Saturday, May 22, 2010

This is apparently satire so subtle...

...That try as I might, I just can't grasp the point.

Okay, the subject is SnapScouts, which purports to be an Android app kids can download (How many little kids carry Androids?) for the purpose of ...
...earn[ing] tons of cool badges and prizes while competing with you (sic) friends to see who can be the best American? Download the SnapScouts app for your Android phone (iPhone app coming soon) and get started patrolling your neighborhood.

It's up to you to keep America safe! If you see something suspicious, Snap it! If you see someone who doesn't belong, Snap it! Not sure if someone or something is suspicious? Snap it anyway!

Play with your friends and family to see who can get the best prizes. Join the SnapScouts today!
Wait, wait, wait. Don't let your blood hit the boiling point just yet, because there's a twist:
SnapScout and SnapScout Reports are produced and developed by MiniTru, LLC. Created in 2008 by George Parsons and Winston O'Brien, MiniTru LLC leverages modern technology to address the timeless threats to democracy and freedom.
So now it sounds like Orwellian satire. But the rest of the site...I can't quite decide if they're "fer it or agin' it." Or even what "it" might be in this case. I can't even really tell if there's an actual app involved. There's some sort of software you can download, but I don't know what it is and certainly didn't download it.

Assuming it's a hoax, (and I don't believe "minitru LLC" isn't a hoax) what's the point? Part of the mark of good satire is to ... have a point.

First seen on War on Guns, but it's pretty much everywhere once I looked.

1 comment:

jack said...

Hmm... dunno, the point might be that some people think training kids to be little snitches is a good idea?