Ning privacy
Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 09:06AM Q: As a result of reading this post [Google Docs - Maybe Not] I did a Google Search of me. I found any thing I have ever said in a Ning Community. I belong to a couple. I was thinking of making one for my extended families so that the children could be included. I am glad I saw that because I unsure if I want that. Any suggestions that would be more secure for a family?
A: You didn't leave an email address so I hope you read my response here. My guess (and it is only a guess) is how restrictive you make your Ning settings may determine if they are indexed. Open Nings I'm sure are indexed; perhaps those that are private are not. I would definitely contact the Ning providers with this question before to using their service to plan any more bank robberies with the cousins. All the best, Doug
(Being able to tickle your own funny bone is a gift.)
Image from Ning homepage 1/5/08. Can only young white people use this service?
Humor 
Reader Comments (4)
Thank you for responding to my question. As I look at it more, I realized that one of the Ning communities I belong to is private and none of the conversations showed up. I didn't realized that I didn't leave my email address. I will be sure to postpone those lucrative plans until I am more sure.
Ms Mize,
Thanks for being a good sport and having a sense of humor!
Doug
How about creating a wiki for your family, with a page for each family group or member? You can password protect it and send it to the family. Most of the free wiki sites would work for this. I have one on Wetpaint. Now it's just getting everyone to post on it!
Janet
Hi Janet,
In response to another blog entry, Miguel Guhlin (Around the Corner http://mguhlin.net) writes:
"Security and privacy are illusions. If you want something kept private, encrypt it with PGP/GPG. Otherwise, if it's online, it's public information, just undiscovered. The only safety lies in the idea that it's not been found yet, or no one has been given a reason to find it.
I imagine it like a seashore covered with shells, each unique. In the end, it may be that all the shells get picked up and looked at, but the fact is, more shells are popping up than are disappearing. If you must hide, hide in plain sight."
His observations are probably pretty accurate. I am not sure a wiki would afford much more privacy than a Ning, if privacy is a concern.
Doug