[Leica] philosophy of street photography

[reid at mejac.palo-alto.ca.us (Brian Reid)]

I've been curious for years why it is that the norm in street photography is 
not to interact with the subjects. I am primarily a portrait person, and 
everything about portraiture involves interacting with the subject. The 
street photographs that get the most accolades seem to be those in which the 
photographed subjects do not show awareness of the photographer. I always 
find that unsettling.

Why is this? Is there some philosophical basis, or is it just habit?

Brian