Re: Privacy and Human Nature (was: Gingrich, Moynihan step

Bernard Hughes (bjhughes@istar.ca)
Fri, 13 Nov 1998 17:05:56 -0330

Dan Fabulich wrote:

> To throw in my own two cents on this...
>
> I don't have to show that a desire for privacy is a part of human nature in
> order to justify Lorrey's claim. Acting in accordance with one's own
> desires IS a part of human nature. Since lots of people like privacy (for
> *whatever* reason!), forcing them to give it up is contrary to human
> nature. That's all there is to it.
>
> Hope this helps settle the matter. ;)

I don't see why you should give primacy to human nature at all. Isn't civilisation all about overriding our original human nature to allow us to live in larger groups? Potty training of children springs to mind, which makes public health systems workable. If a lot of people like privacy, that's a good reason for not forcing them to give it up.

I'd guess "no privacy" would work just fine in a town where everyone had agreed to it, and all had a suitable level of mutual tolerance. No selling the tapes to outsiders though.

--
Bernard J Hughes   bernard@timedancer.com
Timedancer Systems http://www.timedancer.com
 -- Creative Laziness at its best --