It pains me to admit, privacy may be a thing of the past, thanks to the good old tentacles of the internet.
I can already envision an exhibit at the Smithsonian in thirty years, showing what it was like to live in quiet, dignified, respected anonymity, my word of choice.
Anonymous, its adjective meaning, not identifiable by name…privileged, personal, unspoken and undisclosed. An exchange not repeated, gossiped or spread breeding rumors enlarged in each telling.
The confidentiality maintained among members of a group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, allowing those seeking help to do so without embarrassment or shame.
I’m in a 12 Step program so I know how important it is when it’s read in a meeting’s opening…whatever you see or hear here, stays here.
I never Google anyone I meet, feeling it’s an unnecessary intrusion, yet I know I’m in the minority.
I realize blogging has left me wide open, but should it still be that easy to know everything personal about someone you hardly know?
I draw the line at the deceased. I’m forever looking up presidents and famous writers no longer with us, but tend to leave those still breathing alone.
Why is privacy so important to me?
I feel it’s a person’s right to reveal what he chooses. To keep certain things classified not to be shared with the rest of the world.
There was a time not that long ago, it was possible to be a private citizen cloistered in a private peace, but alas, no more.
I think of many predecessors who tried valiantly to maintain a boundary. Jackie Kennedy Onassis coming to mind, but fortunately she passed way before Tweets and casual cyber slander became the norm.
She was already so hunted in her time. Can you imagine what her life would be like now? With all due respect, seems she dodged a bullet not once, but twice.
Anonymous
If only. Sigh. 
The vile comments posted are disturbing to me. Momma always said if you can’t say something nice…Sometimes I look up somehow I went to school with or knew in my “way back” past to see if they are around but I try not to stalk and I would never post negatively even when I disagree.
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Me too. I’m so tired of the constant onslaught of it all. You know I love to write, and respond to niceties. Every once in a while someone will write something I can’t get over.
I always practice respect, doesn’t matter who it is.
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Occasionally I come across a blog post that I don’t agree with. Instead of dressing down the person or writing a scathing comment, I scroll on by. Age has taught me that no matter what I do neither of us will change our opinions. Respect…Aretha Franklin said it.
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In 12 Step it’s called, not picking up the rope, because the moment you do, peace of mind goes right out the window.
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I am sorry that people can no longer have peaceful anonymity. It doesn’t bother me personally, probably because my face registers everything. Emotions fly across my face as on a drive-in movie screen. I can’t hide anything. I have more control with writing. Anything I post in a blog is fair game.
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I just feel people take too many privileges. Too much presumption if you will. I play my cards close to my vest out of sheer necessity growing up the way I did. But even if that wasn’t the case, so much Anne is nobody’s business. My two cents.
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I agree with you that people can be too intrusive. Because I grew up in a more secure environment, my defenses are not as strong as yours. Maybe they need to be.
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It’s nice to know you grew up safe and secure. Makes me feel happy. It’s the way it should be, for everyone. 🙂
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Wonder what the world would be like if everyone were safe and secure.
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All our windows would stay open and our doors unlocked. 🙂
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Wow! What a picture! When I was a child, the only time we locked the doors was when we went away. We lived in town, too, not out in the country.
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Imagine us doing that now. My late friend Mimi always left her door unlocked. She was very proud of it too. Of course there’s a doorman downstairs but I always marveled at it. I’d move a dresser in front of mine left to my own fearful devices.
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That is amazing. Had Mimi always lived in Manhattan?
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She was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, but lived here, where I do now, for over 50 years. She was very Catholic and trusting, even at the end. Another marvel.
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There are times I wish I could just go off-grid, but as a researcher, the internet is so valuable to me. Though I have a Facebook account, I rarely look at it. When a politician posts something, the comments are so rude and uncivil I just can’t stand it!
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Dignity is at a premium alright. The news is coarse and anybody can say anything and it seems acceptable. I know that social media is how you get known, but I’m so turned off by the incestuousness of it. I just may be meant to be obscure Eilene if that’s the only way people will read what or publish whatever one writes.
Thanks.
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Well, I will keep reading!
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🙂
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I agree that there is a lack of privacy nowadays, Susannah. I’ve never cyber stalked anyone or had it done to me, although I did get stalked back in the early 70s. Luckily he didn’t kidnap me as planned and he moved across country.
I’m bothered by some of my friends and/or acquaintances that post inflammatory comments over and over again, especially political. It seems as though they are ranting and raving in print. People write things on Facebook that I don’t believe they’d ever say to a group in person. My youngest daughter showed me how to stop getting these comments without unfriending them.
I’m also tired of all the guilt trip things on Facebook. Such as ‘Share if you hate cancer, scroll by if you don’t care.’ I NEVER share any of these things, but I obviously do care about cancer.
Here’s to living and let living in peace.
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Love the last line. I’m tired of the political scene too, and I’m not even political. Without pointing any fingers, The office of the presidency has become a circus and frankly, it’s embarrassing.
I HATE SOCIAL MEDIA…I DO. I have a blog because I love to write. Way back when, my friend Amy, who no longer talks to me for reasons surpassing my understanding, suggested it as a venue for me, and it was and still a great thing.
But, all this texting and Tweeting is getting creepy.
I had people from 30 years ago I hardly knew ask me to call them from Facebook. I’m glad to be free of it frankly, but it doesn’t stop creeps from showing up on the blog, that I delete like printed bombs. Oh Skinny, here’s to living and let living, in peace. Amen.
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I learned early on that social media is not for me. Yes, I blog and with a good bit of transparency but there are places that are private where others don’t belong and are not welcome. I have learned not everyone respects this. When people cross the line I am still “nice” but keep my distance. Fortunately, the blog world I am part of is friendly and respectful for which I am very grateful.
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I love your site I can only call happy and friendly. I can’t imagine anyone being inappropriate. I know I tend to push buttons but then think, just go elsewhere if I’m not your cup of tea. I’ve learned to just delete what offends. Appreciate your views. 🙂
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It has quickly changed to a sharing culture in the last 20 years or so with social media. Now that anyone can become a star overnight, it’s the norm to try, it seems, although there is an incognito mode on browsers, another great word. 🙂
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Is that a true term or did you goin it? Curious. I know you’re the prince of wordplay. 🙂
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It’s real. 🙂
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It’s great. Thanks for confirming that.
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Can I get a BIG AMEN over here? I couldn’t agree more and sadly it’s only getting worse. A huge peeve of mine is people who post everything from where they ate to their life with a kidney stone on a daily basis. Having some mystery is a good thing. Let people wonder. Although that’s probably why they start sleuthing, they don’t recognize the privacy.
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I hate being sleuthed, to use your word, or interrogated cyberly or otherwise. Yesterday a woman I hardly know accosted me on the street demanding to know what work I do. I was so stunned I pretended not to hear, and ran off. Where’s the respect for someone’s right to privacy. It’s Gone With the Wind, which by the way, is what I’m reading. 🙂
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A fab pair of sunglasses with a scarf are no longer the uniform to be unnoticed.
My Philly Susanne friend is also reading Gone With the Wind and she was actually out looking for the missing bird. How crazy is that?
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LOL…You’re so funny. That book is amazing. I read it years ago but it’s brand new to me now. Rumor has it, Madam Mitchell modeled Scarlet on Teddy Roosevelt’s Mom Mittie, If that’s true, WHOA, is all I can say.
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