A list member made an off-list point that the poster might later regret the content of their public post. The fact that the net is public and recorded is one of the issues that I have my students consider. It is common practice for human resources to explore a persons web identity before hiring someone for professional jobs. What is the extent of harm when embarrassing information is published in academic journals versus the benefit? I'd like to believe readers of academic journals include fewer predators than those of traditional media. I also think that acacademic journals are not as widely read as traditional news links or blogs. Other information outlets have little or no restrictions on the "public" content that the distribute. Why should academics be more restricted? We (academics) need to understand phenomena. Everything on the net is not only searchable but it is possible to even set up search criteria that provides notification of new content when it appears. This brings up the issue of when I as researcher must/should notify appropriate authorities of criminal activity. Blogs are often daydreams... Charlie Balch