*sigh*

[ewt]

Just because there is a button on an online form doesn't mean you have to press it. Just because you know something doesn't mean you have to tell.

Telling in an online form, on a website, on irc, or in a journal is the same as telling irl. It's just another medium. Think before you say anything about another person; have some respect.

Personally I rather like the whole LJ6 thing. There are also things I know about a lot of people which I have chosen not to map, because I don't think it would be appropriate, or because I know they would not think it appropriate. This is not a difficult concept.

On the flip side of the coin, if you tell someone something about yourself, even if you ask them to keep it a secret, you are trusting their discretion not to tell. They might tell anyway. Tough shit. Too late. It still isn't fair to blame the medium. If you did the LJ Crush meme you gave information to another entity and it turns out that entity wasn't so trustworthy... tough. Did you really think that because it was just a webpage nobody would have the information?

Be careful who you trust.

Don't get pissed off at the medium. Get pissed off at the people who speak (or type) before they think about the repercussions, or the ones who really can't resist the juicy deliciousness of gossip.

Comments

[redcountess]

It took me a week to decide to join LJ6, because I knew that it was *designed* to be a rumour mill, not six degrees of separation, and even then I kept away from mapping anything that wasn't general knowledge. With the crush meme, I had no problem with the information being public, otherwise I would have never done it in the first place, but the fact that he did not state from the beginning that he was going to offer info for a fee.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

I didn't realise it was designed to be a rumour mill; even so, I only mapped things I was pretty sure were general knowledge.

With the crush meme, I had no problem with the information being public, otherwise I would have never done it in the first place,

I think there are a lot of people who just did it without thinking of that.

Another issue is that people will believe unconfirmed rumours. It is pretty obvious to anyone who knows me that flannelcat has not married, shagged or divorced me. Am I going to ask him to delete those mappings? No, I can't be bothered. I don't consider it significant.

People are lending weight to rumours by being upset about them, in public. This is counter-productive.

[ksta.livejournal.com]

I like your point about lending weight. I have put one silly one up, which is remote from truth, ewll in the knowledge that the people concerned will neither care nor worry, but may find it amusing.

Surely these things are all about harmless fun, and not about sincere suspicions or threats.

On the other hand, I assume I wouldn't be upset by an incorrect rumour, but it hasn't yet happened.

[sbp.livejournal.com]

So all the rumours are true? Wow. H'mm. *Looks at ksta in a new light*. Sorry, I think we're going to have to stop being friends now.

:-P

[ksta.livejournal.com]

funny, I was thinking the same about you,
all that stuff with the hamsters and all...
:p

[sbp.livejournal.com]

What hamsters? (http://www.hampsterdance.com/hampsterdanceredux.html)

Oh please....

[pplfichi.livejournal.com]

oh ffs. If you're going to be upset about if someone becomes public knowledge, then don't post it, send it, anonymously or otherwise. Don't believe everything you read or hear, and just use some common sense.

Oh and don't post malicious stuff about people else I will go and stab you repeatedly with a spork =)

Re: Oh please....

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

That's about what I said, I think.

[pplfichi.livejournal.com]

Thats not quite how I read it. But on re-reading it, I see that now. Its the old stupid reading what you *think* someone is trying to say, as opposed to what they actually meant. Yay :|

[flannelcat.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, did it bother you at all? I assumed that it would make you smile.

And could I delete them if you wanted me to?

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Didn't bother me. :)

Yes, you could delete them if I wanted you to.

:)