How do you perceive privacy ?

[Maciamo]

I noticed big cultural differences regarding privacy between me and my wife. For example, I consider that within the boundaries of a married couple there shouldn't be much privacy regarding emails, even on one's mobile phone, but she categorically said that I have no right to read her mails because of "privacy". I think that they are no more private than a phone conversation or regular paper mail (which both or us open as soon as we empty the mail box, regardless of whose name is on the envelope).

On the other hand, I dislike onsen (Japanese hot springs), public baths or even public changing rooms in fitness clubs or swimming pools, and would say that there is no privacy whatsoever regarding nudity in Japan (I have been used to swimming pools where everyone get an individual changing room since my childhood).

Likewise, I have been to several different doctors in Tokyo, and every time there was little separation between two doctors' patients, or even one doctors patient and waiting room, so that anybody could hear what was being said about the other patients. This would be a clear legal infringement of medical privacy in many Western countries, where doctors normally can't even tell a patient's relatives (even parents or spouse) about their patient's condition without the patient's authorization.

This clearly shows that privacy is a very subjective thing, that vary from person to person, but even more from culture to culture.

Any other examples ?

[thomas]

As far as keitai and emails are concerned I clearly have to side with your wife. Emails, letters and cell phone messages are private, and that includes spouses and relatives. I would not even think of touching my wife's keitai and consider it a clear breach of privacy and etiquette if someone touched mine.

As for public baths and onsen: I think that depends on your upbringing. I went to spas and saunas since my early childhood and preferred to go naked if it was publicly acceptable. :)

@ hospitals & doctors: I went to hospital twice in Japan and was always able to consult with the doctor privately. I would also view it a s a clear infringement in medical privacy if other patients would be able to overhear our conversation.

Ergo: I agree, privacy depends on culture and in particular on primary socialisation.

[CC1]

I have to agree that the emails are private.

As for the doctor? I haven't had any problems in that area. Each exam room was very private.

@pools and saunas....no problem from me...I am not totally comfortable with public nudity, but it doesn't bother me all that much...and I have never had a "private" changing room before anyway!

[RockLee]

1.Yep, the emails, even on keitai are private.

2. I agree that there should be privacy and other patients shouldn't be able to overhear conversations.

3. I really don't care if other people see me naked in public bathhouses etc. as long as they are also I had a serious problem with this when I was younger, but now I don't mind at all.

[lexico]

1-1. strictly private for me.
2-1.~2-2. There should have been a "sex partner and between relative members of the same sex." I wouldn't feel comfortable being seen naked by my mother, sister, or any other female relatives.
2-4. Public bath, locker room or shower is fine by me.
3-2. I hate being overheard by strangers because I can be quite frank with a doctor. But family should have access because they are family who have the right to know. Otherwise it wouldn't be fair.

[Duo]

Maciamo I agree with you on the marriage privacy point. I wouldn't appreciate of my wife keeping things secret from me also.

[Maciamo]

3. I really don't care if other people see me naked in public bathhouses etc. as long as they are also I had a serious problem with this when I was younger, but now I don't mind at all.

I mentioned that because when I go to the gym or swimming pool in Japan, the men in the locker room just walk around nude, chat to each other nude, dry their hair nude... They wouldn't even put on some pants or a towel around them. I find this weird. I'd just like to tell them :"Hey, we are not in the stone age, cover yourself, please !". I have no interest in seeing their genitals (or vice versa), especially when there are dozens of them around me.

[Dutch Baka]

i dont have problems with cellphone and email ( got nothing to hide.... well you guys can not read my email..... )
but for the docter; this is really private when other people can hear about things... if the docter would say that i have a sexual desise and people hear like that... not really normal for me...

as for a relation.. for me its most important to be open to each other... even i know ( if im wrong please tell me) that in japan people are not so open to each other, and people lie about things.

i got not much to hide, so i dont care about my privacy , just there are some things that is just to private ( like toilet/ docter/ sexual things)

[Miss_apollo7]

About e-mails, I don't mind my boyfriend reading some of my e-mails, however it doesn't happen that often.

About public baths, I have no problems whatsoever, as I go to the gym very often and shower in public showers at the gym.

About doctors, I guess I don't mind my family knowing about my conversations with the doctor - only to an extent - however, I also would like to keep it strictly confidential, depending on case I guess.

[Mal]

As for the doctors thing - It would never be allowed here in the United States. Doctors here take it very seriously that as a matter of course the medical condition and state of an individual is private knowledge. Infact if anyone wants to get a copy of a medical record without the express (usually written) permission of a patient they have to go to a judge and have him issue a subpoena duces tecum (writ to present documents in court).

The only time this rule is not in effect is when the patient is incapacitated or otherwise unable to make a choice in the affirmative or negative as to what their desire would be. In that case, the responsibility falls to an active guardian. Unless there is a living will present which implicitly states who that guardian is, that person usually is first the spouse (if applicable) and then the parents. If no parents are alive and the person is not married then a Judge will usually apoint a legal guardian for the person who then is entitled make decisions for the patient. If a family member petitions the Judge, they will usually be apointed guardianship in lieu of a civil servant.

Personally, I think this is a good system. Of course I am an American and we are absolutely obsessed with privacy since the distrust of government is bred into us.

[Maciamo]

As for the doctors thing - It would never be allowed here in the United States. Doctors here take it very seriously that as a matter of course the medical condition and state of an individual is private knowledge. Infact if anyone wants to get a copy of a medical record without the express (usually written) permission of a patient they have to go to a judge and have him issue a subpoena duces tecum (writ to present documents in court).

I can imagine your reaction if you ever go to my local doctor in Tokyo. There is not even a separation between the waiting room and the patient being examined. Whenever I go there, there is about 20 people waiting, and some are just sitting 2m from the doctor and patient examined. Of course, everybody can hear what is being said and see the patient being asked to say "aah" or whatever. Zero privacy. It's not like that everywhere, but the 3 other places where I went, there were 2 doctors receiving patients in the same room, or one doctor receivin two patients at a time. I am yet to see an doctor's office with full privacy in Japan. And my wife could ask anything about me that they would tell her without any authorization necessary.

I was also surprised that even my in-laws could sign the receipt (with a hanko) for registered mails for my wife or me. In Europe, I don't think even a spouse could sign - only the person whose name is on the letter/package.

[sgt. Pepper]

I don't allow anybody to read my emails, I strongly dislike anybody (but sex partner) seeing me nude, A patient's medical record is strictly private, even for family members.

Yeah...as you can see i'm in to privacy.

[himagain]

Speaking of privacy. My need to be alone is, I believe, greater than the average person. But
I am an INTP..........