I found this blog post via ping.sg.
Nothing to comment on the issue between the blogger and the other person. What I do want to comment is how the blogger tried to make his case. He used the msn message history.
Question: When you engage in a chat with someone using an instant messaging platform, do you assume that it is private as opposed to posting something on a public blog?
Whenever you share anything with anyone, you always need to assume that the person will share it (or in this case broadcast it) to everyone.
A secret is no longer a secret once you share it. That is why it is so funny to tell someone that what you are sharing is a secret and should not be shared to anyone else.
Never Trust The Discretion Of Someone Else
The thing about the past before the Internet was that the two most common way to share stuff with someone was face to face communication and phone conversations. Both are voice based and the only way to preserve the communication was to record it. Even then, it was unlikely that phones had digital recorders or people carried one around.
Now phones have built in recorders. I could record every conversation on my handphone.
So here is the thing.
You may not be saving the msn message history but that doesn’t mean someone else isn’t.
You may be deleting the emails but that doesn’t mean someone else is.
You may be deleting the smses but that doesn’t mean someone else is.
Something I learned from an article I read in Business 2.0 (I think). Haven’t really been able to always do it but have been using it as a guideline with a bit of modification after a rather painful lesson.
Never Write/Type(Email, Letters, SMS, IM…) when you can Call.
Never Call when you can speak Face-to-Face.
Never Speak when you can Nod.
Be warned. Trust no one.
Ed | 25-Sep-07 at 3:02 pm | Permalink
I beg to differ, even though I do understand where you are coming from.
The problem doesn’t lies in how the communication is conducted, in my opinion. To have a conversation log mis-used for personal agenda bears little reference to how that dialogue evolved. It’s more of an issue with the person himself/herself on how should one use such chatlogs etc.
Over these times, I always encourage people to keep chatlogs or screenshots as “evidence”. Unfortunately years ago, I had to use it against someone for a legal case. Your chatlog could be your lifeline to protect your own ass. Chatlogs can be edited, but provided with a headstart to any source of evidence, investigations will eventually reveal if it’s a legitimate piece.
In fact, speaking over the phone leaves us with little credibility. It’s a case of your words against my words. No facts can be established at all.
arzhou (adrian) | 25-Sep-07 at 3:25 pm | Permalink
Well I guess that is why in business or just dealing with people we are often advised to do so via email so that there is some black and white
precious | 25-Sep-07 at 4:46 pm | Permalink
LOL, k I will just stick to nodding then.
iantimothy | 25-Sep-07 at 4:52 pm | Permalink
Hmmm… I guess logs or no logs, it depends on who is going to poke whose ass and how. If you think someone is going to screw you over, get some evidence. If you think someone is going to screw you over with what you say in confidence then better make sure no evidence can be gathered by the other guy. If you think someone is going to take what you say and distort it then evidence is important.
Hmmm..2 versus 1 scenario where logs might be important. Got to reconsider this.
ignorantsoup | 25-Sep-07 at 8:18 pm | Permalink
Well I agree with you about the need to remember there’s dangers everywhere. However I can’t help but feel that this post is a little too appeal to fear. As in the post you blogged about, there isn’t a really big deal actually. Unless the blogger mentioned who the other party is.
I feel the best way to protect yourself is to have everything in black and white, as in logs and emails. Unless we ourselves are the bastards that people want to talk about.