Lost and FOUND

Last Thursday, I went to LitFest. It was incredible. I loved every guest, I never took my eyes off the stage. The performances had me enticed from beginning to end. I'd have to say that my favorites were either Reggie Gibson (the poet/writer who visited us in class) or The Handsome Family. Butt, there was one guest who I found particularly...interesting. Davy Rothbart, of FOUND Magazine.

Found Magazine is a magazine created and edited by Rothbart, showcasing written items and photos that he, his team, and even random strangers have found. While this is a very interesting idea, and many of the "found" items were hilarious, one thought stuck in my head throughout the whole presentation. That would suck so bad if one of those was mine. Of course the magazine is mostly a joke, but Rothbart also read some pieces that were pretty sentimental (i.e. a son's letter to his deceased mother, found in a graveyard tied to a balloon).

Do these people know that their seemingly private notes are being published for the world to see? It reminded me a lot of our class discussions about the right to privacy. I personally don't believe that everybody has the right to see these things. And while I'll admit that I bought a FOUND Magazine, I felt pretty bad about it afterwards. I know I wouldn't want my letters, diary entries, or pictures published- why would I want to see other peoples'? What right does this magazine have to publish things like that? I work in a medical office, I file paperwork every day, and I know how private those things are and how secretive I have to be about even the names of the patients that I see. What if it was a "found" medical record? Where do they draw the line?

I noticed on the website, on the list of "contacts," that there was a man with the job description of "ethicist." At least FOUND Magazine realizes that there is an ethical controversy behind what they're doing, but I wonder what that guy's job really is. Maybe I'll email him.