Whether this guy's actions were right or wrong is irrelevant. The appropriateness of his boss's reaction likewise is beside the point.
What matters is that the intern clearly did not think there would be any repercussions from his Facebook post. What matters is that his views about privacy are either skewed or nonexistent. What matters is that he is of voting age and, therefore, has some say in what my privacy rights are.
There's no doubt digital media alter our perception of the world, including our concept of privacy. It's the end of privacy as we know it. The best part? We're all compliant.
2007-11-13
Nice Wand
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3 comments:
There is a big difference the NSA accessing phone records and listeneing to international phone calls and a douche bag intern posting a picture of himself while he's lying to his boss...
The difference is choice. With the NSA, big brother is watching. With Douchey McIntern, he is choosing to be watched.
The problem with the digital generation is that they have given open access to their lives and anyone can walk in... Hence, Chris Hanson of DateLine NBC has a job exposing predators.
I just recently saw a stand up comic named Ian Bagg who had a great line - remember the old days when you needed a van and some candy to be a child molester? I think its gotten to easy for them with the internet... Damn you Al Gore!!!
Regardless, there is an old adges that fits here:
Everyone is famous for 15 minutes
We, as a society, now beleive it is our right to get these 15 mins. Whether it be infamous or famous, star culture worshiping or reality TV, media (used like the playful librarian would be proud) has given people OPPORTUNITY for these 15 mins.
Sorry for the follow up, but lack of privacy is something that can be taken or given away.
If you are sharing an apartment with someone and they walk into your room, go through your underwear drawer and read your diary they are taking your privacy.
If you leave your door open and post a picture of your underwear drawer on Facebook, then you are giving your privacy away.
But, again, what matters is that digital media is creating an environment and a mindset in which it is OK, perhaps even desirable, to give away privacy.
If it becomes OK in that context, how different is giving it away in the voting booth? Or being indifferent to threats to privacy altogether? How long before "if you've got nothing to hide . . ." becomes the prevailing mantra?
Of course that intern was at least misguided, if not a full-blown idiot. But I think he's simply among the first of many who'll act in a similar fashion.
And his vote counts just as much as mine and yours.
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