> Has this ever happened anywhere? Probably whenever significant technological/social change occurs. > We've already seen absence of privacy in tribal societi

> Has this ever happened anywhere? Probably whenever significant technological/social change occurs. > We've already seen absence of privacy in tribal societies, and those are exceptionally bad places to fail to conform. Only cities are large and anonymous enough to allow eccentrics to go unnoticed and thrive, which is what makes cities the wellsprings of prosperous liberal societies. I think you could argue this in many ways. Are you arguing that increased privacy played a role in the development of civilisation? It's in interesting idea but I don't see much supporting evidence. > Some of whom were murdered for it. There are still only a few areas (large cities, of course) where they are relatively safe. And it took them two generations just to achieve that! Should we go back and stop it?