| ABOUT US | ARCHIVES | LINKS | RSS FEED | MONDAYS | |

3quarksdaily

An Eclectic Digest of Science, Art and Literature

« In Between Layers | Main | Return to Nothingness »

May 30, 2010

Why are people so eager to invade their own privacy?

Rochelle Gurstein in The New Republic:

Glasshouse1_0 What astounds me about today's metaphorical glass-house dwellers—those people who eagerly publicize on websites every detail of their "health" (DNA profile), "finances" (shopping bills and consumer preferences), "family situation" (online dating profile)—is how cheerfully they participate in "one of the most horrifying aspects of modern life." Self-invasions of privacy on the Internet now compete with "bureaucracy with its documents" and "the press with its reporters" for a place on Kundera's list of the institutionalization and I would add normalization of this "age-old form of aggression." And so, too, it seems to me, do all those glass apartment houses which sprang up everywhere in New York City during the glory years of the last building boom. I am still baffled as to why architects thought it was a good idea to erect pricey, luxury apartments without solid, exterior walls on streets that are exposed not only to the casual glance of thousands of city walkers from below but also to the unavoidable notice of those who live or work in the many neighboring buildings, and that a new breed of fashionable New Yorkers couldn't wait to live in them.

More here.

Posted by S. Abbas Raza at 08:02 PM | Permalink

Comments

"For more TNR, become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter."

Posted by: Kári | May 31, 2010 6:33:26 PM

Good on Kari, I have been beaten to it...delicious!

Posted by: Erich | May 31, 2010 10:05:14 PM

Post a comment






Subscribe to this blog's feed  

PayAnywhere with iphone credit card swiper

Android Tablet

Bluetooth Headset

2013 New Style Dresses

Compare Car Rental Prices

DHgate.com Wholesale

3QD on Facebook

3QD on Kindle

3QD by Daily Email

Receive all blogposts at the same time every day.

Enter your Email:


Preview 3QD Email

3QD on Twitter

Miscellany

Lijit Search

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Add to Google

Recent Comments

Jalees Rehman on The need for critical science journalism

Dredd on Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories

Dredd on Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories

Scrutineer on Why race as a biological construct matters

prasad on the culture animal

Mitt Romney's Dog on Why race as a biological construct matters

Elatia Harris on The Moral Status of Rocks

prasad on The Moral Status of Rocks

Raza Husain on The Moral Status of Rocks

Fred on Unknown Mathematician Proves Elusive Property of Prime Numbers

Joel Grant on Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories

Tomboktu on Why is Europe so Messed Up? An Illuminating History

Joe on Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories

Jalees Rehman on The Science Mystique

Dredd on The Moral Status of Rocks

sjg on Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories

Dredd on Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories

Ken Pidcock on The need for critical science journalism

Louise Gordon on Why race as a biological construct matters

Louise Gordon on The stories of two Palestinian villages: From Al-Araqib to Susiya

musafir on a pretty funny book

freddie on The stories of two Palestinian villages: From Al-Araqib to Susiya

freddie on The stories of two Palestinian villages: From Al-Araqib to Susiya

Junaida on Tuesday Poem

rafiq on Tuesday Poem

Acclaim For 3QD


"I couldn't tear myself away from 3 Quarks Daily, to the point of neglecting my work. Congratulations on this superb site."—Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University.

"I have placed 3 Quarks Daily at the head of my list of web bookmarks."—Richard Dawkins, Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University.

"Just wanted you to know I’m one of many who reads and enjoys 3 Quarks....almost daily."—David Byrne, musician, former lead-singer of the Talking Heads, artist, intellectual.

Read more here.

The 3QD Prizes

Subscribe to this blog's feed