The magic of the camera in reestablishing civil/ethical behavior. We used to live in small communities; our reputations were directly determined by what we did –we were watched. Today, anonymity brings the ass*le in people.

I accidentally discovered a way to change the behavior of unethical and abusive persons.

1) The other day, in the NY subway corridor in front of the list of exits, I hesitated for a few seconds trying to get my bearings… A well dressed man started heaping insults at me “for stopping”. Instead of hitting him as I would have done in 1921, I pulled my cell and took his picture while calmly calling him a “Mean idiot abusive to lost persons”. He freaked out and ran away from me, hiding his face in his hands.

2) A man in upstate NY got into my parking spot in as I was backing into it. I told him it was against etiquette, he acted as an as**le. Same thing, I silently took his picture and that of his license plate. He rapidly drove away and liberated the parking spot.

3) Near where I live there is a forest path/preserve banned to bicycles as they harm the environment. Two mountain cyclists ride on it every weekend during my 4 PM walk. I admonished them to no avail. The other day I calmly took a dozen of pictures, making sure they noticed. The bigger guy complained, but they they left rapidly. They have never returned.

Of course, I destroyed their pictures. But I never thought handhelds could be such a weapon.

DEEPER DISCUSSION: See Plato’s Republic, Book 2, the discussion between Socrates and Glaucon on whether people behave in a right manner because they are watched, or (according to Socrates) because that is what makes them tick. The ring of the Gyges gives its holder the power to be invisible at will & watch others.

Clearly Plato anticipated the later Christian contrivance “you are watched”.

via The magic of the camera in reestablishing… – Nassim Nicholas Taleb.