From: Michael Wiik (mwiik@messagenet.com)
Date: Tue Aug 20 2002 - 02:52:02 MDT
Security thru audio track manipulation
I'm thinking, one way we can improve homeland security is by adjusting
the populace to accept an increased level of law enforcement as normal.
And what better way to do this than thru television?
This can be accomplished fairly inexpensively by simply adding audio
elements in existing television shows. I'm thinking, mostly police
sirens, barked orders, and short bursts of machine gun fire. Typical
sounds we should all get used to. No explosions though (the terrorists
are always caught before they commit their cowardly acts). These
elements could be inserted into almost any scene which wasn't dependent
on such sounds for dramatic effect. They'd all in the background, close
enough to hear, but not so close as to sound immediately dangerous.
And since such sounds weren't in the original scripts, the actors
wouldn't have any reactions to them. In other words, they are orderly,
not prone to panic. They would be role models of exemplary behavoir in a
dangerous time. They'd know that if this was a real emergency, the radio
or television would tell them what to do, where to go, and who to report
to. They'd know this because broadcasters in their area, in voluntary
cooperation with the FCC and other authorities, have developed this
system to keep them informed in the event of an emergency.
Think of like a scene from 'Father Knows Best' where Dad comes home and
Mom and Bud and Betty all gather round to greet him. Their brief
celebration of Dad's homecoming isn't in the least disturbed by the
sounds of sirens, barked orders and short bursts of weapons fire from
somewhere outside. It doesn't faze them at all. They know in their heart
that 'Government Knows Best'. This wouldn't work for 'Gilligan's Island'
though.
This might sound silly, but I think it could help, especially over time.
The War on Terrorism is scheduled for a multi-decade run anyway.
Eventually we'd come to accept such sounds as comforting, a reminder the
government is constantly looking out for us. Children would be lulled to
sleep by the faint, soothing sounds of distant machine gun fire going
ratatatatat in the night.
But personally I don't watch much television, other than certain
gorgeous CNN anchorwomen.
-Mike
PS. Another similar idea would be church-sponsored 'All clear'
loudspeaker trucks. While I'm sure there's laws against spreading false
emergency bulletins, I'm not sure there's any laws against spreading
order and calmness. This 'faith-based security' solution has the
aforementioned trucks rolling thru neighborhoods continually intoning
'ALL CLEAR. DO NOT PANIC. EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER. GO ABOUT YOUR
BUSINESS. GOD BE WITH YOU.'
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