# What role, if any, could 'old tech' play in resistance movements? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2025, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240 "2025-01-22T02:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/1 "2025-01-22T02:40:51Z")
Not sure where in the world this question belongs on here, or if it should be on here at all, but I’m broadly curious about the fact that privacy could be difficult to come by, these days. We pretty much gave up our privacy with smartphones. Just wondering what could be done, if anything, by utilizing old technology? Not just regarding privacy, but elsewhere in a resistance movement? Is there a chance certain authoritative powers may be over reliant on tech advancements? (A-la a Martial Arts crook showing off his moves in front of Batman to intimidate, only for Batman to swiftly and easily best him in the confrontation by much more simple means)? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/2 "2025-01-22T02:46:50Z")
Clearly hi-tech surveillance of hi-tech communications is easy & cheap in bulk. Surveillance by any means of old low-tech communication was prohibitively expensive and labor intensive. Which is why we didn’t need laws to protect our privacy in 1940 or even 1960. The government could not afford to surveil all of us or even a tiny fraction of us. Corporate America both had no reason to, and _really_ couldn’t afford to. So there’s that. Fancy counter-drone gear to prevent an attack by a flying grenade or baby bomb won’t stop somebody who rides up on horseback or walks up on foot carrying the same munition in a backpack. etc. Your OP is so cagily worded as to make it hard to see what else you might be thinking. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/3 "2025-01-22T02:55:16Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Your OP is so cagily worded as to make it hard to see what else you might be thinking. I understand and that’s for 2 reasons; 1. I’m afraid to ask specific questions. 2. I don’t know if I’m sure what I’m asking for, specifically, either, to be honest… but I’m very curious about the topic and the discourse it may invite. - if that’s okay? Not trying to break rules or come off as intellectually lazy. I just think it’s an interesting thing to discuss and I haven’t seen anyone bring it up on here… but I’m no expert on the subject. So… kinda putting it out there? I don’t even know of it should be asked on here, but… I’m really curious is all. Also, very interesting response. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/4 "2025-01-22T03:03:06Z")
What or who are you afraid of? If the mods, ask them for permission or run the risk of your thread being cornfielded. Neither of those is a bad outcome for you. If the secret police, get a grip. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/5 "2025-01-22T03:08:33Z")
I don’t know what “cornfieled” refers to, but I’m “afraid” (Should have maybe used less dramatic language) of breaking any rules on here. I’m not concerned about a secret police, but just openly asking questions on a public message board. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/6 "2025-01-22T03:11:52Z")
The most recent version of what the OP was talking about was Hezbollah’s use of pagers for communication. Since the Israeli’s had hacked cell phones with [Pegasus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_(spyware)) spy ware, they switched to the more primitive forms which weren’t so easily hacked. Of course that had [problems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Lebanon_electronic_device_attacks) of its own. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/7 "2025-01-22T03:13:38Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > The most recent version of what the OP was talking about was Hezbollah’s use of pagers for communication. Since the Israeli’s had hacked cell phones with [Pegasus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_(spyware)) spy ware, they switched to the more primitive forms which weren’t so easily hacked. Of course that had [problems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Lebanon_electronic_device_attacks) of its own. Oh wow. That didn’t turn out like they had hoped. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/8 "2025-01-22T03:21:26Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > I don’t know what “cornfieled” refers to > **[It's a Good Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Good_Life)** > > "It's a Good Life" is a short story by American writer Jerome Bixby, written in 1953. In 1970, the Science Fiction Writers of America selected it for The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, as one of the 20 best short stories in science fiction published prior to the Nebula Award. The story was first published in Star Science Fiction Stories No.2. The story was adapted in 1961 into an episode of The Twilight Zone. > Anthony Fremont is a three-year-old boy with near-godlike powers: He can tr... > [@](#): > > Anthony Fremont is a three-year-old boy with near-godlike powers: He can transform other people, animals or objects into anything he wishes, think new things into being, teleport himself and others where he wishes, read the minds of people and animals and even revive the dead. His appearance is never completely described; the story mentions his “odd shadow” and “bright, wet, purple gaze”, and the obstetrician at his birth was said to have “screamed and dropped him and tried to kill him”. The town’s children are told that Anthony is a “nice goblin”, but they must never go near him. > > Anthony’s powers were present at birth, as he was able to kill the obstetrician and then, instinctively, separate his birthplace, the town of Peaksville, Ohio, from the rest of Earth moments after he was born. Nobody knows whether Anthony transported Peaksville somewhere or whether the rest of the world was destroyed and only the town remains. > > There is no electricity, and the residents have to make their own things and grow their own food; the latter is somewhat difficult, as Anthony changes the weather according to his whims. The adults must satisfy Anthony’s every whim, or risk displeasing him. Nobody is safe from Anthony, not even his own family, although they can sometimes influence him slightly; after a “smiling” suggestion from his father, **Anthony sends the remains of his victims into graves in the family cornfield** , after he has finished with them. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/9 "2025-01-22T03:21:41Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > I don’t know what “cornfieled” refers to, but I’m “afraid” (Should have maybe used less dramatic language) of breaking any rules on here. “Cornfielded” means “made to vanish”. It’s a reference to the Twilight Zone episode/sci fi short story [It’s a _Good_ Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Good_Life_(The_Twilight_Zone)) where people the reality-warping child villain didn’t like were “sent to the cornfield”. EDIT: And ninjaed ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/10 "2025-01-22T04:13:22Z")
Ok. If it vanishes, it vanishes. I didn’t really have expectations regarding it’s fate, but wanted to bring it up in case someone had anything useful or interesting to say. . ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/11 "2025-01-22T04:55:05Z")
Not sure they are old tech, but carrier pigeons were used as an alternative to radio, for example by the French Resistance, who had English pigeons dropped to them to send messages back before D-Day. The French Army still maintains carrier pigeons. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/12 "2025-01-22T05:36:27Z")
Depends what tech. Obviously, plain telephone service gets digitized and sent through standard trunk lines. I wonder if line of sight laser modulation (or to get more primitive, blinking morse code) would be practical? If the light source were deep in the building set far back from the window, you’d have to be close of line-of-sight to catch it. Many people get tin-foil-hat paranoid over high flying drone surveillance (probably for good reason) but it seems to me a network of wide awnings and tunnel passages through buildings would make tracking a person difficult. Perhaps plenty of outdoor lighting to help blind eye-in-the-sky. There’s the solution from _Minority Report_ where everyone carries the same coloured umbrella. (Which IIRC was also used in real life?) The downside of this is that computers analyzing video would have no problem tracking a single umbrella in a crowd. I think it was some Sci-Fi story where people were wearing full-face gauze masks to confuse facial recognition software. Doctorow had a story where people wore baseball caps that projected a rapid cycle of faces onto the wearer’s face to confuse facial recognition. there’s also adding and removing lifts to confuse height detection, etc. (I’m surprised at the actions of Hamas the last few days. I’m sure the IDF has high altitude drones taking video which they will analyze to see where Hamas fighters emerge from and disappear to. In the first ceasefire, Hamas specifically demanded no air surveillance.) Reminds me too of the story the Americans tried to track the Ho Chi Mihn trail with sensors that could detect urine odor. Viet Cong proceeded to hang buckets of urine randomly on trees. I was in London for the Mayday parades in 2000, and after the riots there I saw a group of young men on the subway (tube) changing jackets and such from their backpacks, so the station cameras could not match them up and identify the stop they got off going home from the riot. OTOH, a loss prevention officer where my wife works mentioned the bad guys change their clothes, wear masks, but forget to take off their distinctive $300 sneakers that make them easy to identify. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/13 "2025-01-22T06:19:00Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > Reminds me too of the story the Americans tried to track the Ho Chi Mihn trail with sensors that could detect urine odor. Viet Cong proceeded to hang buckets of urine randomly on trees. Urine odor sensors?? I’ll definitely have to look into that one. > [@md-2000](#): > > OTOH, a loss prevention officer where my wife works mentioned the bad guys change their clothes, wear masks, but forget to take off their distinctive $300 sneakers that make them easy to identify. Why wouldn’t they have thought to change their shoes? Or did they think it’d be minor, overlooked, detail? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/14 "2025-01-22T08:23:31Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > Urine odor sensors?? I’ll definitely have to look into that one. I think they were called “dogs”. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/15 "2025-01-22T08:28:29Z")
The Why Files, in “Quantum Armageddon,” says that after encryption is permanently blown by stabilized qubits, confidential business will be written on paper. It shows ancient manual typewriters being dusted off. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/16 "2025-01-22T09:59:28Z")
Ah. I Googled and found a YouTube video, though they used “Apocalypse”. I’ll watch and thank you for the heads up! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7eZXBVgBDio/hqdefault.jpg "The Quantum Apocalypse: All Your Secrets Revealed") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eZXBVgBDio) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/17 "2025-01-22T10:02:41Z")
Yeah, I misremembered the title. I was not terribly impressed by it. I consider it alarmist/sensationalist, and it ignores a lot of facts about [post-quantum cryptography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-quantum_cryptography). ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/18 "2025-01-22T10:08:30Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Yeah, I misremembered the title. I was not terribly impressed by it. I consider it alarmist/sensationalist, and it ignores a lot of facts about [post-quantum cryptography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-quantum_cryptography) Ah… I’ve never been exposed to ‘The Why Files’. Is it often sensationalized? ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/19 "2025-01-22T10:29:29Z")
Another one that came to mind - Magic slates - the plastic sheet thing that you write on with a stylus and can then lift up to make the drawing go away. [They were used by the US Embassy in Moscow in the 1950s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Slate), after the building was found to be riddled with Soviet bugs. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240/20 "2025-01-22T14:28:22Z")
[Moderating] While I don’t think this thread violates any rules as-is, it’s also way too open-ended for FQ. Moving to IMHO. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-if-any-could-old-tech-play-in-resistance-movements/1013240.md?page=2)