It has been debated whether or not privacy is a right or just a privilege to the American people. Does it state in our constitution that we have the right to privacy? Some say not, but really the word "privacy" is just hidden amongst its own definition.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
The fourth amendment clearly states that we have the right to privacy, but are all government searches what is said to be a "reasonable" search? The answer is no, not all, but the government still needs to ensure the safety of the American citizens. To prevent terrorist attacks and other tragedies, the government should be able to check everyone's files and history. This is only as long as they feel that there is a threat and that it is necessary enough to impose a search on particular people. The government is trying to help keep us free, yet we complain that they are too involved in our lives and that they are imposing on our right to privacy.
But do Americans really want the privacy they ask for? Websites such as MySpace, FaceBook, Xanga, etc. make it especially difficult to keep our lives and information private. When signing up for accounts, you give up your age, birthday, gender and your name and then when you finally have the account, you'll post albums upon albums of yourself and everyone you hang out with. This exposes names and locations of yourself and all of the friends. If Americans really wanted privacy, would they sign up and post where they work and put ways to get ahold of them and all of their favorite locations to be at? If Americans REALLY wanted that privacy would they post themselves all over YouTube? Do the Americans that make obscene videos of themselves and others then post them on the web want privacy as well?
Americans constantly criticize their government for taking away their rights and invading "personal space" when in actuality, they don't want privacy. They want to decide what they keep private in their lives when all the government is trying to do is protect the fact that America is free and that those Americans even have those rights.
-Sidewalk Chalk
11 comments:
The difference between Facebook/Myspace/etc and the government is that the people choose to use Facebook...no one chooses to have the government invade their space.
lovableloser is right. People choose to have pictures and videos of themselves posted.
as i read this blog, all i could think about was the phone policy at our school. I think its ridiculous that the school can keep our phone over night when we pay for it.
i've also heard of teachers reading people's texts and looking at their pictures. Is that an invasion of privacy? Many think so.
Students didn't choose to have those things "posted" so why should someone be able to have access to them?
Lovableloser raises a good point. people make the choice to use facebook and myspace. but you also have to think about the fact that the people that do choose to use myspace and facebook can set their profiles to private. only the people that are approved can look at their profiles. they are not displaying their personal lives for the whole world to see. only the people they want to see.
There will always be idiots. You make a very general statement saying people do not actually want privacy. I, for one, do want and enjoy the privacy I get. If people want to post their information online and in public places, it is their own fault if someone abuses that.
The government has no right to invade the privacy of the people unless there is a threat against national security. But the people that have facebook/myspace/youtube chose to put out their information for people to read so they can't complain about wanting privacy unless they chose to have it on private.
I hate it when minors complain about getting in troubly for drunk pictures or something on their facebooks. They always say how that is their own private matter. If you don't want people to know what you were doing, don't paste it all over the internet!
We do have the right to privacy whether we want it or not. It is not a priviledge, it is a right. Once we get ride of privacy the government could basically do anything it wanted. Is that fair? Will that keep us safe? No, I think not.
Sites such as myspace are voluntary, we dont ask for the government to take our privacy or just happily hand over our phones at school.
I don't think the people would ever be happy either way if the govt. stayed the way they are or didn't invade your privacy at all. The government isn't going to invade your space if you aren't associated with illegal activity. You can be held accountable for whats on your myspace/facebook as well. So either way your privacy is invaded but if your not doing anything wrong you wouldn't have to worry about your privacy being invaded and you can live your life how you want.
as a comment to the myspace xanga thing. everyone google your name. and if you have a facebook page, you're facebook link will be there.
amen sunkissed!! and then they say "well its ok if my friends see it but not my parents"
youre posting it for everyone else to see. your parents have every right to see it.
Post a Comment