talkfreedom

Genocon

This is something I've always wondered about, and it's a minor factor in why I just don't post much of anything on any message board I belong to (the major one being my anxiety issues).

I wonder, especially with people my age who have grown up with the internet as a part of our daily lives, will what we post online follow us forever? If, for example, I run for elected office in 2030, would someone be able to dig up something I posted to a message board in 2008 and use it against me? Would that information still exist somewhere, even if the site folded decades earlier?

I know immediate consequences are possible (kids posting threats on message boards, mayors being ousted after posting pictures of themselves in underwear on Myspace), but I'm talking about much further down the line.

Do we really consider the potential consequences of the Internet age?
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Davelaw · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:16 am Post subject:

is it really different than having your face pierced? One day we will have a President with metal all over their body-unless you are advocating violent immediate overthrow of our present government-i really don't think your postings will matter
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Daniel Webster: You seem to have an excellent acquaintance with the law, sir.

The Devil: Sir, that is no fault of mine. Where I come from, we have always gotten the pick of the Bar.

Stephen Vincent Benét, The Devil and Daniel Webster, 1939

Doohickie · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject:

It already matters. I've read of several instances where blog posts have been discovered during the job search process and people were turned down for jobs based on what they said on their blogs. There are other instances of people who were fired from their jobs due to blog content.
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Genocon · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:04 pm Post subject:

Davelaw · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

it will exist somewhere; but won't matter
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Daniel Webster: You seem to have an excellent acquaintance with the law, sir.

The Devil: Sir, that is no fault of mine. Where I come from, we have always gotten the pick of the Bar.

Stephen Vincent Benét, The Devil and Daniel Webster, 1939

BarthiShieldbasher · Wise One Joined: 25 Nov 2005 Posts: 1191

Summer · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:56 pm Post subject:

It really depends on how easy it is to connect your blog or your forum posts with your identity. If you're posting entries under your full name, then I would imagine anyone could find it at some point, though unless you have a very unusual name or have included other identifying information about yourself, you might well be able to dispute whether what they found was actually YOURS.

It probably helps to be a little bit circumspect with regard not only to your online identity, but also to what you say online. But don't let that muzzle you, because I really do think that laws and customs will find a way to keep up with technology.
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"Always know where your towel is." - Ford Prefect
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