The Steve Rubel Stream

I agree with the first part of your comment - this is no different than the way it always was with newspapers - and I like that. I like that there is accountability. Of course, if one does not wish to have one's name published, one may simply write in with a fake name.

As for a wider trend, I can't say I've noticed that. But this is a different situation - an individual is sending to a company, the company is not sending (think newsletter subscriptions or advertising) to the individual, which is where the concepts of 'opt-in' or 'opt-out' are most commonly seen.

This would seem to be a more clear issue than sending a letter to the editor of a newspaper. One could send a letter to the letter informing of an error and hoping for a correction without expecting the letter to be published.

Lifehacker's policy pertains to tips. Why would one send a tip to Lifehacker other than to have it published? "Hey, I have a great idea, here it is, but please don't publish it"?

Opt in and opt out define the default condition. For opt out, something will happen if you don't prevent it. For opt in, nothing happens until you permit it. I suggest that sending a tip to Lifehacker is opting in. If you don't want your tip published, just do nothing (i.e., don't send the e-mail).

I agree with Brett, the same thought ran through my mind. Why bother sending in a tip if you don't want it published? The policy seems like a CYA on the part of lifehacker.

I see this not as some sort of opt-out as with an email marketing campaign, but as an acknowledgment of editorial truth; "off the record" exists only in rarified, controlled situations. (Or, for most intents and purposes, it is dead and gone).

Any prudent web site will have something like this in their terms of service. There is no other practical way to accept comments and feedback. If you did otherwise, you would have to keep an audit trail of every submission and have an army of people just doing clearance and compliance. If you don't want Lifehacker (or Microsoft for that matter) to use your tip or your idea, then don't send it to them.

sounds reasonable.

henry@bonnycastle.us