Getting Away From it All
How many times does one hear others say, "I just need to get away from it all?" This phrase is one of great importance to most human beings. What is it saying? It is conveying a desire for privacy, isolation, and possibly quiet solitude. Anne LaBastille (1992) explains that, "Solitude and silence are positive, precious life forces which every human needs and has the birthright to enjoy" (p. 6). Where does this personal desire for isolation come from? It could range from any one of the common pressures of everyday life, stress from work, daily responsibilities, social pressures, weather; basically any kind of stressor that one experiences. Why would getting away or physically removing one's self be an answer to a problem? Where does one go, exactly, to 'get away?' How can this 'getting away' and regulating one's privacy be important in the continued well being of an individual? The answers to these questions may be found through exploring why one chooses isolation as a problem solving tool. There are certain times when one feels the need to isolate oneself from others, whether it be physically or mentally, and just reflect or do something relaxing.
First of all, why does one desire isolation or solitude when daily life gets a little too busy and overwhelming? For one thing, privacy is used to regulate the access of others to oneself or group (Altman, 1975). When one experiences a sensory or information overload, whether great or small, the most logical thing to do is to cut off or regulate that sensory stimulation received. What better way to do this than to isolate oneself from the stimulations? This situation describes a key element in the desire for isolation; control. The desire for isolation ...
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When Miramar went to go meet her old friends from university, she realized how much they had progressed in life since she first met them. “Tina announced that she had just gotten accepted to nursing school, and Denise said she had decided to apply for an MBA…as they flipped through the pictures commenting on how hot each other’s boyfriend were, I let my posture crumple, feeling more and more like the garden gnome again” (Leung 150). Miramar felt alienated that her friends had such a great future ahead of them with great jobs and earnings while she had no future because she had dropped out of university and left her own family, having to find a house and make money for herself. This affected her emotionally as she did not mention any details on her own future as she hid not only her emotions, but suppressed her life from everyone else. “They looked like kids playing dress-up, but still, I looked down at my jeans and t-shirt and felt left behind” (Leung 149). Miramar felt left out as she wasn’t wearing elegant and somewhat trendy clothes like her friends. Instead she was wearing a typical jeans and t-shirt. Miramar did not lash out or complain verbally for not having clothes similar to her friends, she kept her emotions to herself and lived on in her own gray world. “Mouse was my first real friend in a long time and a good distraction from the wandering thoughts that invariably landed me back in quicksand” (Leung 152). Miramar dealt with her struggles as she finally found a real friend who she could trust and create a real connection and bond with to help her cope with her problems. Mouse was the first person she could open up to again, expressing her emotions freely. Isolation builds a barrier between those who are victims to it and the outside world. Those affected by isolation lose all sense of emotion and contact with the outside world. Only with help
People need interaction with other people because it is such a significant part of how they understand the reasons for living. Human beings are naturally curious. Therefore, by drastically reducing the amount of normal social interaction, exposure to the natural world, or experience of different relationships, isolation is emotionally, physically, and psychologically destructive. Works Cited Faulkner, William. The.
One of the most sacred ideas that we hold dear is our right to privacy. It a simple correlation between being free and doing what we want, legally speaking, in our own homes and lives. Unfortunately, our lives seem to become less...
Isolation, on the other hand, is seen negatively to Inness. Inness believes that if a person is isolating their self from a group they have no want to be any part of the group. If a person is private from a group, they have intentions of staying with the group. Isolation is being cast off by yourself where no one can communicate with
Isolation can be a somber subject. Whether it be self-inflicted or from the hands of others, isolation can be the make or break for anyone. In simpler terms, isolation could range anywhere from not fitting into being a complete outcast due to personal, physical, or environmental factors. It is not only introverted personalities or depression that can bring upon isolation. Extroverts and active individuals can develop it, but they tend to hide it around crowds of other people. In “Richard Cory,” “Miniver Cheevy,” The Minister’s Black Veil,” and “Not Waving but Drowning,” E.A. Robinson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Stevie Smith illustrate the diverse themes of isolation.
1.Sarah Andrews. Country Reports: An International Survey of Privacy Laws and Development. Electronic Privacy Information Center. Washington, DC, US. 146-158. 2002
In today’s society, isolation often becomes both a physical and emotional influence on an individual who does not experience any social interactions. These influences can lead individuals to develop a need to distract themselves from their boredom through temptation. In Sinclair Ross’s short story, “The Painted Door”, Ann overcomes her isolation through her infidelity which ultimately cost her, her marriage. Ross develops the idea that isolation is crucial because internal conflicts and desires create temptation resulting in infidelity.
To begin, consider how countries handle the privacy of individuals in general, not exclusively in the electronic environment. Most countries around the world protect an individual’s right to privacy in some respects, because “privacy is a fundamental human right that has become one of the most important human rights of the modern age”2. Definitions for privacy vary according to context and environment. For example, in the United States Justice Louis Brandeis defined privacy as the “right to be left alone”3. In the United Kingdom, privacy is “the right of an individual to be protected against intrusion into his personal life or affairs…by direct physical means or by publication of information”4. Australian legislation states that “privacy is a basic human right and the reasonable expectation of every person”5. Regardless of varying definitio...
Solove, Daniel J. "Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have 'Nothing to Hide'." Chronicle of Higher Education. 15 May. 2011: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
Describing a course in history when isolation was highly adopted, Deresiewicz writes, “The mob, the human mass, presses in… The soul is forced back into itself—hence the development of a more austere and embattled form of self-validation…where the essential relationship is only with oneself” (par.8). Deresiewicz describes the time of urbanization, when country folks began flooding into cities. With so many people moving into the city, there was not any room to breathe because there was not any privacy or space—all the voices and thoughts were forced into one sector of society. This forced some people to advance past the crowd and focus on oneself, on the soul. When submerged by a sea of people, the best shelter is inside the body and mind, where one can reflect the internal self and external world in a serene environment. Extending on the importance of temporary isolation, Deresiewicz adds, “Solitude becomes, more than ever, the arena of heroic self-discovery, a voyage through interior realms” (par. 8). When engaged in the physical world, people don’t focus on themselves because there is too much stimulation occurring around them. But when alone in solitude, when there is no around except oneself—no noises, sounds, distractions—then a person is able to reflect on his or her character. It is important to immerse in introspection because mental health is as vital as bodily health. And by delving deeper into the psyche, individuals discover new information about themselves that wouldn’t have been uncovered with others because the only person that truly understands him or her is that
The word “privacy” did not grow up with us throughout history, as it was already a cultural concept by our founding fathers. This term was later solidified in the nineteenth century, when the term “privacy” became a legal lexicon as Louis Brandeis (1890), former Supreme Court justice, wrote in a law review article, that, “privacy was the right to be let alone.” As previously mentioned in the introduction, the Supreme Court is the final authority on all issues between Privacy and Security. We started with the concept of our fore fathers that privacy was an agreed upon concept that became written into our legal vernacular. It is being proven that government access to individual information can intimidate the privacy that is at the very center of the association between the government and the population. The moral in...
...rs solitude to be of great importance in achieving an individualistic understanding. He writes, “It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” Here it can be seen that Emerson also recognizes solitude to be a beneficial thing to people, but he argues that to be able to remain an individual within society is a far greater achievement. To be able to think without the assistance of society while enduring the pressures of society is to be truly great.
Do you ever feel trapped when you are in a place that you have never been before? Isolation criticizes society since it does not let everyone be equal or have the same rights. Isolation can completely change a person, and it is usually for the worst. Society “acts” like they try to prevent isolation, but in reality they isolate people for certain reasons, then those people get judged for being “different.” Upon closer inspection it is human nature to deny equal rights because people that do not act, dress, or look the same are labeled as strange, and unfortunately, many times are not accepted by the majority of society. This gives authors a way to shine a light on society’s flaws.
Hughes, Kirsty. "A Behavioral Understanding of Privacy and Its Implications for Privacy Law." Modern Law Review 75.5 (2012): 806-836. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
Right of Privacy Timeline. N.p.: Leading Issues Timelines, 2013. N.p. Web.