Andrew Davie wrote:
> This struck a chord with me...
>
> >protection of data/software contained on the machine or disks. If you buy a
> >camcorder at a consignment or pawn shop and the last owners left a tape of
> >their after-hours playtime in the camcorder, is it my responsibility to
> erase,
> >safeguard or return it? I think not. I feel the same should apply to
> personal
>
> ABSOLUTELY it is your responsibility. We lost the first 3 months tape of
> our son's birth, homecoming and grandparents meeting, due to the theft of a
> camcorder with the tape still inside. The camcorder was stored at work, in
> a locked and alarmed office. It still got stolen. Probably it ended up in
> a pawn shop somewhere. I didn't care about the recorder, but the tape was
> priceless. You just never know about data, and in the above situation I
> think it is your primary responsibility to make SURE you don't have
> something you shouldn't.
>
> We were heartbroken at our data loss. Just because it's in a pawn shop, or
> consignment, or in the dumpster - doesn't invalidate copyright, or give you
> a right to do what you will with it. If you found a personal videotape or
> data and make no effort to determine if it is important to the original
> owner, then I think you are abrogating your responsibilities as a good
> citizen.
I really have to debate this one, as much as it is off-topic. Yet it still runs
a parallel with data safeguards. If you have a hard drive that has sensitive or
irreplaceable data on it, aren't you going to make a "backup" on tape, CD,
floppy or the like? The same runs true for video. If it's that irreplaceable
you'd better have a quality duplicate made that can be stored in a safe deposit
or fireproof safe. The world is too big and it's not anyone's responsibility to
guard your media other than yours. Sounds rough but the same goes for any of
your personal or business possesions. You took 99% of the precautions needed to
safeguard the video - except - making a copy that would ride out a tornado,
earthquake, fire, theft, etc. Had this been done (same as if your computer were
stolen) you could replace the commonplace equipment and have a copy made from
that same master and be right back to the beginning. In most cases the insurance
company would pay for the replacement tape copying as well.
The days of finding a $20 bill on the sidewalk and trying to locate the owner
are long gone for the most part. If I found one on State Street in downtown
Chicago and waited for a claimant, I'd wait forever. If I posted a found notice
I'd have half the city at my door claiming it.
For those that live in secluded tiny communities where everyone knows everyone
from birth then this is the exception. Opie has grown up now and has to have a
logging chain and vicious dog watching his bike now. While it would be nice if
people still did things the way they used to before the age of the hippie, that
era is now the age of 13 year olds gunning each other down at school. You need
to change your view on self protection as things in general change. No one is
going to look out for you except yourself.
Am I wrong here? Think about it before you load a hard drive with sensitve
information and decide that $45 is too much to invest in a removeable carrier
that allows you to put the entire drive into secure storage.
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Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake_at_bbtel.com or rhblake_at_bigfoot.com
Website:
http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ # 1714857
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
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Received on Sat Apr 04 1998 - 10:36:43 BST