Friday 15 March 2013

Privacy? You Are Giving It Away






The prospect of the Coalition collapsing not over Europe, the Budget, Defence, the National Health Service or any major responsibility but because of a rift about privacy and state control of the press and others really does suggest that our political elite are off their respective trolleys.

Long ago in the West End there was always a good selection of low farces with other higher grade comedy on offer in the theatres and around.  They allowed us all to realise and understand the relentless stupidity of our species and especially those who attempted to rule and control it.

Where have they gone?  Given the chaos in government and the unerring talent of both politicians and senior civil servants to make a botch even of the simplest tasks and routines the answer must be they have all moved down the road into places like Downing Street, the Palace of Westminster and the great offices of state.

One can understand the manic attention to “privacy” amongst the elite.  Given what we know about their management of personal finances, expenses claims, social habits and predilections and the rest there are questions in our mind.

So when the several gruesome elements amongst the “Hacked Off” groups, in panic that more of their stranger and rather anti-social activities will attract interest lobby furiously to see blanket regulation, restriction and control of the media it is a matter of seeking honour amongst thieves.

It has been pointed out in some parts of the web that the anxiety to put this in place is stimulated by the proposals of the EU to do the same in order to “thought police” any opposition or enquiry into any wrong doing, fraud and corruption. 

As this kind of activity is no longer at the margins of the EU but has moved to the central authority they are very anxious to shut criticism, enquiry and complaint well and truly up.  Equally, it is valid to suggest that the UK is now run by a bunch of crooks.

What is ironic about those who live and die by their status as a celebrity is that while they will court milk the media for all they can get out of it and almost demand and insist on attention, like certain politicians, as soon as the media ask awkward questions or suggest any criticism they want silence enforced.

There is an interesting item from the world of science on some of this and it is that when it comes to privacy we may well be our own worst enemies, see this Science Daily link:


In the past this blog has commented that our Western notions on this are strange.  We believe it is a “human right” when for most in the world it is impossible.  

Also, in our own past it was very difficult to have any such privacy and what is demanded today would have seemed almost inhuman, never mind anti-social, unless it was impelled by a special devotion, such as the Anchorite in the picture above.

There was once a Royal Naval submarine called HMS Anchorite, but I doubt if there was much privacy to be found there.

No man is an island.





1 comment:

  1. "They allowed us all to realise and understand the relentless stupidity of our species and especially those who attempted to rule and control it."

    It's something I've been thinking about recently too. The pursuit of high-level success seems to be a real problem. Maybe it always has been, but the internet shows up the problem much more starkly.

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