The above Latin phrase was popularized in the movie/graphic novel series Watchmen. Translated, it means"who watches the watchmen?" This morality question has stood the test of time because, as is typical of Latin pith, the dense words suppose a darker question within. That is: if the population needs to be observed in order to behave, then what behavior do we expect from the watchmen, whose actions are unobserved?
People behave better under observance. This is an unquestionable truth. I wonder, then, how does the new norm of maintaining a constant online presence mesh with this principle? In the digital age, aren't we all the watchers? And when the watchmen and watchmen watchers are one, what happens to absolute power?
More self-satisfied ponderings coming tomorrow.
