Privacy on the internet?

[jhetley]

Since the latest meme seems to be the LJ version of dittoheads, I'll solemnly affirm, nay swear by the Holy Q'ran and the beard of the Prophet, blessed be he, that I don't use whatever that damned service does....

But I remain bemused by the thought that I might post something, _anything_, on the internet that I wanted to keep hidden. Even with no-archive on newsgroups, or locked posts here, if it goes off this computer and into cyberspace, I know I can't kill it, no matter how hard I try. Somewhere, somehow, someone will be able to find it and use it against me in a court of law. If I fuck up, the result will remain out there for all to see.

But no, that doesn't make me think twice before hitting *send*. If you're reading this, you probably already know that....

Comments

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

As crossfire_ has pointed out, we're not talking about secret information here, we're talking about private information[1] and reasonable expectations of privacy. Locking your LJ post is the equivalent of locking the door to your house. It won't deter someone who's DETERMINED to get in -- nothing will do that -- but it'll keep the opportunistic door-rattler out. What this "service" does is the equivalent of swiping a key that you've given to a friend and handing out copies of it to anyone who asks.

[1] A secret thing is something you don't tell ANYONE. A private thing is something you don't tell EVERYONE.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I was speaking of my expectations only. I don't post private stuff, much less _secret_ stuff. For one example, that's why I refer to "Wife" or "Elder Son" rather than names. Other people have their own policies.

I know a number of people read these notes who don't show up on info lists. If they want to read my blither, they are welcome. I've never even tried to track down the lock mechanism.

[pernishus.livejournal.com]

Well, I suppose I don't mind the flotsam and jetsam that's out there with my name on it -- and what with the ability of anybody to forge just about anything convincingly nowadays, given time and desire, I'm just not going to worry about it. If someone really dislikes me enough to go to that much effort, probably I have some Forgiving of Mine Enemies (tm) that should have been undertaken, anyhow.

That doesn't mean I can't express my active disapproval of ungentlepersonly behaviour, though.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree that friendditto, or whatever, sounds "ne kulturny" from what little I know of it. I'm just sayin' that I wouldn't post anything unless I wanted strangers reading it. And we're _all_ strangers around here. You, dear Barnstead, are the only person out in cyberspace I've ever actually met, and you could have been an impostor in a latex mask. Wouldn't put it past that cat.