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Be Aware Upper West Siders, You’re Being Watched

March 30, 2025 | 8:07 AM
in ABSURDITY, ART, COLUMNS
17

By Gary Martin

More than ever our words and digital actions are being monitored by, well…everyone. So now everything can be made public in an instant.

I have a devil on one shoulder for sure, but the angel on the other is always asking me, “Are you sure you want to write that??”

* * *

Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com

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Debfrombrooklyn
Debfrombrooklyn
10 months ago

I’m certainly sure that I’m going to look forward to next Sunday’s cartoon, as you seem to be reading my mind! This current cartoon is perfect! How can we quiet our brains?

1
Reply
Marie
Marie
10 months ago
Reply to  Debfrombrooklyn

Yoga, meditation, long walks, no social media, limited news intake, conversations with loved ones!

1
Reply
Nancy
Nancy
10 months ago

There is no such thing as fully private or confidential information in our online world anymore. Always think twice before you hit “send!” . Great cartoon this week, in light of the Signal fiasco.

0
Reply
Jillian Maxwell
Jillian Maxwell
10 months ago

🤔

0
Reply
Peter Birkenhead
Peter Birkenhead
10 months ago

Well this hits home, sadly. Finger right on the pulse, as always. ❤️

2
Reply
Terry
Terry
10 months ago

How true! So often I rethink… and delete my post. I so enjoy your spot-on cartoons!

1
Reply
Neal Leibowitz
Neal Leibowitz
10 months ago

The internet knows all my secrets. It just doesn’t care.

4
Reply
Laurie K
Laurie K
10 months ago

Ugh SO true. SO sad.
Always right with the moment Gary!

1
Reply
Ashen
Ashen
10 months ago

So freaking true. What is going on!,,,

1
Reply
Steve
Steve
10 months ago

There are so many emails that I write to get something off my chest, but don’t send. Most times, just writing it does the trick!

4
Reply
Ergo
Ergo
10 months ago

I remember when an opinion was not career ending.

5
Reply
Mark
Mark
10 months ago
Reply to  Ergo

Not that I don’t care about peoples’ careers — mine included — but I’m more missing the days when having an opinion didn’t mean that you might be detained at the airport and held indefinitely for questioning, hoping all the time you weren’t shipped off to El Salvador.

10
Reply
David
David
10 months ago

It’s a new world, just not mine anymore. I’m happy in my bubble.

2
Reply
Nina DiGioia
Nina DiGioia
10 months ago

Don’t do it!!!

1
Reply
Joe Chiplock
Joe Chiplock
10 months ago

I think it is very wise to pause a moment before posting anything online…NOT to censor oneself, but just to be clear about one’s intent and the choice of words…

4
Reply
Howie Cherpakov
Howie Cherpakov
10 months ago

This is why I don’t comment on anything on line. (He says, commenting on something on line.)

1
Reply
Sandi
Sandi
10 months ago

And I thought the headline referred to all the cameras on the streets. It’s creepy.

2
Reply

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