# *A Question for Rick

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Posted by Rick [Rick] on November 07, 1999 at 17:44:51 {zExURjw8QA7mY4XD8K2cFMFBt36Xyc}:

In Reply to: A Question for Rick posted by 5GJW on November 07, 1999 at 08:33:07:

> Question 1. When you wrote this:
>
> "After a file is forcibly removed, the system causes it to "unlink" and provides no further read access."
> http://www.cyberpass.net/~h2o/wwwboard/messages/184367.html
>
> Did you know this:
>
> "The posts were in a hidden "vault" created by developers (brothers) who retrofitted all sorts of security measures into
> this site."
> http://www.cyberpass.net/~h2o/wwwboard/messages/185208.html

I was reminded that there was such a "vault." It had completely forgotten about it until recently. To specifically answer your question, at the time that I said the files were unrecoverable, I did not remember that they existed anywhere else on the site.

> Question 2. Assuming that you did not intentionally deceive us by implying that the posts were beyond recovery when in
> fact they were not, do you realize the ethical implications of this statement:
>
> "Very recently I became aware of this, but didn't offer to restore them figuring that I should let them die."
> http://www.cyberpass.net/~h2o/wwwboard/messages/185208.html
>
> If you state something as fact that is later found to be incorrect, and yet make no effort to correct your error, or worse,
> decide that it is in your best interests to maintain the falsehood as correct, you have acted unethically.

I'll say upfront so that nobody can claim later that I didn't warn you, that I don't have time for lengthy debates of any sort. My participation is limited timewise.

I did not intentionally deceive you implying the posts were beyond recovery when they were not. I also made a difficult judgment call that I believed whole-heartedly was in the interests of those who participate on this forum. I believed that enough arguing over these posts had ensued, and remembered how some had pointed out that Greg could have easily asked for these posts to get removed (and we would have done so, because we do this for posters who tell us they made a posting error). I figured that it was possible Greg might ask for the posts' removal after they were restored, and the discussion had died down. It didn't seem right to me, at this point, to start the whole thing over. There are so many richer and meaningful things to discuss other than dwell on this forever!

These were my judgment calls as an administrator, solely motivated out of the interests of others as to the issues I described.

Greg has indicated that he actually wanted the posts restored anways, and so it goes that my judgment was mistaken in this regard, and that I openly acknowledge. I'm not above admitting error.

Now let's move forward to more meaningful and important things. This vastly powerful technology deserves to get used for the best of communication between all ourselves.

Rick

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