Huh.

[icewolf]

Well, a big old howdy-do and thanks to all the folks who are assuming I'll run right out and break the confidentiality of their locked posts.

Your (and there are a LOT of people in that your) faith is heartwarming. Really.

EDIT: Okay, let me explain my understanding and philosophy of Internet Privacy.

If you say something on the Internet, it's like shouting it on a street corner. Even if you say something in a locked post, it's like saying something in the middle of a party. If one doesn't want people either repeating or hearing what he or she says (or doesn't trust that they won't do so by accident), I strongly suggest that the invitations be strictly monitored.

I'm not saying that the LJ/FB script is good, or okay, or whatever. I don't even think LJ itself is good or okay anymore, hence the fact that my original posts all come from DreamWidth these days. However, I am saying that if privacy is a major concern for you, you need to be the first person to take responsibility for it by carefully setting up and maintaining filters, and by seriously examining what readers go into what filters.

Comments

[icewolf010.livejournal.com]

The principle is fine. That's why I left LJ as my primary blogging site months ago. But there are people on my FL who have made a big stinking deal about being afraid that people will betray the confidentiality of locked posts.

It goes back to my aggravation with folks not fully understanding the privacy--and lack thereof--on the Internet. If you say something, it's like shouting it on a street corner. Even if you say something in a locked post, it's like saying something in the middle of a party. If one doesn't want people either repeating or hearing what he or she says (or doesn't trust that they won't do so by accident), I strongly suggest that those folks restrict the invites.

[dulcinbradbury.livejournal.com]

>>Even if you say something in a locked post, it's like saying something in the middle of a party.<<

Yes. This is something that bothers me intensely. I've seen big messes start over something said in a f-locked post, where the person who posted it uses the defense of "but it was a locked post & I was venting."

"You just vented to fifty people. That's not really venting, now is it?"

[pokeyburro.livejournal.com]

Indeed. My philosophy takes it a step further. The thing I dislike about f-lock leaks is the thing I dislike about communication, which is 99.9% unavoidable. I'm friends with friendly people. The transitive closure of my LJ friends is probably very close to the entire LJ userbase, which is to say, well beyond the set of people who'd care about something I said.

So, the only real solution in my mind is to assume EVERYTHING I say might as well be said in front of anyone, and so if I'm going to talk about an acquaintance, I'll make sure I wouldn't mind it being said right to their face.

I might still get misunderstood or misheard or mis-repeated, but good grief people, that's the risk of putting your social shingle out there.