Have you ever been in a public place, minding your own business doing something on the phone, when you suddenly feel hot breath on your neck? At a glance, you find an overzealous someone peeping on your screen and even when you turn to stare at them disapprovingly, they are not deterred and only give you a smile, hoping you will acknowledge their interest and allow them into your space. For them, ‘private space’ is Greek and they don’t regard such. They literally turn in the direction of a stranger’s phone in spite of what they are doing, just to be part of something they shouldn’t be in the first place. Some will even help in spell checking, meaning they are actually part of whatever you are typing. It is called public nuisance, in case many are not aware.
Unless dully invited to this private space, phones or laptops are not for public viewing, especially if it warrants the ‘spy’ to literally invade the space by turning their entire body to view whatever the owner is doing. One may be working, talking to friends or family members and even watching something of great interest, but that doesn’t warrant a free glimpse in their direction.
A woman was watching YouTube videos the other day at a market. One vendor literally stopped attending to a customer, breathing mercilessly on her neck as she navigated her screen. “Bwanji achimwene,” she turned to look to him and his response was rather causal than apologetic. “Nanga simukuonela zozangalatsa nde timaona nawo.”
Nobody has the right to peep or check what the other is doing on their screens. Some may feel entitled to do so on their children or spouses. That is their opinion and I hope they feel ok if tables turned. They may not mind now, but there may come a time when the sensitivity rating of their work, views and phone content changes in the near future. Don’t cry wolf then.
Invasion of privacy sulks, especially if done by a total stranger. It worsens when familiar people do it beyond just viewing what the other is watching or doing. This may break trust and the first instinct is for the injured to protect their interests by beefing up security. Once this happens, the supposed spy may feel completely left out or shunned completely because of one act of stupidity. That will be when cheating accusations begin.
Let us be cautious of our actions around people. Control the urge to peep or simply join in a watch that you haven’t been invited to. Many don’t see the problem with this, but trust me, it is problematic and an invasion of private space. Control that urge to check what your spouse or children are doing on their gadgets. It leads to hatred.
