The End of Forgetting

In his article, "The End of Forgetting", Jeffrey Rosen brings up many solid points about how the internet has destroyed personal privacy. However I can't help but wonder who is really at fault here. The majority of people blindly post drunk pictures to facebook or ridicule teachers or friends with blatant disrespect or post their entire personal lives on facebook (we all have some of those friends... "Holy s@#$ I've got the munchies bad!!" or "Ommmggg gettin shhhwasstyy tonite with da BFFFSSSSSS!! <3" or even better "I hate that wh@#$ how is she gonna make me work on my birthday!!") and then complain and find it unjust when an employer sees these things and decides to fire them or not hire them. My parents raised me differently though, I believe in the right way. Our personal business is just that, personal business. If we are not mature enough to handle the responsibility of maintaining our own personal image and reputation, I believe we don't have the right to complain if someone discriminates because of stupidity. Now the arguement arises: well we all make mistakes, and should be able to take things off the internet (like the software Vanish). In my personal opinion, using the internet requires common sense, just as much as talking to people in person. Say you attend a family reunion. Would you be embarrassed if you showed up drunk wearing a pirate costume? I would be too, therefore that's not something to post to facebook. I'm not saying that isn't something we should do ever, but we just need to be smarter about who we share it with. I guess my whole point is the internet isn't the one who is to blame in these situations. If we were responsible with using the internet and realize the consequences that come with it, we would have a lot less problems with personal and business lives crossing. Social networking sites should be used as a way to communicate with friends or colleagues, not to tell ones personal secrets. If you do want to share your life story, say through a blog, then I think that is our responsibility to determine whether or not the risk is worth it and deal with the consequences accordingly.