X-Message-Number: 15555 Date: 4 Feb 2001 23:37:25 -0000 From: "Kevin Q. Brown" <> Subject: Re: Everything you say here is open to the whole web In message #15535 Marty Kardon expressed surprise that some of his CryoNet postings were catalogued by a Web search engine. I was surprised that he was surprised, but it was useful to hear him because other people may have expectations that differ from mine. For many years, perhaps since the beginning of the list, the welcome message for new subscribers has included a warning that CryoNet cannot control redistribution of the messages. The welcome message: http://www.cryonet.org/info.txt currently words that warning as: REDISTRIBUTION: CryoNet messages may be redistributed electronically to other people not on the mailing list. (Once the messages get distributed to hundreds of people via email, CryoNet has no control over what people do with them.) Also, since the archives are accessible via WWW, anyone with WWW access can retrieve messages years after they have been posted to the mailing list. This does not mention web search engines explicitly. Perhaps it should, not just once in the welcome message but periodically in CryoNet digests, to drive home an important point about the Internet: You should assume that everything you post to any Internet mailing list or news group will be readily accessible to everyone in perpetuity. Potential future employers, friends, and enemies will know everything you have said on-line. For your own sake, make certain that you are willing to stand behind your words. I will add a brief reminder of this in the "Administrivia" section of the Monday and Thursday CryoNet digests. Kevin Q. Brown Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=15555