Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
- Oscar Wilde -
I like my privacy and respect that of others. I don't intentionally ask intrusive questions or those I know may push too far into people's private lives or comfort zones; a simple courtesy. If I happen to overstep, (I'm human after all), I'm quick to offer a genuine apology if I do happen to overstep the mark. #simplecourtesy
In real life I'm fiercely private; this doesn't mean I'm not open, just selective with my private life and those I share it with; the blockchain also, but I like to hide personal information or thoughts, between the lines of my posts occasionally. Generally, I'm cautious with how much I share as should everyone on the interwebs.
I've been here for a while and have written a lot of posts so I've shared a lot. People form opinions and perceptions and I've got supporters and haters, and haters that were once supporters, and that's fine. It's the interwebs and people have freedom to be themselves; on the Hive blockchain freedom of thought, speech and action is actively promoted, so have at it folks. Just like others, I have my own thoughts and freedoms and the same right to act in accordance with my wishes. Right?
Recently, a poor unfortunate chap took my personal image from my profile and drew me. It was actually quite a good likeness and reasonable artwork, and he posted it tagging myself and my brother 
But...it's the interwebs and he can do what he likes right? Well yeah of course, but with that in mind, and for the very same reason, so can others - I may feel however I like about this matter, or anything at all.
I didn't take kindly that he didn't do me the courtesy of asking.
I would have denied him permission of course, and he would have complied with my wishes, wouldn't have drawn me and that would have been the end of it. But he didn't ask. I saw the post...the one using my personal image without permission and designed around his own financial gain in which he tagged me and my brother into, and had no choice but to address it.
I immediately sent a comment telling him to delete my image and muted the post from my community as it wasn't in line with the community theme. The user deleted the post, but not before copying and pasting it into another post which he immediately posted into another community! Unfortunately for the users, I saw it too. I sent another comment, more firmly worded. I wanted to be clear and, unfortunately for the fellow, I wanted to send a message to others who may think showing such bad manners in respect of me might actually earn them something positive. It won't.
A compatriot from the same country as him leapt to his defence suggesting I should have been kinder...hmm predictable. That's ok too though, it's the interwebs right? Freedom right? But I have the same freedom...right? The freedom to act or react as I choose, just like the two characters I mention above.
When people do what that fellow did, and other such things, they are removing the freedom of others just to feed their own entitlement to freedom. I don't like people taking such liberties and thinking there will be zero ramifications. I know, it's the internet and I can't control it, but I can control how I respond to it in comments, who I mute and who I downvote on Hive when their actions cross lines I feel shouldn't be crossed; that's my freedom of choice.
I have my own reasons for not wanting my image used in this way, perfectly good reasons that I don't need to justify in any way, to anyone. All that individual needed to do was ask for permission. That's all. It wouldn't have been difficult either, a comment to any of my posts would have worked well. Something like: "Can I draw a picture of you and do a post about it for my own financial gain?" Sure, a hard no, would have been the answer, but he would have avoided the other situations and I would have been happy knowing he'd had the common courtesy (decency) to ask me first. #commoncourtesy
It's a sad story really; the fellow has some artistic talent and in a different version of the above events would have gotten a solid vote from me, say he'd asked to draw my cat Cleo; I would have permitted that and happily upvoted the post and promoted it to curangel perhaps. I'm not about to reward bad manners and lack of courtesy though, hubris or the sense of entitlement.
I like my privacy and am selective with the information I divulge in real life and here, I think it's ok to be that way. I also like to show personality here, some of the real me, so there's an image or two of me and words that open doors to my real world life, thoughts and opinions and I'm ok with it. I'm also ok knowing that means people like this fellow may take liberties...but if they do, they need to be ok with the repercussions of those actions, and the fact that others have the same freedoms to act as they do themselves.
What are you like with privacy?
I know many of you hide behind usernames and profile images that don't show your true self and that's ok. Are you open and free with your personal lives on social media like Facetwit, Instabook, TicTwat and those other stupid things though? How would you feel if someone took an image you photographed from one of your posts and wrote their own post about it for their own reward without your permission? That's image theft right? What about in your real life, are you cautious with your personal life and information or don't you care? Comment if you'd like to.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[All original and AI free]
Any images in this post are my own and are not for your use.
