David Brooks
A thoughtful article on cop-cams and privacy by David Brooks in the New York Times yesterday:
I liked what he said about privacy:
Privacy is important to the development of full individuals because there has to be an interior zone within each person that other people don’t see. There has to be a zone where half-formed thoughts and delicate emotions can grow and evolve, without being exposed to the harsh glare of public judgment. There has to be a place where you can be free to develop ideas and convictions away from the pressure to conform. There has to be a spot where you are only yourself and can define yourself.
Privacy is important to families and friendships because there has to be a zone where you can be fully known. There has to be a private space where you can share your doubts and secrets and expose your weaknesses with the expectation that you will still be loved and forgiven and supported.
In the end, Brooks came down in favor of police wearing body cameras, even though they erode privacy, even though they change the dynamic between officer and civilian.
Fanatic Cook 