The Cameras Add 10 Million Pounds

Observations about the implications of our increasingly voyeuristic mindset

Kids today don’t have a chance—cameras are everywhere and they always allow the most uncharitable interpretation. That thought came to me recently looking around to notice all the video surveillance that permeates our world.

As we repeatedly have to relearn, context is crucial to completely understand what a few moments of video seem to show. I am not saying the video evidence is not helpful. In fact it is often very helpful. I am a strong proponent of police body cameras keeping in mind that they both bring to light horrific police abuses as well as protect police against wrongful accusations.

This is true in the wider sphere and works just by its very presence. We act different when we assume we are being watched. However, it is not a free lunch. Here are some points I think deserve greater appreciation. They tend to push back against the natural urge to use these new capabilities to the fullest extent possible—just because we can doesn’t mean we always should.

• The permanent record mindset is escalating—no more forgive and FORGET.

• There are no venial sins. While not always true, seeing it generally makes it more impactful and more real. Hence, we let the small transgressions occupy an unjustified position in our minds.

• Add to this the problem with voyeurism. When it comes to security guards and monitors, we self select for curious, nosy, and in the extreme perverted people who like to watch.

• Does it really always help to see what goes on in the shadows? Related to all the above, do you really want to know what it looked like when the thief broke into your car? Wasn’t the shattered glass and missing items enough? We can hide behind the excuse that this is evidence, but almost always it is useless evidence in terms of catching the criminal or preventing the next crime. If that is a bridge too far, just consider the many, many cases where it isn’t a crime that has occurred but rather just something you wouldn’t have otherwise seen that is somehow objectionable to you.

• Think how often in person you respectfully and deliberately look away from that which you either do not wish to observe or do not think you should observe. You should pretend not to notice lots of things including making an effort not to see them: the guy in the car next to you at the traffic light picking his nose, the woman suffering a momentary wardrobe malfunction, the inadvertent burp in a job interview (technically heard not seen, but you get the point), etc. Yet somehow a camera seeing it makes it less awkward for you to gawk.

• Back to the kids, teaching them that they should expect to be watched and expect to be able to watch is rife with downsides.

• Notice of course how all of this overlaps with social media. To take but one example, it is much easier to blame the person for having posted something that isn’t totally glamourous than it is to convince yourself to ignore it or at least minimize the significance you place upon it.

Ubiquitous CCTV has benefits but it also has weighty costs. I’m very glad there were so few cameras on me growing up. I might have done fewer bad/stupid things, but I didn’t do that many anyway. I probably would have missed out on some innocent/stupid fun or been disproportionately held to atone for small transgressions.