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 Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7237