So recently I've been on the lookout for any kind of fiction writing forum I could join. Owing to a few past experiences I've been looking over such Terms and Conditions statements as I come across first. Now, I haven't looked at everything, but I've come across a lot of, ffs!, WRITING forums that have the traditional two fuck yous of the online world: (1) "By registering, you grant us permanent, worldwide, irrevocable rights to publish, alter, etc whatever you post, but hey, you can keep the copyright" and (2) we never delete accounts.
Now, duh! this is what the internet does, and even has the gall to call it "best practice", but I really, really wonder just how many recognise the overreach going on there, or even the counterproductive conditions they set up. Deleting accounts is refused most often on the grounds that it violates the logical integrity of past conversations. Second most often cited dodge is, it's really hard to do and the database might explode. Claiming universal control over posted content is sometimes backed up by reference to this database issue too. But how many recognise this worldwide, irrevocable, permanent right of control as so far beyond what any webmaster needs to maintain their website as to be offensive? Content driven websites don't exist without content, so content driven websites must seize control of content? How exactly did that come to be the norm? It's little more than familiar corporate seizure of resources, and the super-duper freedom loving internet ACTIVELY PROMOTES IT AS THE NORM>?!
I'm particularly surprised (not) that writing forums do this. I mean, they WANT writers to give up control of their words?
There is something gravely mistaken abroad in the internet. It suits corporate interests very well, and it's promoted and maintained by seems like nearly ever
minor content site that exists these days. This mistaken approach is a hold over from the days when the internet was a collection of small cliques.
It offends me enough that I will not be joining any of those sites. The only site I found that appears to actively allow deletion of accounts, along with all posted content, appears to be
www.writing.com, but they have a bizarre personal feel to their introduction stuff that seems cult-like.
WHERE CAN A REAL PERSON POST THESE DAYS?!