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Lessons From a Porch Light

Guest post by: Rebel Brown

Article Overview: Where do we draw the line when it comes to respecting personal space?

Lessons From a Porch Light

The last few weeks I've had a barrage of pornographic messages on Twitter. They are obscene, graphic and embarrassing. I block the senders and delete the messages, but they just keep coming. My other friends are getting them as well. We all feel so powerless to do anything to stop them - so we do the best we can and delete and block - again and again. My email reflects Twitter. Everyday I get a multitude of invasive, downright obnoxious and over the top communications. Companies suggest they'll make me rich, young girls suggest things I don't want to mention. Con artists offer to share their multi-million dollar bank accounts in the US if I'll only help them with a small funding.

My personal space is filled with blatant disrespect.

Last week I was thinking about my childhood holidays. My mom loved to host celebrations - so we were always having some form of party. There was a quaint little custom in my small southern home town. No one came to the door until the porch light was turned on. When we were ready for 'company', I excitedly turned the lights on.

When we went to others' homes, we waited outside, or drove around the block - until their porch lights were on. It was common courtesy. No one would have thought of intruding on the hosts personal space by knocking on the door before that light went on.

How far we've strayed from porch light courtesy.

We've lost the respect of personal space. Maybe it's too much exposure to virtual lives in games and movies. Maybe it's television and the wonderful reality shows some call entertainment - where people bare themselves to the world all for money. Maybe it's simply a case of following the wrong leader's example.

I think it's time we did something about it. I just don't know what to do.

These behaviors are so foreign to my own personal comfort zone, I don't know how to even think about them. What I do know is that I'm tired of the intrusions into my personal zone. From strangers, webbots and automated email systems to Twitter porn stars and spammers. But what can we do? Any thoughts are most appreciated. As for me?

I miss the days of the porch light.

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Article Tags: bank accounts, barrage, blatant disrespect, celebrations, comfort zone, communications companies, con artists, dollar bank, email, hosts, intrusions, multitude, personal comfort, personal space, porch light, porch lights, pornographic messages, top communications, twitter, young girls



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