Abuse of the technology

[pohui]

Here I'm talking about the advance of camera-equipped mobile phone.

I guess a number of us here actually own one such gadget..

Unfortunately, the good being of such useful tool has been abused.

Just now, while browsed through a newspaper, I was pretty disturbed by the fact that this paper actually rewards readers with shopping voucher, so long they submit some news-worthy picture.

Sad to say, most of the pictures, captured via those camera-equipped mobile phones, were those I will termed them as "voyeurism".

And furthermore, the paper (being published by state-owned media) has no qualm at all, to publish them!!

How a sad thing to happen.

Such initiative is useful in expose the "dark sides" of the society, but having to stoop so low for such a "news" to be published is really too much.

[Hunter]

Pohui,

I'm not sure if I'm tracking with exactly what your message was meant to convey. From what I gathered you are disturbed by the fact that the paper you read is rewarding news worthy pictures, and that you regard such things as a form of paid voyerism. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

While I can see your point, I have to disagree. Camera equipped phones are no more sinister than your average camera/camcorder. The news pays for shots from those as well. If we are talking about privacy issues, people have no privacy outside of their homes, nor any allusion to privacy. Whether it is on the street, sidewalk, or in your car (which people seem to forget) there is no possibility of privacy. Now, this doesn't mean that technology isn't used for, shall we say, more sinister purposes, however, the camera phone is only the latest development, a new tool, being used in such acts. Technology can not prevent nor create crime. It simply gives us another venue for such things. Until we, as a whole, accept the fact that crime happens - and yes, it happens on your street - we'll never understand how to protect ourselves from those crimes.

The true sadness here isn't that technology is being used to such a purpose, nor that media is willing to pay for these thing, but that people (in general) enjoy it. We have only to look at the propagation of such things a your supermarket news rag (Inquirer, The Globe, etc.) and your celebrity TV show (Inside Edition, E.T., etc.) to see that people feed off of others lives. This is what fuels such acts of, as you term it, voyerism.

Removing technologies from the equation will not stiffle this, only removing our needs to hide from our own lives, or to criticize others, will fend off this "abuse of technology."

Hunter.

[Ginafish]

Hmm...I think the word voyerism to me implies that maybe the pictures being printed aren't newsworthy but maybe scandalous.

In Singapore, do the newspapers try to print stories that are unbiased or are the papers owned or controlled by the government? I understand that some government controlled papers print very biased things. Course scandalous pictures could be printed about anyone, but the ones about celebrities or politicians would generate more sales of papers.

I'd like to say it's not the advance of technology that has made people greedy or abusive but rather it was their own being already, and the technology made it easier.

[pohui]

Pohui,

I'm not sure if I'm tracking with exactly what your message was meant to convey. From what I gathered you are disturbed by the fact that the paper you read is rewarding news worthy pictures, and that you regard such things as a form of paid voyerism. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Hi Hunter.. you hit the point, you are not wrong..

to me, "privacy" doesn't restricted at home or within a confined space, even when a guy, say having a quiet moment all by himself (and alone)sitting on a bench in a park, that to me is also "privacy"

Perhaps, I have those " dont bother" attitude that when I saw such "news" published that I find them tasteless..IMO

for that I respect your opinion, though we dont share the same thought maybe is the way we think differently on such issue.

In Singapore, do the newspapers try to print stories that are unbiased or are the papers owned or controlled by the government? I understand that some government controlled papers print very biased things. Course scandalous pictures could be printed about anyone, but the ones about celebrities or politicians would generate more sales of papers.

Well Gina, everyone has his/her opinion I can't really answer that question for you, unless, u may wish to read the online edition of one of our local daily here, in order to conclude

[Hunter]

I'd like to say it's not the advance of technology that has made people greedy or abusive but rather it was their own being already, and the technology made it easier.

Perfectly said, GinaFish

Pohui,

I realize that we, people in general, have a feeling that we have a "bubble" in the world and that this is our personal space. The problem is that there is an assumption on our parts that others will respect this. Many countries have decided cases on privacy and it's boundaries, England and the US especially. Unless a person can have a reasonable assumption of privacy - i.e. in your home - then there is no jurisdiction in the matter. Publicly accessable areas just don't have the ability to offer any reasonable assumption.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think that there are many things that people beleive should be private, and I wholeheartedly agree, but the fact remains that there are many others who would disagree. Sometimes it is better for people to mind their own business - the truth can be a scary thing - but a lot of people seem to have a very voyeristic attitude (which actually only means that they like to watch - ususally in regards to someone elses life.) Sadly, it's just human nature. We are afraid of the dark, and we like to see others lives so that we can judge ourselves against that measure.

All in all, it's a very good conversation.

Oh BTW, I find it all tasteless too.

[Soulessaint]

We are afraid of the dark, and we like to see others lives so that we can judge ourselves against that measure.

Hunter, this is so sad, but very true, well stated. Gbya 

[pohui]

Sadly, it's just human nature. We are afraid of the dark, and we like to see others lives so that we can judge ourselves against that measure.

All in all, it's a very good conversation.

Hi Hunter, nice to engage in such conversation with you too..and i wholeheartedly agreed with What you mentioned.

By judging ourselves against others.. could eventually resulted us living in misery if we decided to gauge ourselves against anyone we know who is rich and successful, because we will keep asking why I cant be as successful as him/her?

[Hunter]

By judging ourselves against others.. could eventually resulted us living in misery if we decided to gauge ourselves against anyone we know who is rich and successful, because we will keep asking why I cant be as successful as him/her?

Which is why we, society, tend to judge ourselves against people we feel are inferior - whether through position, wealth, or intelligence.

The only place I've found that is pretty well free of this is actually Isara. Thanks PK, for making such a nice comunity to be a part of!