Comments on: Trading Security for Freedom

By: Sunday Snippet: Helen Keller on Safety « Beyond the Rhetoric

Sunday Snippet: Helen Keller on Safety « Beyond the Rhetoric — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:03:42 +0000

[...] the wind and take as many unnecessary risks as possible, but we should take some opportunities to sacrifice our security for something possibly greater. As Helen Keller teaches us, avoiding the danger and leading a life [...]

By: Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone « Beyond the Rhetoric

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone « Beyond the Rhetoric — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:02:04 +0000

[...] give you a place that feels safe, because you have a very good idea of what to expect and, as such, you already have canned [...]

By: EarningStep

EarningStep — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:20:22 +0000

i have to agree with you 50-50… we need to make it balance … yeah both of them are very important

By: Ray Ebersole

Ray Ebersole — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:02:19 +0000

I would prefer security over freedom in a lot of things, such as airport security and school security. I have experience in the school security area, especially when we have lock downs because of a police incident just off campus.

It’s a shame that we need to be so security conscious.

By: betshopboy

betshopboy — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:25:51 +0000

A 50-50 balance balance between security and freedom can never be achieved in terms of practicality.

In the context of airport security, I don’t mind putting up with hassles and inconveniences in exchange for personal safety from possible “human threats”.

By: dcr

dcr — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:37:04 +0000

One thing I think people often overlook is that freedom itself provides additional security benefits.

Some people express themselves in crazy ways, but, for many people, if they can have their say, they’re content.

Plus, you may also gain a better grasp on who might be a threat. If people are free to express themselves, they’re not hiding their thoughts where no one can see them. You might feel safe because no one is acting out, but those repressed feelings remain bottled up. Sooner or later, the bottle will burst.

Similarly, a lot of security measures provide only a sense of security and not necessarily real security. Sometimes it’s like going through the motions. They give the appearance that you’re safe, but really you’re at the same risk as before. You might also be at greater risk because a greater perception of security can lead to letting your guard down, which then poses a security risk.

It’s not much different than having a job. Many people will choose a job–working for someone else–rather than self-employment, as they view the job as the safer choice. However, that rug can be pulled out from under you at any time. So, you don’t really have job security; you have a sense of security. And, if you had a false sense of security and weren’t prepared for a possible job loss, you may end up in really bad shape.

Sometimes, illusions of security can be a greater threat than an actual threat because of the increased risk of being caught unprepared.