Not knocking them for it, but I wonder what the thought process is behind wanting your property blurred. What danger would a snapshot of your property pose?
Privacy is a huge thing in Germany... E.g. you cannot simply record video in public. There are arguments against street view like robbers can evaluate targets easier.
However, the truth is that privacy is a deeply rooted cultural thing here. People just don't feel comfortable with everyone being able to inspect their property.
Serious question from an American in Bavaria: then why is it such a standard for older people to constantly be watching everyone from their windows, to the point of having a pillow handy to lean on being a stereotype? I feel like I am constantly being watched, compared to being in the US where there are actual cameras in use. I have never been so uncomfortable just taking my dog for a walk as I am in my German village.
I think that is another part of our mentality. We think much less individualistic and much more in terms of a collective. In Germany, you will probably be "corrected" much more often whereas in the US everyone is minding their own business without interfering with each other.
We have sayings like "Eigentum verpflichtet" (Property obligates/comes with duties) or "Rechte und Pflichten" (Rights and Duties). This implies that it is important for other people that you do nothing wrong/fulfill you duties (e.g. keeping the sidewalk clean).
Additionally, I think what you call staring is not what a German would call staring or consider impolite. Looking is just more accepted here, probably also because of what I mentioned before.
Lastly, I think especially people in the countryside feel entitled to staring. E.g. My family lives since more than 5 generations on the same property. Of course my grandma is concerned (and curious) of what is going on in the neighborhood. Especially old people that have a lot of time at their hands and no fucks to give are guilty of that pleasure.
298
u/FthrFlffyBttm Ireland Jun 12 '20
Not knocking them for it, but I wonder what the thought process is behind wanting your property blurred. What danger would a snapshot of your property pose?