Note: This is the post I was originally going to post before an Anonymous Butthead (now and forevermore known as AB) decided to be a random jerk as you can see here, however, in the interests of not wasting this post or pandering to AB I'mma post it anyway :D
So yesterday I was at the gym (after starting medication I found the energy that had been eluding me for years and got my sad, bloated, pale, whaleish carcass back to the gym) fast walking on a treadmill to warm up before tackling some weights with my gym buddy. I was squinting* at the nearest TV showing something aside from Bally's adverts and saccharine or incomprehensible music videos- when lo and behold I see this story breaking on CNN.
I had two thoughts almost immediately. One, was, 'how is this even surprising? Egypt is undergoing a revolt and we're in the midst of two wars and everyone knows politicians are generally an oily and ego driven lot' the second was, 'holy crap this guy does not understand how the internet works'.
Thought one is pretty cynical and typical, but I think a lot of folks that take privacy and the internet for granted might be confused about what I meant with the second. Not necessarily older folks either. This dude was 46 he wasn't 'old' or anything close to it (I may be biased I think 'old' is a mindset more than a reality Betty White is still 'young' imo). What he was, was ignorant.
Here's the deal folks, the internet? NEVER forgets. Say you posted on a message board twelve years ago about your passion for pokemon and how your parents just don't understand! Now, twenty or thirty years ago you would have whined to a friend or a journal (the journal likely would have been burned or thrown away by your older self in a fit of embarassed horror). Nowadays we use the internet which leads to some uniquely awkward problems down the road. Mainly that your angsty pokemon post is still going to be there.
So, if you happen to remember the username or email you had way back when odds are if you type it into a search engine and spend some time tracing links you will find that angst ridden post, years later. And not just you, oh no, if you habitually use the same username or even email now that you used then it can and will be found. And this is just crap that floats to the top in a general search engine query. If you know what you're doing or have the right software looooads more can and will be found by anyone interested.
This is why I never want to be famous. Rich? Fuck yeah! Famous? Nope. Never going into politics either.
Now, back to Congressman Craigslist. He goes to craigslist and answers an ad in the women seeking men section. He responds with a bio stating he is a 39 y/o divorced staffer and then sends a picture of himself flexing in a mirror with his face showing! Never mind that he's actually a 46 y/o married congressman with a child, he sent an identifiable photo of himself likely via email so the recipient could download it and keep it forever. Never mind that if that dude is 39 I'm fourteen and additional fail points for using a pose widely associated with creepy losers on myspace (pic from NY Times article found here)
Clearly, Congressman Craigslist does not comprehend that every-fucking-thing you put on the internet is there forever. Embarassing blog posts, piqeus of trollish misbehavior, questionable comments on news articles, facebook status updates, twitter statements, etc. If it can be accessed without a password (and often even with) it can be dug up and thrown in your face later.
In conclusion, use a secure password, never post anything that can be traced back to you that you wouldn't mind your boss or mother reading (unless they're freaking awesome, or you're willing to take the heat) and if you use any erotic services or pages keep your freaking face out of it, unless you're auditioning for a porn. Even then, your face? Not the body part anyone cares about.
All this goes doubly for youngsters on the web. People are sick and evil and they will try to lure your kids. They may just be after a 'candid' or inappropriate photo or they may be trying to actually contact your child in the real world. Be aware, teach your kids to be aware and cautious because thirty years down the road that picture or conversation could still be lurking out there. You can't take back what's been posted to the internet.
All that said, I freakin' love the internet. But I'm a jaded cynical nerd that has made peace with the fact that the flotsam and jetsam of my 'net life are going to dog me all my life and probably after my death. But then, I'm also not a politician. :D
*I forgot my glasses.
So yesterday I was at the gym (after starting medication I found the energy that had been eluding me for years and got my sad, bloated, pale, whaleish carcass back to the gym) fast walking on a treadmill to warm up before tackling some weights with my gym buddy. I was squinting* at the nearest TV showing something aside from Bally's adverts and saccharine or incomprehensible music videos- when lo and behold I see this story breaking on CNN.
I had two thoughts almost immediately. One, was, 'how is this even surprising? Egypt is undergoing a revolt and we're in the midst of two wars and everyone knows politicians are generally an oily and ego driven lot' the second was, 'holy crap this guy does not understand how the internet works'.
Thought one is pretty cynical and typical, but I think a lot of folks that take privacy and the internet for granted might be confused about what I meant with the second. Not necessarily older folks either. This dude was 46 he wasn't 'old' or anything close to it (I may be biased I think 'old' is a mindset more than a reality Betty White is still 'young' imo). What he was, was ignorant.
Here's the deal folks, the internet? NEVER forgets. Say you posted on a message board twelve years ago about your passion for pokemon and how your parents just don't understand! Now, twenty or thirty years ago you would have whined to a friend or a journal (the journal likely would have been burned or thrown away by your older self in a fit of embarassed horror). Nowadays we use the internet which leads to some uniquely awkward problems down the road. Mainly that your angsty pokemon post is still going to be there.
So, if you happen to remember the username or email you had way back when odds are if you type it into a search engine and spend some time tracing links you will find that angst ridden post, years later. And not just you, oh no, if you habitually use the same username or even email now that you used then it can and will be found. And this is just crap that floats to the top in a general search engine query. If you know what you're doing or have the right software looooads more can and will be found by anyone interested.
This is why I never want to be famous. Rich? Fuck yeah! Famous? Nope. Never going into politics either.
Clearly, Congressman Craigslist does not comprehend that every-fucking-thing you put on the internet is there forever. Embarassing blog posts, piqeus of trollish misbehavior, questionable comments on news articles, facebook status updates, twitter statements, etc. If it can be accessed without a password (and often even with) it can be dug up and thrown in your face later.
In conclusion, use a secure password, never post anything that can be traced back to you that you wouldn't mind your boss or mother reading (unless they're freaking awesome, or you're willing to take the heat) and if you use any erotic services or pages keep your freaking face out of it, unless you're auditioning for a porn. Even then, your face? Not the body part anyone cares about.
All this goes doubly for youngsters on the web. People are sick and evil and they will try to lure your kids. They may just be after a 'candid' or inappropriate photo or they may be trying to actually contact your child in the real world. Be aware, teach your kids to be aware and cautious because thirty years down the road that picture or conversation could still be lurking out there. You can't take back what's been posted to the internet.
All that said, I freakin' love the internet. But I'm a jaded cynical nerd that has made peace with the fact that the flotsam and jetsam of my 'net life are going to dog me all my life and probably after my death. But then, I'm also not a politician. :D
*I forgot my glasses.
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