I just discovered that my previous site, kaear.co.uk, has been snapped up by what people term a cyber squatter. Legally, I have no more claim on it than the current owner does, simply because I let it lapse and he paid for it. Implying that I have no further use or no interest any longer.

I always wondered how all these ad/link/search sites cropped up, and now I know. People who effectively make their money by registering domain names that expire (on the basis that if it's expired, someone wanted it enough to register in the first place … ) and then charge large fees for domain transfer if the original registrant wants it back.

In the case of kaear.co.uk I would have to investigate Nominet, as the UKs TLD registrar, and their services to try and regain the site. Cursory examination says that neither of us have any real claim on it, so if I want it back I'm subject to whatever whim he choses.

I can't decide how I feel about this. I'd assumed it might disappear into the ether and I could pick it back up at a later date, or it would be gone forever, but not lurking there being a total waste of space on the web. If I'd never found about it, I would have no feelings on it. Now I find myself a little angry that I didn't transfer it or renew it or do something with it.

The original purpose of looking for that old domain name was borne out of an interest in segregating the various personae I maintain into more managable chunks, and indirectly, being able to talk freely without fear of recrimination.

What? Where did that come from?

Recently I heard a story about a law student who used her facebook status to express her feelings over her advisor. They leaped all over that and said it reflected badly on the company and now she may face an extended probationry period (nobody faces extended probation, ever) because of it.

I could surf the wiki for the next 90 minutes and explain the reasoning, but to cut a long story short: if you want to express yourself, use a diary. Ideally hidden where noone can find it, and make sure it doesn't get read. That's not to say I don't sympathise, merely that currently the only absolute freedom is the freedom for thought. The second an idea leaves your head via whatever medium it becomes subject to other people, and by virtue of society, laws and governance.

This brings me back to personae segregation for the purposes of “free speech”. Should you even be reading this page without signing a disclaimer or implicitly agreeing to read each page based on your relation to me. Eugh.

Anyway, the idea that having a rant to your best friend about your boss could be termed slander is disturbing in the least. Maybe the world was better off without the internet, or perhaps this merely reflects my age.