Imperfect

battling network amnesia

The Internet constantly evolving further erodes information permanence. In this post's initial draft from last August, I wrote that links "might not last beyond a few years before disappearing". It's been less than half a year since then. Yet, numerous posts and blogs I read or linked to had been deleted since.

The most recent example I remember is Kasumi's blog, which is referenced in Robert's Imperfect Blogging is Perfectly Fine (post deleted). Sometimes, a work day is all it takes to find an imploded virtual space. Yes, the personal blog you kickstarted is yours to delete whenever. Such happenings do make me wonder how close I am to those willing to persist against all odds. I'd like to think I have embodied that spirit since starting this initiative. I have overcome several breaks along the way. Just how much longer will that last?

While over a hundred posts and counting means I have finished my pottery class, that doesn't mean I'm an expert yet. I'd say Robert shares this sentiment. His post, What's an expert? (post deleted), recounts how much process and persistence is needed for his blog theme. The same is true for his writing. There are days where writers like us question whether our public town square will exist tomorrow. You can have as many fresh starts as you would like, but keep in mind that those who keep swinging through thick and thin survive.

Fellow bloggers whom I either responded to or were inspired to write from have suddenly disappeared. Sure, I could have archived them with services like the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. Although, something tells me those authors would strongly disapprove. Does their desire to be forgotten overrule my desire for preservation? Even then, what if the Internet Archive goes down again, let alone as long as last time?

It's a similar problem to losing a cherished USB stick full of sentimental photos, as outlined in just a dot's memories in megabytes. If the source of truth is unrecoverable and there are no present and working backups, what then? I get that voluntarily deleting your blog isn't accidentally losing a USB stick. Think about the missed connections though. In my case above, my reaction is missing the context of someone else's action (which could be a reaction to others). In dot's case, their present is missing the context of their past. "Afford valuables the security they deserve" is a sentiment meant for me as much as for yourself.

One of the most difficult parts about advocating for data security is people's assumed improbability of becoming a victim to data loss. For most people (including myself), "never put all your eggs in one basket" is only heard after losing the basket with all their eggs inside. Yet, risky behaviors continue for many. Does digital privacy and security have that much of a distribution and marketing deficiency?

Everything is prone to entropy: ourselves, Earth, and the universe as we know it. That doesn't mean giving up, neglecting our many valuable contexts and connections. That may mean picking up the slack myself. That may mean working together with like-minded individuals to preserve, if not repair network after network. How can I play my part best in that mission?

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