Isn't it kind of hard to tell if a house has one without actually going near it in the first place?

It's hard to tell with 100% certainty, but most such devices have a distinctive light that can be seen from a distance.

In any case, these things tend to be used by a fairly specific demographic that tends to congregate in specific neighborhoods, so I can use that as a proxy and avoid going to those neighborhoods.

> specific demographic that tends to congregate in specific neighborhoods

Care to elaborate? I actually have no clue what you are talking about, so I'm curious.

They are talking about white and/or rich enclaves, likely.

if you are in a neighborhood where everyone makes above a certain level of money literally every door has one. this is true across countries even(the cameras might not be called ring tho)

turns out people do want a surveillance state, they were just uncomfortable putting cameras on the roofs

"turns out people do want a surveillance state"

I don't think that follows. How is wanting a bit of personal security the same as wanting a "surveilance state"?

because it doesn't stop at personal security - they participate in the forums set up by ring and share videos of "problematic activity".

that is a fundamental part of owning a ring camera - if you just cared about personal security you would buy a gun instead or live in a gated community. a camera isn't gonna do anything for you.