But why even discuss that … It’s personal, after all!
I disagree: basic information regarding one’s life is not private. What happens is that some people retroactively assign a notion of privacy.
[February 15, the day after Valentine’s Day. Someone at work compliments Arthur on his new tie.]
“It’s nice, isn’t it? My girlfriend gave it to me.”
“Oh, cool, you’re a lucky guy.”
*
[February 15, the day after Valentine’s Day. Someone at work compliments Arthur on his new tie.]
“It’s nice, isn’t it? My boyfriend gave it to me.”
Oh, no… We didn’t need to know that. Why does he broadcast his sex life?
*
“By the way, you sometimes talk about your father but never about your mother. Is she still alive?”
“Yes.”
A psychologist advised me to leave it at that, to answer yes or no. He assured me that people wouldn’t press the issue. He was right.
Something gets lost in the process, though; as if we were protecting a somewhat shameful secret.
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