Digital Veils: The Unspoken Intimacies

In an era of open information exchange, many remain reticent when it comes to the most intimate matters. People are afraid to disclose personal and private topics due to deep-seated cultural norms and internal judgment that follows any attempt to unveil forbidden areas of life. Psychological defense and the fear of unpredictable consequences turn even the most significant pieces of knowledge into a kind of secret treasure, the sharing of which could radically transform a person’s inner world and their relationships with others. From a child striving to keep a cherished interest secret to adults who value the genuine depth of their experiences, everyone fears that openly discussing these issues might not only expose personal values but also lead to a radical shift in their worldview. The awareness that some topics appear almost sacred or mystical further reinforces both their perceived importance and the notion that they should not be publicly discussed. This complex interplay of cultural, psychological, and personal factors creates an environment where intimacy and secrecy serve as both a shield against the external world and a barrier to open dialogue online.

Why are there topics or items on the Internet that people are reluctant to share?
People are hesitant to share certain topics or items online for several reasons, rooted in deeply embedded personal and cultural taboos, as well as the fear of unpredictable consequences that may come with revealing intimate information. Many topics are seen as sacred or so personal that any attempt to discuss them can be perceived as violating unwritten rules, leading to internal condemnation. One author writes:

"The slightest violation of this verbal taboo, the slightest revealing of a forbidden area, was harshly condemned internally by me, for it seemed like shamelessness, exposure, rudeness, if one were to use that word in its original sense. Existence is fundamentally mysterious and does not want its secrets to be exposed in words. The threshold of life, about which it is just and acceptable to speak, is very thin; everything else—the roots of life, perhaps the most important—deserves an underground gloom." (source: link )

From this quote, it is evident that for many people, revealing certain topics is associated with a sense of sanctity or mystery that they prefer to keep hidden.

Another significant aspect is that some topics are believed to possess the potential to radically change one’s lifestyle or worldview. One source emphasizes:

"Accounts of experiences ‘on the other side’ are sincere and similar, differing only in details; [...] New knowledge is shared reluctantly. Its influence on character and lifestyle is significant." (source: link )

Thus, people are afraid of sharing such knowledge because it can touch the very foundation of personal existence, causing changes or even a negative impact on how others perceive them.

Furthermore, the degree of intimacy of a topic or object of interest influences a person’s willingness to reveal themselves. For instance, when it comes to a passion that is especially dear to the heart, a person tends to hide it even from close acquaintances:

"The more precious an object of a child’s passion is to him, the more secret it is, and the more he is inclined, in the literal sense, to hide it from prying eyes." (source: link )

Thus, the complex of cultural, psychological, and personal factors creates an environment in which certain topics remain closed off to the general public on the Internet. This phenomenon is explained by a defensive reaction to potential judgment, the risk of losing one’s individuality, and the fear that revealing such knowledge might alter how one is perceived by others.