some nonfiction about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-like-to-get-paid-for-doing-basic-research-so-it-s-pleasant-to-write/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Find a client and get a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/find-a-client-and-get-a-job/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I wouldn't describe that "position" as "parasitic." I'd describe that experience as "edifying." I don't merely write from a critical intellectual distance. I actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-wouldn-t-describe-that-position-as-parasitic-i-d-describe-that/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) [Explore all 126 Bruce Sterling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been asked to explain why I don't worry much about the topics of privacy threat...One reason is that these scenarios seem to assume that there will be large, monolithic bureaucracies...that are capable of harnessing computers for one-way surveillance of an unsuspecting populace. I've come to feel that computation just doesn't work that way. 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