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Recorded Memories: Three Stories

September 20th, 2008

I have never much liked photographs. I don’t like my picture taken (though there are many out there), and I don’t have an extensive library of family or travel shots. That said, I moved recently and in going through my worldly possessions, I discovered small stores of photos and slides that I put aside with intent to “deal with them” later on.

A quick review revealed that the appropriate way for me to deal with them was to a) throw them away, b) send them off to the subject of the photos, c) save to scan and I don’t know what else yet. Oh, and d) rip into tiny pieces, set on fire, and laugh while the bits burn. (Precious few in the latter category.)

Additionally, I have had a digital camera in my possession for the last couple of years, so I’ve been trying to be “one” with my friends who have hundreds or thousands of photos online. Now I have a couple of years of my life stream (albeit rather punctuated).

I just imported all of my digital photos into my photo organizing program. In one visual moment, I saw that much of my life wasn’t meant to be remembered–by me or anyone else. Pictures of a big desk that I once loved but recently gave away, a car crash, a seriously crazy housemate. Documentation that a good friend got messed up in a bicycle accident. A dozen terrible shots of me trying to create a decent passport photo (bad lighting, closed eyes, weird expressions, you know).

The few I want to keep are the ones that make me happy. I will add meta info (names, stories, keywords, etc.) to those that I want to share with my friends. They tell the story of who and where I am. The rest of these photos are not so meaningful, and will probably go the way of the bit bucket.

Coaching moment: If your digital memories are meaningful to you, write down their stories. Share them.

My friend Keith Porterfield passed away in 2004. He was a quiet, influential guy, opinionated about the proper way to do things. He was a grey-bearded Internet geek in the best sense of the word. When he died, all he left was a couple of computers. No passwords, just data.

I don’t think that Keith cared much about his legacy. He published articles in prominent magazines of the time, and wrote casually for others (here’s one). Little is online. We hold his hard drives in safe keeping just in case.

Coaching moment: No instructions, no further legacy. What’s online and published by others becomes your final word.

My friend Judy mentioned the other day that her family was sending her all of their collected family photographs for her to scan and share. Being a librarian at heart, Judy was scanning and adding meta information: who was in the photo, date if known, etc. Then she was uploading them to her Flickr account.

In a moment of identity coaching, I reminded her that if she was the sole keeper of her family’s recorded memory, she needed to protect and ensure its future by leaving instructions on how to access her Flickr account with her other trusted family members and with her will. Someone in her family will need to download and re-store the collection.

In fact, the Flickr (Yahoo) Terms of Service has three likely relevant points:

5. MEMBER ACCOUNT, PASSWORD AND SECURITY

You will receive a password and account designation upon completing the Service’s registration process. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the password and account and are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your password or account. (…)

The last part is about being responsible for your account, right?

13. GENERAL PRACTICES REGARDING USE AND STORAGE

(…)

You agree that Yahoo! has no responsibility or liability for the deletion or failure to store any messages and other communications or other Content maintained or transmitted by the Service. You acknowledge that Yahoo! reserves the right to log off accounts that are inactive for an extended period of time. You further acknowledge that Yahoo! reserves the right to modify these general practices and limits from time to time.

To me, this means that Yahoo doesn’t have any obligation to keep your files, and if your account is inactive for some time (like, say, because you’re dead), Yahoo can close your account.

27. GENERAL INFORMATION

(…)

No Right of Survivorship and Non-Transferability. You agree that your Yahoo! account is non-transferable and any rights to your Yahoo! ID or contents within your account terminate upon your death. Upon receipt of a copy of a death certificate, your account may be terminated and all contents therein permanently deleted.

To me, this means that a family member can’t take over your account once you die. Or at least they’re not supposed to.

Now Judy isn’t alone in her storage of recorded memories, and Flickr isn’t the only service on which these memories reside.

Coaching moment: Take a day to consider your online accounts. Make a list of services and recorded memories that you want to live on. Add your login and password info for each service, and put this list with your will. Do NOT leave it next to your computer or under a magnet on the refrigerator.

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