Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/05/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]One must remember that privacy is a class issue, meaning it can be bought, or fought for, but isn't given for free. Chris S. At 10:39 AM 5/18/2006, you wrote: >On May 18, 2006, at 9:40 AM, Walt wrote: > >>If you want to let your imagination run wild then picture a public >>bath system in a large American city. I think our culture has a long way >>to go before attempting to adopt the Japanese attitudes toward privacy. >>Our culture, it seems, lacks respect for much else besides consumption. >>That, and the fantasy of spreading "democracy" throughout the world. > >The concept of privacy is a recent phenomenon in American culture and is >absent in many world cultures. New York City had numerous public baths >which were in use until the 50s. They were large, well constructed >buildings with warm baths and swimming pools. A good example can be found >on 23rd. St. between First Ave. and the East River. Public swimming pools >are still in use. Tenements in the late 1800s and early 1900s were shared >by multiple families, with perhaps 3 to 4 persons to a room. Often >boarders were taken in to provide extra income. Strangers eating from a >common serving plate was common in American inns and boarding houses >through the early 1900s. > >I recently returned from a trip to Williamsburg, VA. We stayed in the >Brick House, a colonial era hotel in the center of the restoration area. >The hotel had 16 rooms dating from the 1700s. These rooms, about the size >of a small modern bedroom, were rented to commercial travelers. The first >three or four in each room got to share the bed. Late comers, bedded down >on mats on the floor. On a busy market night, perhaps 6 to 8 strangers >shared each room. > >The idea of an individual having an inviolable "personal space", >exemplified as one person to one room and/or total control of information >about onself, is very recent and dates from the post WW2 era. Despite what >the Supreme Court says, there is no "right to privacy" in the >Constitution. The implied "right to privacy" is a modern interpretation of >the Framer's intent. > >Still, I don't want the NSA monitoring my telephone calls. > >Larry Z > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information Chris Saganich, Sr. Physicist Weill Medical College of Cornell University New York Presbyterian Hospital chs2018@med.cornell.edu Ph. 212.746.6964 Fax. 212.746.4800 Office A-0049