Glen wrote "...The logical outcome of this[greed]is a future where everything electronic is kept, regardless of content and context, for specified time periods, and managed for discovery and similar purposes by Google-type search facilities. The risks associated with keeping things too long will be over-ruled by legislated fixed retention periods, based on media type...What IS left is supporting business needs other than compliance. KM here we come" Exactly. In many environments it's already a struggle to justify labour-intensive, training-intensive, human error possible (probable?) disposal programs...it will only become increasingly difficult unless we come up with some better reasons than "compliance with 'insert regulation here' ". And Bob Dalton wrote "Just because you can [store everything on a pin-head], doesn't mean you should." Well some IT folks will argue vehemently otherwise Bob (they already do) and their arguments are popular - the . Most folks (even IT) seem to agree that we can't destroy everything. So, we're left with two options Option 1) Disposal program - involving humans who are well trained to make decisions...it's labour intensive and therefore expensive and subject to both human error and Monday-morning quarterbacking of the worst kind) Option 2) Keep everything - no human intervention at the transaction level required, no nasty "what-if" arguments with lawyers or historians, I suspect that in many organisations disposal programs are accepted as a necessary evil ... certainly many I've encountered ... if it becomes cheaper and easier to just keep it all then many organisations will choose that option...whether it be greed as Glenn suggests or ignorance or a combination of both they will make that choice. Glenn is right...if we've sold our programs on the basis of compliance we're not going to have a leg to stand on ...compliance will be far better served by keeping everything (including RECMGMT-L messages and lunch invites) and being able to find it in a nanosecond than any disposal program will ever be able to do as there won't be the risk of a distracted records sentencer accidentally destroying the wrong thing. I'll be getting back in my box now ;) Cheers, Bernadette Bernadette Bean bus ph: 8226 6154 mob:0412 848750 email: [log in to unmask] When life hands you lemons, ask for Tequila and Salt This e-mail is personal. It is not authorised by, nor sent on behalf of, the Department of Health or the Government of South Australia. It is your responsibility to scan this email and any attachment for viruses and defects as the Department of Health does not accept any liability for loss or damage arising from receipt or use of this e-mail or any attachments. List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance