This may be a strange question, but have you bloggers made arrangements for your blog when you die? Is there someone you trust with the password to carry out your wishes? For instance, if this site is still in operation at the time of my death, I’ve made arrangements to have it shut down completely. It will live forever in Google’s cache, of course, but LBC will cease to be, just like me.
A morbid rhyme.
A story called Ghosts in the Machines reminded me of my own blogger mortality:
More than a year after his death, Aaron Huth continues to haunt those who knew him. His profile on the behemoth six-degrees-of-separation Web site Friendster.com still lets people know that in May of 2003 he was listening to bands like the Birthday Party and the Postal Service and reading Nietzsche. His likes and interests were frozen for posterity on May 26, 2003, the last time he logged into the site….Twenty years old at the time of his death, Huth had made no preparations and left no instructions with regards to how his worldly affairs should be dealt with, much less his online presence—how the people he knew only in the virtual sense should be notified. He is far from being alone in that regard.
Think about it. If you’re like me, blogging and various online activity have become a big part of your life. Just as you make plans for your assets, the care of dependents, etc., you ought to make plans for your blog and all password-protected web-based accounts, such as e-mail. Remember this story?
Happy Monday. 
Kicking the blog bucket
What will happen to your blog after you die? LaShawn Barber asks that very question. She says that her blog will cease to be, after all whats the point. As for me, after I am entombed inside a 300 meter high pyramid with my wife and cat next to I-25…
Trackback by Stupid Random Thoughts — 10.31.05 @ 9:27 am
Great reminder, L.B. The same goes for other accounts that are electronic like bank accounts and other bills you pay online. It’s great to have a hard copy stashed somewhere safe that has all that information written down. My husband would be lost since I’m the one that takes care of all of that stuff.
Comment by Sara Horn — 10.31.05 @ 10:07 am
It is a quandary. In the summer of 2001, my hubby and I hosted two girls from Northern Ireland in our home for six weeks. Doug helped them set up their own blogs, plus a two-girl blog. The next summer, Sheryl died in a car crash, age 18.
Doug keeps her blog paid for and online as a memorial. Our remaining girl, Chloe, posted a final entry to their co-written blog. “Sheryl, you will be missed….”
It makes me bawl to think of it!! Thanks for bringing this up, LaShawn.
Comment by Katy Raymond — 10.31.05 @ 10:17 am
I have an icon from lifestatus.com, a site that initially offered a service that would send alerts to a list of names you provided in case you ceased to login to their site for a specificed time.
Realizing that many people could make mischief with such a service, it now offers an icon that indicates how often I login to their site (last login today, last login x days ago, etc.).
My finances are all taken cared of, but I doubt there are that many people who live to read my musings. Somehow, I doubt many would be that worried the day I assumed room temperature.
Comment by Charlie on the Pennsylvania Turnpike — 10.31.05 @ 10:23 am
Good point, and one I’ve been thinking of ever since the story last year (year before?) about the soldier whose family needed access to his email. I have a list of passwords and instructions stored with my personal papers.
Comment by Mark La Roi — 10.31.05 @ 11:15 am
LaShawn Barber asks how do bloggers plan for their deaths? The short answer: I don’t care. I’m dead, for cryin’ out loud!
Pingback by Infinitely Prolonged — 10.31.05 @ 11:19 am
I’ve signed a special donor card that directs that my blog be left to the Menninger International Institute for The Study Psychiatric Abnormalities for research purposes.
Comment by Kevin — 10.31.05 @ 11:45 am
My friend Jeanette died a couple of years ago and her last post is still up at livejournal. OTOH, it’s still a good way to keep track of friends by using her friendslist…
Comment by My Boaz's Ruth — 10.31.05 @ 12:02 pm
Sheesh, La Shawn… you’re in a dark mood, eh?
Well, yes, believe it or not I have thought about this. Knowing me Love, he’ll probably make an announcement should I die unexpectedly. If we both go… well tough cookies people. Nobody else around here really knows too much about my blogging. (they’re still trying to figure out that whole com-pew-ter thing. And someone told them about electronic mail that they’re thinking of trying out. If they can remember their passwords that is. In the mean time, they’ve got themselves a rather expensive deck of cards! Solitaire is soooooo much fun!)
Comment by Jewels — 10.31.05 @ 12:30 pm
You know Miss Barber, I have thought about it and have always wondered how I would go about notifying my “online friends” of my demise. I figured on designating a close friend and a close relative to make a final posting and then send various emails to my address book. I haven’t gotten to actually choosing those individuals yet though. I never considered taking the blog down though, just didn’t think of it. Maybe I’ll give it to my sons for them to take it over and contiue it onward. That would be cool.
Comment by Jerry McClellan — 10.31.05 @ 12:48 pm
An interesting quandry… if lots of people read your blog…
I’m not going to worry about it.;-)
Cheers,
Comment by Moze — 10.31.05 @ 12:55 pm
It’s very odd to read the sites of people who have died. Especially if you knew them via chats, or email exchange.
I have thought about storing pw’s & all the significant info somewhere for my husband, but it’s “one of those things” I have never really got to yet.
Good reminder - wouldn’t want to creep people out after I was dead - I do enough of that while living
SDG ~ Carla
Comment by Carla Rolfe — 10.31.05 @ 1:20 pm
Oi. Talk about your wake-up call! I have two personal websites and a third supposedly business site for webhosting and business services. One of these is a major genealogy undertaking that I would hate to have just go away. Not to mention 3 or 4 or… hmmm just how many? email accounts.
Thank you for this post. Definitely food for thought and planning.
Comment by Heather — 10.31.05 @ 1:43 pm
And who is going to come in and do my job everyday?
Comment by Baklava — 10.31.05 @ 3:25 pm
In other blogging news, LaShawn wonders what will happen to your blog if you die.
Pingback by Myopic Zeal — 10.31.05 @ 3:41 pm
Death Becomes Her Blog
I’m covered. Are you?…
Trackback by A Likely Story — 10.31.05 @ 6:28 pm
Nothing lives forever, only your deeds so why not have fun? after all you only live once, and if this Jewish God lives let him “do the right thing”.
Death to the enemies of life? down with Bin Laden to hell with Bush and long life to all.
LIFE ISN’T WHAT YOU THINK IT IS.
Comment by Fred Dawes — 10.31.05 @ 9:28 pm
I’d be delighted if someone would take over my Shakespeare blog, unless they hijacked the bard to the left the way I tend to hijack him to the right.
Hm, come to think of it, a specific bequest may be in order.
Comment by Jeremy — 11.01.05 @ 2:54 am
I have made provisions for one of our blogchildren to take over the publication of our site. (they have all of the appropriate passwords) And I’ve made another arrangement for a third site to continue to serve as the home base and organizer of The Carnival Of Education.
Comment by EdWonk — 11.01.05 @ 7:17 pm
You have no idea how angry that Yahoo “flap” made me. Parents are the LAST people (frequently) on earth I’d want to read my E-Mail - I’m safe - they’ve both died! This is a good reminder for us all - NOW to get the powers that be/authorities to state: (if you don’t have the password and don’t know how to get it - you have no rights to the info!!!) I understand that Yahoo gave the info to the parents after all?!?!
Comment by chrys — 11.01.05 @ 11:29 pm
Hello Ms. B! I referenced your post after I wrote something along nearly the same lines, and decided to combine them! It’s called “Last Log-In” and I think it is something we should all think about… imagine in the future, where 20 or 30 years of blogging would become a “digital memorial” to the blogger! Well, today IS the ‘day of the dead,’ is it not?
Comment by Dave Lucas — 11.02.05 @ 7:37 am
Dead Man Blogging
I foound La Shawn Barber’s blog while surfing around an hour ago. His article, “Dead Man Blogging“, really got me thinking. I don’t think I’m going to keel over tomorrow, but still you never know, a metoeorite could come …
Trackback by The English Guy — 11.02.05 @ 1:42 pm
I found La Shawn Barber’s blog while surfing around an hour ago. Her article, “Dead Man Blogging“, really got me thinking. I don’t think I’m going to keel over tomorrow, but still you never know, a metoeorite could come out of nowhere and flatten the house, or bird flu might kill half the population, or some crazed madman might trigger a nuke off in Orlando, you NEVER know. That’s really her point: have you made plans for your blog after you’ve popped your clogs?
Pingback by The English Guy — 11.02.05 @ 2:54 pm
To all the blogs I’ve known before….
I’ve linked to quite a few blogs and tech news services that you might not have heard of in the past. I thought it would be neat to do a little round up of the tech info they have posted…
Trackback by HiWired Blog — 11.03.05 @ 10:01 pm