But ... what are they being shamed for? I don't think I'd want anyone to have naked photos of me, but there's a gigantic difference between a picture of me engaging in "shameful" behaviour, and simply a naked photo of me that's been used for collateral ... isn't there?
The shame bit is a cultural difference, so it wouldn't have quite the same impact. Not that it wouldn't be uncomfortable.
I mean, you get this loan for education. Then you get sick or something and can't pay it back. Suddenly they are threatening to send that same picture to your parents and your workplace with the note that it is your penalty for not paying your student loans on time.
And the truth is that I could explain it to my mother. My brother? Yeah, that's going to be an awkward conversation but I'd get over it. A discussion on this with a male boss (I'm female)? Yeah, that's going to be uncomfortable for some time.
The problem I see with the scheme applied universally is indeed this -- the "shame factor" is relative.
First thing I thought of (ala another comment) is that those openly engaged in the nudist lifestyle for instance might not give two flips about nude photo "collateral". To be honest, I can imagine other individuals (lifestyle or not) in at least the US would have a similar attitude. I cannot say as much about other cultures but I have a hunch the same applies to many Western nations.
So, if you're in a position where you give no flips about a nude photo, you have every incentive to take the money and run. Doubly so in fact for taking advantage of what IMHO is kind of a creepy sounding scheme.
So if someone installed a hidden camera in your house, and tried to exhort you for money with videos of you showering, is that the same thing? If not, where's the difference?
Nope. Pre-acceptance of the terms and conditions is different from being victimized, assuming you mean that I didn't know about the videos in your example.
In both cases I can somewhat make the embarrassment minimal by just being upfront with folks.
In the case of debt, however, the reason for the pictures is because I didn't pay the debt. It doesn't matter if it was preventable or accidental, i'm still the guilty party. Not only do you have the photos, but you have outsiders knowing your financial affairs. Nothing can be done if you don't have money.
In your example, someone had to install that camera without permission then come forward to try to get money. I could call the police. I could forewarn folks about getting such an email. I have options. Not only that, but people are more likely to see that I've been victimized in some respect.
Granted, I'm not for the naked photo bribery method of collecting debt, but it still is different situations.
In a way, yes. In a way, it is punishment for not paying.
To be fair, though, in some cultures the shame really is with the nakedness. To a lesser extent, that extends to different regions of the US or different sorts of families.
Edit: Some of the reaction with the nudity - for a supervisor at work - is that if I was the supervisor getting that picture, I'd never forget the look of them naked. Whatever I did see. And so I imagine it is about the same for other people.
Someone installed a camera into your house with your consent as part of a loan-scheme designed to get you to pay back your loan (viable or not) or risk release of videos of you showering
vs
Someone installed a hidden camera in your house, and tried to exhort you for money with videos of you showering
There's a cultural difference. Some things that "a westerner", broadly speaking, might consider an inconvenience can effectively be a life-long chain around the neck in other cultures.
I really hope this is not the case, but I fear we might see a follow-up on this article discussing suicides connected to these kinds of loans.
I think if you are a woman and they are going to release a naked picture with your name, address and cell phone number, the larger threat is going to be harassment, not just shame.
The article makes a statement of both men and women of college age can do this, but only provides examples of women BTW.
