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SALT LAKE CITY -- Are we becoming a nation of casual eavesdroppers? Experts say "yes," and it's OK because new media are turning Americans into exhibitionists who don't value privacy like past generations.
Most of us have experienced it. The person on the cell phone discussing things not meant for your ears. Salt Lake resident Stephanie Nelson says she's guilty of having private cell phone conversations in public.
"I don't really care what kind of conversation I'm having and I probably make people uncomfortable," says Nelson.
"My husband will kind of like reprimand me about making people feel awkward around me," she says.
Nelson says she doesn't mind carrying on a conversation in public about anything except matters concerning her bank accounts.
"Or even if you were talking about where you were going to be or where you live," explains Nelson. "If people overhear stuff like that, it could potentially be dangerous."
Pop culture experts say in an age of attention-seeking and obsession with celebrity, social media has turned us into narcissists and has even allowed for acceptable voyeuristic and exhibitionist behavior, like perusing friends' social network page to see what's happening in their lives.
Social psychologists say having cell phone conversations in public where no one knows you is almost seen as your own private time, which tends to blur the lines between public and private spaces.
Still, are we eavesdropping when someone has a loud cell phone conversation in public? Psychologists say "no" because the real victims are the people nearby forced to hear the private conversations of cell phone exhibitionists or view postings of people who put private things on social network sites.
Sociologists say even though past generations valued privacy, new social snooping may actually be beneficial because you get tidbits of information, which exposes you to new ideas.
E-mail: niyamba@ksl.com
