Have you noticed how a word sometimes used in our every day conversation can suddenly become the main topic for consideration? I am referring to the word ‘Hacking’.
With all the current media coverage on……. er……well……..the media (for once) it’s difficult to avoid the word ‘hacking’ these days.
It has got me asking myself when is our ‘private information’ getting into the public domain, an offence to the individual and when can one argue that if we’ve done nothing wrong, we have nothing to fear? That if there is open transparency between us in society we all know where we stand with each other – therefore what’s the problem?
Could this be a case that we like to know other peoples business so long as we can keep our own private; a big brother scenario. That people in the public eye should expect to have their privacy scrutinised, rather than be offended by it? But wait, this hardly justifies hacking phones of murder victim’s families or politician’s children’s medical records (allegedly) – does it?
Those who know me best already know that I have always had a private loathing for the way some sectors of the media operate. Newspapers profiting before individuals privacy has never rested easily with me, particularly because they often put a spin on the facts. This sensationalises the story and increases sales with no regard to any hurt caused in the process.
The modern day justification for this behaviour is “it’s in the public interest” but has always seemed to me a lame excuse for blatant intrusion, without caring about the consequences for the individual or equally importantly, their families.
Maybe if those guilty of hacking were prepared to offer their own phones to be scrutinised by the newspaper buying public, their behaviour would be easier to accept. Or even to the rival tabloids, so that their opposition in business could print what they like about the behaviour and shenanigans of those doing the hacking.
This got me intrigued even further about where a reasonable line can be drawn between public interest and private intrusion. After all we cannot argue that much of the hacking has revealed underhand and unlawful behaviour which would have gone unnoticed had it not been for the journalists determined to get to the truth, which was in the public interest.
So the current situation makes for interesting debate – don’t you agree?
If we think back to the banking crisis, the expenses scandal, the downfall of dictators and now the media behaviour – don’t you think there is a theme running here? What do you think they each have in common?
Well it seems to me it’s that exposure of what was going on behind closed doors to control and influence society is being exposed for what it is, judged and condemned by human decency, honesty and morality.
Arguably, many of these culprits were not necessarily breaking the law, but they had definitely stretched the boundaries of integrity and consideration for others to their limits and often beyond.
Now what is happening is that the very media conglomerate which exposed others, condemned them and hung them out to dry are now the victims instead of the perpetrators.
A perfect example of the old adage, ‘What goes around comes around’. Or to use a more modern expression, ‘Live by media, die by media.’ No pun intended!
Who would have believed it possible that certain sections of the media itself would be hung, drawn and quartered by their own behaviour.
But do you know what folks? Don’t you find it hugely reassuring that above all, human failings and manipulation, there is a greater good working for us all? Now we have greater accountability and transparency by the banks, politicians, dictators and regimes and soon to be, I’m guessing, the media in the western world at least.
Going are the days when money and power alone can control public interest and influence politics. As events and days unfold there is something very reassuring happening for our society and therefore our lives.
That truth and integrity are not dead, that good can triumph over evil and that the common man has more say and power than he realises. While I will never condone people’s privacy being invaded, I sense the hackers and those who collaborated are about to get a taste of their own medicine, as they find themselves in the dock of public and political scrutiny, against their wishes and control.
I wonder if there is a great levelling going on here for the UK and undoubtedly further afield too. That those who support hacking, learn that their own behaviour can be exposed to scrutiny and that they will think twice in future about putting often innocent people through the same humiliation, all in the name of ‘public interest’.
Similarly that the rest of us waken up to a reminder that in this day and age of modern technology it is dangerous to say, do or write anything that could embarrass us, should it get into the public domain.
Personal development is all about living our truth with humility. That’s when all our fears melt away and we can enjoy a worry free and happy existence. May be all this exposure of the ‘truth’ is helping us to embrace this in public life too, which can only have a positive outcome for all of us.
‘If you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ve nothing to fear’ is a great maxim and barometer with which to live by. When we do make mistakes it’s never too late to put things right.
Banks are having to do it, politicians are having to do it, dictatorships are having to do it, now it’s the turn of the western worlds media.
Isn’t it great to know there is a greater good working to help and benefit us all, not least the culprits and perpetrators.
Roll on Utopia!
Have a great week.
