Reflecting on the stories of 2007, one thing becomes abundantly clear: A lot
of people have very bad ideas that subsequently get played out on the Internet.
So, in the spirit of learning from our mistakes, here are 7 rules that will
keep you out of trouble in 2008.

1. Predictions nearly always come back to bite you -- eventually.

Should you need more reminding to never say never, here's a list of spectacularly
flawed predictions. Sitting in the top spot is DEC founder Ken Olson's famous
words from 1977, 'There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.'

2. If you engage in dangerous, unlawful behavior, for god's sake, don't
post a video of it on YouTube

A British teenager was
arrested on suspicion of driving at speeds of over 140mph, having posted
to YouTube a video of himself in the act. Stupid, right? But here's the kicker:
The car in question was a Ford Escort, a vehicle no one would suspect could
go that fast.

3. When you're at work, do *mostly* work

An employee of Japan's ministry of agriculture apparently spent less time at
the office helping manage Japan's farmers and more time obsessively
editing articles in the Japanese-language Wikipedia about Gundam, a popular
anime series about robots. The ministry cut off Wikipedia access from all office
computers, noting dryly that "the agriculture ministry is not in charge
of Gundam."

4. Work computers and porn: Two great tastes that don't go together

Ohio state legislator Matthew
Barrett came to a high school civics class to explain how a bill becomes
a law, but his presentation began with an image of a naked woman. He claims
that the memory stick he used was "a gift" and that he had "no
idea" how the dirty pictures got on there. But he's in better shape than
motivational speaker Michael
Fortino, who brought his laptop into Best Buy to have it fixed -- with its
cache of child pornography still on the hard drive.

5. Even 'pretend' stealing is wrong.

Dutch police broke up a ring
of teens guilty of virtual crimes that cost real money. The youths had been
stealing furniture from rooms in the Habbo Hotel 3D social networking site,
with a total value of 4,000 all-too-real euros.

6. Enhanced doesn't mean better

Remember the touching end to the movie Lost in Translation, where Bill Murray
whispers something into Scarlett Johansson's ear just before they part forever?
Director Sofia Coppola says that the line wasn't scripted and only the two actors
know what was said -- until someone used some audio enhancement to make
it audible. Hint: It's nowhere near as good as whatever you had imagined.

7. Beware 'Reply to all'

Ben Baldanza, CEO of Spirit Airlines, got an e-mail from a couple who missed
a concert when their flight was delayed; they wanted the price of their concert
tickets and related expenses refunded. Baldanza sent
a note to some airline employees sneering "we owe him nothing"
-- but accidentally replied to the Spirit customers as well. Oops!

ITworld.com

• Email
• Print
• Share
  • Slashdot
  • Digg
  • Stumble
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine