Deletions, and Your Additions

I recently received an e-mail from a Mongolian woman who now lives in the United States. She requested that I remove all photographs in the "Home / Ger" photo album because she felt it was an invasion of her privacy and showed a lack of respect for her culture.

You see, her mother Itgel was the first person I home-stayed with upon my arrival to Mongolia in August 2006, and I took photographs of all the rooms in the house, Itgel, the foods we ate, etc. and posted them on the site at that time. My intention was to share with people all over the world, particularly those who might never be able to make the trip to see for themselves, the reality of day-to-day life in Mongolia.

Today I removed all the photos of her mother's house and of her mother. However, I have chosen to leave the remaining "Home / Ger" photographs on the blog. This is where you come in, my dear reader.

I was quite surprised that the writer of the aforementioned e-mail felt the posting of these photographs on the Internet showed a lack of respect for Mongolian culture as I haven't heard this response from any other Mongolians and many have visited the site. And, to be sure, my aim was and is respect. To open up dialogue and information between cultures. To enrich the global cultural perspective. If I have achieved the opposite unwittingly I am sincerely sorry for that.

So I need to know what YOU think? Should I remove the remaining photographs in the "Home / Ger" photo album? Is this showing a lack of respect for Mongolian culture? What are your general thoughts on the question of privacy, cultural content and the Internet? Please do post a comment! And forward this post to others if you like.

Comments

[Oyunaa]

Hi Lisa,

It's good to hear from you. I've been wondering how you've been doing since you came back from Mongolia.

I can't think of any reason why it would be a disrespect to post photos of the place you stayed. It seems a little odd that she thinks that way. Perhaps she didn't want someone (someone who recognizes the place or someone who knows)to see the place. There could be number of reasons behind it and it's nobody's business why she doesn't want to reveal the place in picture. I understand the privacy part, but I don't get what she mean by "disrespect to the culture". However, I think she could've communicated politely to get them removed.

You probably should ask the other people in the other pictures, if it's ok to keep theirs posted. I guess, in the future, it would be a good idea to ask people's permission before posting, to avoid these kind of situations.

[RML]

Lisa,

it's just my opinion of course, but unless you removed the photos out of respect for the mother, I'd leave them on. Your "sister" may feel it embarrassing that other people who know her might see where she came from. Like the millionaire not liking to be confronted with his hobo past.

I've spoken to many Mongolians, have taking tons of photos of them, their houses, their children. their lives, and not once have I been asked not put them on display. And these were not people living far from an internet connection. My wife, Mongolian to the core, actually wants me to put up more photos each time we've been back to Mongolia.

There's no such thing as disrespect to the culture by posting these private photos. Flickr and all are full of similar photos posted by Mongolians themselves. In my experience most Mongolians like their photos taken and enjoy the accompanying interest you take in them, their life and their culture. Proud people, Mongolians are.

My guess is that your "sister"has some personal considerations for not wanting these photos out in the open. But you should not have to concern yourself with that.

You're also not breaking any law, even if you post these photos without prior permission of the people in them. (But when with court, always consult a lawyer.) Your "sister" will just have to accept she has no control over these photos, and shouldn't have.

[Sumiyabazar]

I agree that those photos are yours from the point of copyright or whatever. But as I'm a Mongolian, definitely I would not be happy if a foreigner has exposed images of my home out on the Internet. You should have respected the culture, and ethics of the host family and host country. We had unhappy experience that a foreign volunteer, who had once worked at our newspaper for a short term, failed to maintain confidentiality and code of conduct we made. It was irresponsible and unethical matter.

[Blue Sky]

Hi Lisa,

I think it is not polite putting others photo without their permission. Suppose, if I put your picture which you don't want to be shown to the public, surely, the response from your side will be the same to Mongolian woman.

[Blue Sky]

One more thing Lisa. It is abt ur note abt Enerel was drunk etc. I think this is also not nice thing to tell about people.

[Orna]

Hi lisa,
I suggest you always let people know if you decide to post their pictures online. I personally wouldn't have liked if anybody had posted photos of my home and my mom online without my knowledge. Even though the photos are yours, they don't have a neutral content, they do relate to people's privacy, therefore, can be very sensitive.
Also, just viewing your photos in general--my suggestion is to provide more intelligible captions to explain the specifics of their content and the context. For instance, why and what part of Mongolia uses dried grasshoppers mixed with live worms to cure sore throats? I am Mongolian, but never heard of such a tradition. Those photos looked very weird to me. Since Mongolia is so much unknown, and generally foreigners have rather negative than positive imagination what Mongolia is, photos taken out of context can be easily misunderstood and misinterpreted without proper explanation. I assume misinterpetation was another reason of Enerel's concern.

[Naran]

Dear Lisa,

Few days ago, while surfing through I stumbled across your website– it’s absolutely beautiful that you have an interest in studying Mongolian language, poetry and art and had an opportunity to learn it from the source. Your poetic and linguistic talents are distinct and invaluable in bringing our culture to the world.

However, I had also had somewhat uneasy feelings about some of the pictures and comments to them. When attempting to answer the questions you’ve raised it felt that I needed little more information from you:
1. Have you ever asked/informed Itgel (your host, I believe) about posting the pictures of her and her place/house online? If yes, what was her reaction ?
2. Had she ever consented (in any form) to have her private life exposed and “shared with people all over the world, particularly those who might never be able to make the trip to see for themselves, the reality of day-to-day life in Mongolia’?

If the answer is ‘no’ it looks like removing the pictures of your host and her/Enerel’s house (without creating too much noise) from the ‘ger’ folder and apologizing to them is the right thing to do. Meanwhile, I feel rather hesitant to communicate on behalf of other people whose pictures are still being posted – Mongolians, like any other in the world, are different, and they might have different perspectives and attitudes toward the matter of discussion. Again, the only way to know is to ask them directly.

It is interesting that you’d refer to enriching of the global cultural perspective while describing your intention. Undoubtedly, it’s a wonderful and noble goal to thrive to, and little things like proper communication and respect to personal boundaries will certainly make it a bit more attainable.

I do hope that you would not consider my comments completely out-of-point. Again, as a Mongolian, I sincerely appreciate your genuine interest in Mongolian culture and traditions, and do believe that open and fair communication is the only way to overcome our misunderstandings and make the world a better place.

Sincerely,
Naran

[rd]

Hi, Lisa!
Thank you for your e-mail. I think the photos look nice and respectful and do not undermine the Mongolian culture. But if the person whose place is on the pictures refuses to let the pictures be online, it's I think a common practice to not place those online unregardinly of what is the subject of the photos, Mongolian or other.
So I think you are doing right removing those and it's better to not be overly sensitive about the whole matter, because misunderstandings happen sometimes and it's totally normal.
Hope that the e-mail exchange with Enerel won't change your perception of Mongolians as friendly and open people.
With kind regards,
rd

[rh]

First of all you did not ask the family for permission to post the pictures. Then you claim you’re sorry for doing so after you name the family member on the Internet, and slander her reputation on a blog. If you had truly been sorry for posting the pictures you would have asked which pictures the family wanted removed and simply removed them. That would have been the end of the story, and the world would not have suffered in the least. Instead you chose to add insult to injury by exposing them to an open discussion in order to “enrich the global cultural perspective” and slandering the reputation of the family member who objected. This is how you thank them for opening up their home to you? I bet they’ll never do that again.

You mentioned that other Mongolians weren’t offended. Good for them. Maybe that was because it wasn’t pictures of their bathroom, their refrigerator, or their elderly mother; you posted on the web for the world to see without permission. How would you like it if someone invaded your privacy like that? The fact is that Enerel did not like having her home and family put on display like some kind of zoo exhibit. It is NOT an indication of shame towards her heritage or family. It is a matter of respect and basic human dignity. Apparently, that is a concept you fail to understand.

[an]

Hi Lisa,

I remember that I visited your site a long time ago. I see my country from your prespective on this blog.

I think I know why this lady was sensitive about the photos. Since we have opened to the world, Mongolia has been pictured as a poor nomad counrty mostly. And reporters and vistors are mainly focused on material poverty instead of looking into deep inside the meaning of mongolian culture which is rich in respect for nature and all living beings. That's why the majority of mongolians have become very opniniated about being photographed "cruel" and "poor".

I'd respect this woman's wish and remove the photos related to her since that was her home and property. In fact she was kind enough to offer her place and friendship. In the western world person's privacy is protected at highest level.

Since the photos are yours, it is your right to own them but you do not have to show on the website. That is what the woman wishes, she simply wanted the pics removed from your site. But you still can have them and remember about the time in Mongolia.

I hope you have enough understandings about Mongolia and mongolian people.

Personally I always think: to understand somebody, try to put yourself in her/his shoes as much as possible.

In post-communist countries like Mongolia, it's everywhere that people are after material pleasure. Overall, there are so few people realize that satisfaction is mental.

i hope you get what I want to express.

with respect and love