X-Message-Number: 7237
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 1996 10:00:27 -0500 (EST)
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: Privacy

Unfortunately, it's already too late to protect anyone's "privacy" (I put
the word in quotes because it no longer means what it used to) on the
CryoNet Archives. 

The archives have been accessed already by net users, who have been free
to copy and share the contents. Also, I assume they have been processed by
search engines, where names of contributors are now on file. 

I'm afraid anyone who writes in plaintext to any Usenet news group or 
widely circulating mail list is deluding himself if he believes his text 
will be seen only by a restricted group of people. The net simply doesn't 
work that way.

I have written many Usenet posts over the years, not just in sci.cryonics 
but in a bizarre range of topic areas. Some of these posts were hasty, 
some were not very smart, some are embarrassing to me now. Too bad! 
They're all archived at Deja News for the world to see.

On the other hand, this total accessibility of huge quantities of 
information inevitably means that the "importance value" of each 
individual piece of information tends to diminish. Therefore I don't 
think any of us should worry about our old text floating around. The 
world won't care that much. Neither should we.

I find the CryoNet Archives an extremely valuable resource, and I hope 
they will continue to be available.

--Charles Platt


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