The Right of Privacy
 

Surprisingly I'm not talking about abortion. Privacy is one of the few issues that I don't have a clear philosophical position on. I think instinctively everyone has a right not to be bothered, especially not by the government, but I don't think a iron right to "privacy" can ever be enforced, for free speech considerations and technological issues. The Lewinsky and Foley scandals, that deal with the Facebook intern and personal experience has convinced me that in the future we're not going to be able enforce even reasonable (not ideological) bounds on privacy in the future. Your personal information, even what normal people would consider "private" stuff, like one's sex life and immature childhood behavior will be instantly Google-able to anyone interested. Already there are algorithmic programs scanning Flickr and Photobucket reconstructing personal histories, and police are solving crimes using Myspace. Privacy is going to be a huge social issue in the future and is going to force us to rethink alot of instinctual behavior, like superficial condemnation and the political process.

Thoughts?

Re: The Right of Privacy
 

Uhh.... don't post info on the internet that you wouldn't want people to see?

Re: The Right of Privacy
 

Do you want to discuss a right to privacy in a legal sense or in a philosophical sense?

Re: The Right of Privacy
 

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Do you want to discuss a right to privacy in a legal sense or in a philosophical sense?

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Whatever. Here are some practical questions: Does a corporation have the right to track you from your publically released information? Can and should famous people own their media rights? How could privacy legislation impede consumers (ads are only a nuisance if you don't want I'm selling!)?

Re: The Right of Privacy
 

I think I see what you're getting at.

Something to keep in mind is that as it becomes more common for people to easily dig up that picture of you puking into the bushes or making out with a fat chic, social expectations will change in accordance. Since it's easier to find out that your neighbor likes to smoke pot or your old best friend from middle school is gay, people will just get used to interpreting these things as less of a big deal. I think what you're getting at is actually a good thing, as exposure to other peoples' habits encourages tolerance. I tend to think intolerance of others' personal private behaviors really only exists because people aren't exposed to it. So they're biased into thinking it is a big deal and they need to stop it.

And of course, like Burgundy said, if something is really that private to you, you just don't post it on the internet (or put yourself in a position where someone else could take a picture of it).

Re: The Right of Privacy
 

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I think I see what you're getting at.

Something to keep in mind is that as it becomes more common for people to easily dig up that picture of you puking into the bushes or making out with a fat chic, social expectations will change in accordance. Since it's easier to find out that your neighbor likes to smoke pot or your old best friend from middle school is gay, people will just get used to interpreting these things as less of a big deal. I think what you're getting at is actually a good thing, as exposure to other peoples' habits encourages tolerance. I tend to think intolerance of others' personal private behaviors really only exists because people aren't exposed to it. So they're biased into thinking it is a big deal and they need to stop it.

And of course, like Burgundy said, if something is really that private to you, you just don't post it on the internet (or put yourself in a position where someone else could take a picture of it).

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Well it does seem to me like people have been photographed with cell phones and had those pictures put on the internet when they really didn't want that to happen. I guess that will influence people to start shaping up too.

Re: The Right of Privacy
 

Ya, I guess being photographed without consent is an interesting philosophical argument. To me it's similar to calling someone fat or ugly. I don't really see a good reason why you shouldn't be able to do it, but it isn't a very nice thing to do. So people will apply consequence. If you go around needlessly insulting people you will be stigmatized and not have many friends.

As long as people find a way to make it harder for people to post these pictures anonymously, then there can be the necessary equal and opposite social reaction.

Re: The Right of Privacy
 

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Ya, I guess being photographed without consent is an interesting philosophical argument. To me it's similar to calling someone fat or ugly. I don't really see a good reason why you shouldn't be able to do it, but it isn't a very nice thing to do. So people will apply consequence. If you go around needlessly insulting people you will be stigmatized and not have many friends.

As long as people find a way to make it harder for people to post these pictures anonymously, then there can be the necessary equal and opposite social reaction.

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Well I think there's less privacy as a result but not sure how I'd want to change things if at all. I think it will be easy for people to post pictures and stuff anonysmously for a very, very long time as well. We live in interesting times no doubt.

Re: The Right of Privacy
 

I think we are on the same page.

Re: The Right of Privacy
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think I see what you're getting at.

Something to keep in mind is that as it becomes more common for people to easily dig up that picture of you puking into the bushes or making out with a fat chic, social expectations will change in accordance. Since it's easier to find out that your neighbor likes to smoke pot or your old best friend from middle school is gay, people will just get used to interpreting these things as less of a big deal. I think what you're getting at is actually a good thing, as exposure to other peoples' habits encourages tolerance. I tend to think intolerance of others' personal private behaviors really only exists because people aren't exposed to it. So they're biased into thinking it is a big deal and they need to stop it.

And of course, like Burgundy said, if something is really that private to you, you just don't post it on the internet (or put yourself in a position where someone else could take a picture of it).

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Well it does seem to me like people have been photographed with cell phones and had those pictures put on the internet when they really didn't want that to happen. I guess that will influence people to start shaping up too.

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Right, but I think his point was that the reason you are able to insult and judge the people around you who have such embarrassing things come to light is because you are fairly secure in your knowledge that YOUR embarrassing moments were never recorded. As that changes, attitudes will change.