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I don't think Derek was arguing that she shouldn't have the right to keep it secret, or that we shouldn't respect her wishes. The point of the piece is that ma
by jonahx 13y ago
I don't think Derek was arguing that she shouldn't have the right to keep it secret, or that we shouldn't respect her wishes.
The point of the piece is that many of our "secrets" -- things we guard carefully and fear being exposed -- wouldn't surprise, or even interest, other people.
It's just a shift in perspective, not an attack on anyone's right to privacy.
- hdevalence 13y ago"That you will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do." (David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest) (But this isn't to disagree with the grandparent post, either. Just a statement on perspective.)
- timbro 13y agoThat may be true if you're the kind of person who never stands up to anybody. If you never voice disagreement or opposition, then you can be that 100% transparent citizen. But it's difficult or impossible to reverse this, once you've gone down that path. And as soon as you'll feel like saying something critical, you can very easily be manipulated to remain silent, because the other party will know all your weaknesses. It will know where to attack you efficiently. (And if you take a look at our dumb and immature culture, you will notice that we still think it's ok to judge people, btw. all based on the illusion of "free will").
- matz1 13y agoI would know other people weakness too.
- Nursie 13y agoAnd then we would end up with the tyranny of the genuinely ascetic, the puritanical and those that lie so well they can mask everything from everyone (sociopaths). Yay.
- rmc 13y agoIt's also true if you're from a privileged background. Straight cis men have a lot of advantages that way.