Net losses – Scrabble proves how ephemeral online stats or storage can be.

 

International fury has been mounting at the unilateral change in the Scrabble game which has been hosted by Facebook in so many countries.  Even if there were the strongest reasons for replacement with the new version – which appears to be far poorer than the previous one – the fact that no attempt has been made to save or transfer stats built up by keen players, in many cases after playing thousands of games over the years, shows a high-handedness which can act as a warning to all internet users. 

This move clearly demonstrates how whims of the providers of various platforms or services can, at a stroke, remove or change them.  The vulnerability has previously been shown repeatedly with blogs, and sudden changes or removals can happen with any sites where stats, writing, pictures or music may be stored.  Size and reputation seem to count for little, too.  Google may be just as likely to whip carpets out from underfoot as Backyardwebshack would be.   

There is also an annoying tendency to create and develop something one really enjoys using, and then to go stark raving bonkers and keep ‘improving’ it further to a stage where it becomes almost unusable.  I don’t think I am alone in regarding Windows XP, for example, as far more user-friendly than 7  or 8   (we won’t even talk about Vista).   The same applies to many software programmes on offer.

Can one successfully lobby for more consideration to be shown?  Probably not.  Thus the only answer is to avoid becoming too attached to use of the net which involves placing storage of any data whatsoever outside of one’s own direct legal control.  Indeed, one starts questioning how reliable all of the internet services may be, in the long run. 

© Colonialist May 2013 (WordPress)