What Private Life?

During these modern times, we have a major lack of privacy.  Despite what we may believe, we are being watched all the time, whether it is when we are on our phones and computers or out in public.  Some people think that this lack of privacy is a good thing because it enables us to hide our wrongdoings.  I believe that privacy can indeed be a negative thing, but without it, humanity would not be the same.  We act differently when we know that we are being watched; if we all were made completely aware of the fact that we were being watched, no one would act like themselves.  They would all be on their best behavior.  As said in class today, humanity could lose an important characteristic of its personality. Privacy allows us to have a safe place, where we feel like we are not being watched, to express our creativity and de-stress without fear of judgment. Another positive aspect of privacy is that relationships require privacy because it creates a sense of intimacy.  The special feeling that comes from a couple having their own inside joke or pet names would no longer exist without privacy because everyone would know the joke.  Privacy also allows us to have a positive sense of trust; without anything private, what would we need trust for? 


I also want to talk about a permanent online identity.  The majority of people already have a permanent online profile such as Facebook or Twitter.  It seems that not long in the future, everyone might be mandated to have one from the time of their birth.  This profile would play a huge role in how children grow up.  Parents will have to begin talking to their children at a much earlier age about the dangers of the internet and how their decisions can affect their futures.  If a young child makes a mistake and it is posted to their profile, it will never go away.  The child will be stuck with the embarrassment that comes with everyone knowing his mistake for the rest of his life.  It could even affect him as he searches for a college to attend or a permanent job.  I do not think that this is the best idea; how can we hold a child to an innocent mistake for the rest of their life?  We already see instances like this occurring today.  When you send your resume in for an interview, the employers look you up on social media to see what kind of person that you are and how you conduct yourself.  Right now, we are fascinated by the fact that we can be so open about our lives on Facebook and Twitter.  People share things without a second thought, but what about when that feeling of freedom wears off?  What about when we are being judged for what we post?  What is seen right now as a freedom of expression could eventually, if we are not careful, morph into a permanent way of being controlled and restricted.