Are PRIVATE MESSAGES really private here on Askville?

In some of the discussions, it almost seems as though some members have access to the private messages of others. Are those conversations/messages secure? Private?

Asked by HELENofTROY 22 months ago Similar questions: PRIVATE MESSAGES private Askville Amazon > Askville.

Similar questions: PRIVATE MESSAGES private Askville.

Nothing is really private. Yes, I would assume that Private Messages are indeed private with a "catch". A really big catch!

When sending a private message I imagine in my mind a group of that person's friends that I am writing to. In my mind they are all standing next to the person and listening to what I am saying to their friend. :) I write only what I would not be afraid for them to all hear because they usually will.In reality what do we really know about each other?

Who do we know who can keep a secret and who can't? I have seen DB's here where actual Pm's were cut and pasted for others to see. I always thought less of the person that would do something like that.

Even if the writer of the Pm was not nice, I would blame the person who betrayed the confidence more. Like everywhere in life you have to watch what you say and write unless you are truly with a good friend that can be trusted. Here in Askville you have to be more careful since you never really know who you are corresponding with.

I no longer trust much anymore because many people are here under different accounts and different names all trying to make fools of people. I am smart enough to know that there are a lot of people in askville that do not like me so I am extra careful. Sad situation isn't it?

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They are private if they in the hands of those you can trust 100%.....but lately it seems we are seeing that some members here can't be trusted to keep what is intended to be private, private. I don't believe anyone can access another's private messages, but I DO believe that there are those here who eagerly share private messages they receive with others, and what's worse is that they are also posting them on other websites, and soliciting messages from each other for the sole purpose of setting them up. I am very careful now trusting anyone here (of course I trust YOU, Helen!), from newbies to those who have been here awhile.

We are definitely in the "information age", and it's really no different than what happens to celebrities and politicians, I guess--people here in Askville want to know the "trash" about other members, and so go digging around the internet in an attempt to find things about others, especially if it's someone who might be considered their "enemy" or simply someone who holds a different opinion than them--or those with obvious mental or emotional issues. It's an attempt to intimidate and embarass.SO not nice. So "high schoolish".

Ah, but some never outgrow that kind of stuff.So, I would say to you--your private messages are private. But they can easily be made public if they are sent to someone who has trouble respecting others privacy, or who like to make trouble for others. Use caution before sending personal messages--only share your thoughts and information that you are willing to have everyone here see, unless it's to someone that you are very, VERY sure you can trust.It's sad, but true.

Assume that anything on the Internet is not secure, unless it is encrypted. On Askville, the moderators can always access our PM. So if you want privacy, go to e-mail.

If you check out the Terms of Service here on Askville, askville.amazon. Com/termsofservice. Html it directs you to the Privacy Notice askville.amazon.Com/privacy.

Html which directs you to the Amazon. Com Privacy Notice.Www.amazon.Com/gp/help/customer/display. Html/102-7034113-4908900 which was written by wonderfully adept lawyers who manage to say nothing of any utility in several screens.

None of the various links on Amazon.Com Privacy Notice addresses private mails. So since no specific claim is made with respect to PRIVATE MESSAGES on Askville, the logical inference is that there no specific rights to privacy in PM. Of course, there are other ways that the contents of a PM could leak out.

For instance, if A trashes B to C in a PM, if C wants to do so, C could copy the PM and send it B or to anyone else on Askville, post it on another board or website or e-mail to anywhere else. Just as with live gossip in the non-virtual world, anything tacky said in a PM will inevitably get to the person being talked about one way or another. Personally, all of that hanky panky in the DB is one more reason to avoid the DB, as if I needed one.

Also, it is unclear who and how many people who work at Askville and Amazon have access to PM. The more people who have access to information, the greater the chance of a leak. Sources: life on Askville and cited above Snow_Leopard's Recommendations Internet Privacy for Dummies Amazon List Price: $21.99 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO INTERNET PRIVACY AND SECURITY.

Paperback Used from: $0.03 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Securing Privacy in the Internet Age Amazon List Price: $39.95 Used from: $20.00 .

1 No member here can see another members private messages - only the receiver of the message can see them. The Mods, of course, can see everything. However, the Mods do NOT disclose private content to other members here.

They have been accused of doing so, but that just does NOT happen. That's a paranoid delusion. (Not saying you believe that, Helen!)As for it seeming like there is access - here's my theory.

We all know each other. We all know writing styles, points of view, modes of behavior. This is a very small community.

It isn't hard to know on certain questions who is going to respond, who they are going to respond to, and what they will say. It is very easy to read between the lines in DB's.

No member here can see another members private messages - only the receiver of the message can see them. The Mods, of course, can see everything. However, the Mods do NOT disclose private content to other members here.

They have been accused of doing so, but that just does NOT happen. That's a paranoid delusion. (Not saying you believe that, Helen!)As for it seeming like there is access - here's my theory.

We all know each other. We all know writing styles, points of view, modes of behavior. This is a very small community.

It isn't hard to know on certain questions who is going to respond, who they are going to respond to, and what they will say. It is very easy to read between the lines in DB's.

2 I always assume nothing is private. It's the only safe approach. Don't type it if you don't want to share it.

I always assume nothing is private. It's the only safe approach. Don't type it if you don't want to share it.

My email is more private. " "When you receive a private message then reply to it, why does it not show on your askville page that you replied." "Why can't I delete messages from my Inbox here on Askville? " "Why would someone want to set their friends list to private here on askville?

" "|How do I open my askville inbox to review my messages?" "How do I private message Askville users? " "Is there a limit to how many messages you can have in your Askville Inbox? (See details)" "I was looking back at my askville messages" "Does "Send a private message to " in AskVille really work?

When you receive a private message then reply to it, why does it not show on your askville page that you replied.

I was looking back at my askville messages.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.