I understand the issue behind wire-tapping. The government can not
listen to "private" conversations. Fourth Amendment is very clear about
that. The current issue wrt wire-tapping has to do with conversations
that originate outside US borders. Interestingly, a *person* crossing
the US border is subject to search (without requiring a warrant) but
some people expect an electronic conversation to be different.
But case law has established that no search exists unless the individual
has a reasonable expectation of privacy. For example, the government CAN
sift through your garbage looking for stuff, as long as the garbage is
an open space (like on the curb). That does NOT constitute a search and
no warrant is required.
So with blogs, usenet, etc (email is a possibly exception) there should
be no expectation of privacy because any casual observer can read them.
If Goggle can catalog your blogs, so can the government.
Email is interesting. How well does your provider secure your privacy?
Did you sign a service agreement that says you wave your right to
privacy? If so, you have no expectation of privacy from non-government
sources so you should have no expectation of privacy from the government.
While government directed collection concerns me, non-government
directed collection scares me. Imagine applying for insurance or a loan
or a job and the person behind the desk pulls up your entire usenet
history. Everything you ever posted.
snipped-for-privacy@juno.com wrote:
And that, my friends, is why I am now known as "Tweak" and use the X no
archive option (not that it really does any good anymore). The arrival
of those new sites which http and htmlize usenet posts are what
convinced me, as they generally do not honor the X no archive, and a
quick search of your name in google will reveal all.
You are so correct Tweak,
I saw in about 98, a peer manager use Deja News to search for posts on a new
hire.
He found the prospect was always posting questions on how to fix stuff he
purported
in the interview to be an expert on.
At that time, I quit using my Christian name on Usenet posts.
Heck, I sure do not want a prospective employer seeing me argue about Model
Aircraft parts, LEUPS and
lord forbid, Moon Hoaxes !
Cranny Dane (most here know who I am anyway ;)
Oh, you can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, or you can call me
Johnny, or you can call me R.J., or you can call me R.J.J., or you can
call me R.J.J.jr, but ya doesn't have to call me Johnson..
<g>
tah
The only reason I started using this "Rocket Scientist" handle was
because it amused me. I still sign my given name to all of my posts.
The government already knows more about my personal life than you will
even discover on the Internet (ore Usenet) due to a number of clearances
I held in the past. Believe me, the NSA is quite thorough.
If some company manager is so anal that he will do a Google search on
me, then the company has failed one of my tests. I really wouldn't want
to work for it. (Some day I'll tell you about my Men's Room test.)
Tweak wrote:
The Men's Room test is a test I use whenever I interview for a job.
DUring the process I ask to use the Men's room. It is vitally
important to use a Men's room that is normally used by the staff, not a
"Guest" room.
Just take a look at the condition of the room when you use it. The
general condition of the room, the cleanliness, lighting, maintenance,
and level of supplies, speaks volumes about a company. It indicates
just how much the company values its staff and, just as important,
provides a measure of what the staff thinks of the company.
If the Men's room is clean and well-maintained, you are most likely in
a decent place to work. If the Men's room is dirty, poorly lit, and
poorly maintained, be polite but don't accept an offer unless you are
desperate.
I have ignored my Men's Room Test once in my career and profoundly
regretted it.
Bill Sullivan
Posted IAW MIL-TFD-41
From the perspective of someone who does those searches when requested
by management, I know those requests can come up for all sorts of
reasons.
A single manager with "motivation" can make life living hell for
someone, yet not be reflective of the company as a whole.
On Fri, 10 Feb 2006 11:15:48 -0800, snipped-for-privacy@juno.com wrote:
There are definitely things to be concerned about...but one
should first look at the mentality of he/she who is complaining.
One who adheres to true conservative and/or libertarian ideals,
should definitely be concerned. However, if one belongs
to the (unfortunate) growing group who believes that the
federal government should be everyone's "mommy and daddy"
(i.e. handling all the parental/family/personal roles such
as education, child care, health care, unemployment benefits,
home loans, etc); then these people show the ultimate in
hypocracy when complaining about these intrusions. After
all..."parents" *also* have the right/responsibility to
know who their "children" are talking to, who they
associate with, what books they read, etc.
--
Greg Heilers
Registered Linux user #328317 - SlackWare 10.2 (2.6.13)
Polytechforum.com is a website by engineers for engineers. It is not affiliated with any of manufacturers or vendors discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.