Just Say No Comment
POTTSTOWN, PA – Okay. So, you’re reading an article online on one of your favorite websites. And you want to make an online comment. These days, you need to be registered with that website before you can make a comment.
But what happens with the information you provide to your favorite website? What do they do with that information? How many people have access to that information? Are they going to use that information in unethical ways or for personal gain?
Most responsible websites will have stated privacy policies and terms of use. Take for instance Philly.com. When you register on their site, they have a policy you can review prior to registering. Here is their Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Wow! Pretty extensive stuff. They must have an army of lawyers to keep busy.
But then there are other websites that do no such thing. How do you know that some slap happy employee won’t dig into the company Member ID files and use that data to make false allegations?
The Society of Professional Journalists posts a Code of Ethics on their website. One of their stated codes is for journalists to “Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story.”
Words to live by!
And we know what you’re thinking…and the answer is no…SavePottstown!! does not have a privacy policy…we’re a BLOG for crying out loud. We’re not in this for the money. SavePottstown!! does not, and will not ever, rent, sell, or share personal information about our registered users with other people or nonaffiliated companies. So there!
You said a MOUTHFUL!!!
And, hey, NO looking through keyholes, either!!!
“Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Use of such methods should be explained as part of the story.”
Can’t wait to read the story in The Mercury that begins with, “While I was trolling at Save Pottstown!!…”