I found Malcolm Gladwell’s article to be the most interesting one we have read yet. As probably most people, I would like to think that the human race is not so transparent or easily manipulated. But as it is, it is very interesting to see how, with implementation of technology, trends in human behavior are almost mechanical. As for the argument of whether Paco Underhill’s studies and the use of hidden cameras to record human behavior and bring profit to large retail companies is moral. To many, it probably seems like cheating. However, in my opinion, this is simply another example of our society taking more and more privacy away from the public domain. Another example of this trend is the camera that sits on a traffic signal and photographs any car that runs a red light. This, I would argue, is even more intrusive into the private realm as it records vehicle license numbers and has access to personal information. The anonymity of Underhill’s studies further redeem it as harmless.
