Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/05/18

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Subject: [Leica] Re: Privacy
From: walt at waltjohnson.com (Walt Johnson)
Date: Thu May 18 10:38:04 2006
References: <200605181340.k4IDe3wq094414@server1.waverley.reid.org> <972bf96580f35b0f80976b8344839e30@optonline.net> <6.2.1.2.2.20060518122334.00c6bec0@pop.med.cornell.edu>

I do believe I mentioned something very similar? Privacy is not 
something new, only class orientated.

Walt

Chris Saganich wrote:

> One must remember that privacy is a class issue, meaning it can be 
> bought, or fought for, but isn't given for free.
> Chris S.
>
> At 10:39 AM 5/18/2006, you wrote:
>
>> On May 18, 2006, at 9:40 AM, Walt wrote:
>>
>>> If you  want to let your imagination run wild then  picture a public
>>> bath system in a large American city. I think our culture has a long 
>>> way
>>> to go before attempting to adopt the Japanese attitudes toward privacy.
>>> Our culture, it seems, lacks  respect for much else besides 
>>> consumption.
>>> That, and the fantasy of spreading "democracy" throughout the world.
>>
>>
>> The concept of privacy is a recent phenomenon in American culture and 
>> is absent in many world cultures. New York City had numerous public 
>> baths which were in use until the 50s. They were large, well 
>> constructed buildings with warm baths and swimming pools. A good 
>> example can be found on 23rd. St. between First Ave. and the East 
>> River. Public swimming pools are still in use. Tenements in the late 
>> 1800s and early 1900s were shared by multiple families, with perhaps 
>> 3 to 4 persons to a room. Often boarders were taken in to provide 
>> extra income. Strangers eating from a common serving plate was common 
>> in American inns and boarding houses through the early 1900s.
>>
>> I recently returned from a trip to Williamsburg, VA. We stayed in the 
>> Brick House, a colonial era hotel in the center of the restoration 
>> area. The hotel had 16 rooms dating from the 1700s. These rooms, 
>> about the size of a small modern bedroom, were rented to commercial 
>> travelers. The first three or four in each room got to share the bed. 
>> Late comers, bedded down on mats on the floor. On a busy market 
>> night, perhaps 6 to 8 strangers shared each room.
>>
>> The idea of an individual having an inviolable "personal space", 
>> exemplified as one person to one room and/or total control of 
>> information about onself, is very recent and dates from the post WW2 
>> era. Despite what the Supreme Court says, there is no "right to 
>> privacy" in the Constitution. The implied "right to privacy" is a 
>> modern interpretation of the Framer's intent.
>>
>> Still, I don't want the NSA monitoring my telephone calls.
>>
>> Larry Z
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
> Chris Saganich, Sr. Physicist
> Weill Medical College of Cornell University
> New York Presbyterian Hospital
> chs2018@med.cornell.edu
> Ph. 212.746.6964
> Fax. 212.746.4800
> Office A-0049
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>


Replies: Reply from chs2018 at med.cornell.edu (Chris Saganich) ([Leica] Re: Privacy)
In reply to: Message from lrzeitlin at optonline.net (Lawrence Zeitlin) ([Leica] Re: Privacy)
Message from chs2018 at med.cornell.edu (Chris Saganich) ([Leica] Re: Privacy)