Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!bbn!bbn.com!cosell From: cosell@bbn.com (Bernie Cosell) Newsgroups: comp.misc Subject: Re: Ten Commandments of Personal Computing Message-ID: <42793@bbn.COM> Date: 16 Jul 89 17:50:51 GMT References: <12702@well.UUCP> Sender: news@bbn.COM Reply-To: cosell@BBN.COM (Bernie Cosell) Distribution: comp Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA Lines: 31 In article tale@pawl.rpi.edu writes: } > IX. THOU SHALT NOT SNOOP IN THY NEIGHBOR'S FILES } > } > With the growing use of electronic mail and computers } > connected in office networks, the issue of personal file integri- } > ty is gaining attention. The policy here is good citizenship. } > Would you open a letter addressed to someone else? Why should it } > be any different with a personal computer file? } }Would I open a letter addressed to someone else? Overlooking odd }circumstances (ie, mail to my dead grandfather), no. Why should it be }any different with computer files? Because they aren't bloody mail! OK, do you feel free to roam through your colleagues offices/desks/briefcases/cars/floppy files just because they're not under lock and key? }If you've got something to hide, go ahead and hide it. Save yourself }from the consequences. I am really opposed to this fellow telling me }that I am practising immoral computer activity, though. Sorry, by my book that kind of behavior is frowned upon in almost EVERY other venue: if it ain't yours, the default is you need permission/invitation; why should your treatment of my computer files be any different. I don't see why you think there ought to be a distinction between listing of files in my attache case, backup copies of files in a floppyfile on my desk, and the real files on-line. Or do you think it is OK to 'poke around' in all three places for whatever you feel like finding? /bernie\