Fwd: philosophical question about gmail

[Jeff Macdonald]

posted to the list for all to enjoy.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kevin D. Clark 
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2004 15:00:38 -0400
Subject: Re: philosophical question about gmail
To: Jeff Macdonald <macfisherman at gmail.com>


[private reply, since you replied to me privately]


"Jeff Macdonald" writes:

> On Wed, 04 Aug 2004 13:41:07 -0400, Kevin D. Clark  wrote:
>>
>> Some of the members of this list have not signed Gmail's user
>> agreement (let's call this Group A).  Others have (let's these people
>> Group B).
>>
>> It takes some amount of effort to belong to this group.  Why should
>> the efforts of Group A be available to Gmail (in the form of raw data,
>> marketing data, and potential advertising revenues) simply because
>> Group B decided to sign Gmail's user agreement?
>>
>
> Kevin, do you mean that since Group A are not gmail users and Group B
> are, that Group A's content is included in gmail's data since by
> virtue of communicating on the list that happens?

Yes.

> Does Group A have to approve every email providers terms and
> conditions?

Well, this issue hasn't really cropped up until now, because I can't
recall a single email provider in the past whose mantra was to scan
incoming emails for content and provide ads/generate revenue from
that.

So, I'm just bringing the issue up.

> Even a individual could use the content from the list for their own
> personal gain, couldn't they?

I suppose.  I've even learned things from this list that I've probably
used to do my job better.

But that's different than enriching some third party company like
Google, even if it is Google's mantra to do no harm.  I haven't read
Google's user agreement exhaustively, but I assume that it has the
standard "this agreement is subject to change at any time at our
whim", right?

>> It takes some amount of effort to belong to this group.
>
> Which group are you referring to here?

Both.

>> Just wondering.  I haven't made up my mind yet about Gmail.
>>
>
> Another way to look at it is this, should I be penalized for using a
> system that provides more storage which uses the content to help pay
> for a free service?

You *could* use a service with less storage that didn't scan incoming
mail.  But as a third party, I had no choice in the matter -- because
you (apparently) subscribed to the GNHLUG now my mails are being
scanned by Gmail...

> I realize your question is not directed at me and
> I think your asking a great question.
>
> PS - Gmail puts addresses in the "On blah blah wrote" line when
> replying and I've removed said address because I recall someone get's
> very cranky about that....

That reminds me that I need to munge my .emacs file to do this for me
automagically...I did this months ago and somehow lost the change when
I got a new job.

Regards,

--kevin
--
GnuPG ID: B280F24E



-- 
Jeff Macdonald
Ayer, MA