A Public Service Announcement

[xyzzysqrl]

Commenters on major news stories continue to not understand how the Internet works!

I personally have always believed it's important to keep yourself documented, and keep things around for people in The Future to have. It could be nice for an archivist in the future to read over some of this stuff. And that's great! Even if this archive never gets touched again! Also, I respect the rights of anyone who disagrees. That's also great!

...but people continue to not realize that if it's on the Internet, it is not "private". It is not "protected". You wrote something in a place where several million people roam about, clicking any piece of text or picture that holds still and several that move around. What makes you think, exactly, that people aren't reading your crap? What makes you think it's not within their rights to sell your nickname and everything you've ever said to an advertising company? Or, in this case, donate it to the LoC? And by "their" and "they", I mean Twitter, Livejournal, Dreamwidth, Facebook, that message board you signed up to in sixth grade.

I am putting this on the Internet: DON'T PUT PRIVATE THINGS ON THE INTERNET. If you're not comfortable with the idea of everyone you've ever known and several hundred strangers thrusting their metaphorical faces against your metaphorical windowpanes, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.

Comments

[xyzzysqrl]

As a less-snarky reply: The terms of service does appear to give Twitter at least that right. I'd be willing to bet the Livejournal terms of service do something similar. And people can always simply save what you write to read later, or read offline, or print on a poster and stick up in the middle of the park if they care to. It isn't private. It may be LEGALLY PROTECTED, but not private.

[bossgoji.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this right here. 'Protected' just means they can't alter what you said or attribute things to you that you did not say. Unless you SPECIFICALLY indicate nobody is allowed to reprint with a personal copyright, and can back that up with legal action, then free speech and Fair Use allow anybody to quote and reprint anything they want.

[seawasp]

The messages posted in public are not private, yes. Any private data involved in my signing up with those services, though, should remain private. I don't post my credit card numbers or social security number, and many people don't post their real addresses, etc.

I think there needs to be a mechanism for individuals to control their data more globally, though. The "Anonymity War" which is part of the background of my new book Grand Central Arena is based around that idea.

[xyzzysqrl]

I agree with at least the first part of that, but... I don't think the Library of Congress handles credit card information. And anyone posting their credit card number on Twitter has issues I am not qualified to solve.