The point of the article was that all of us said stupid things in private when we were 19 years old. Perhaps that's true. But in this case it's a bit like learning that someone accused of a major embezzlement was shoplifting when they were 19. I'm inclined to think that there's a pattern here.
What I fail to understand about this whole privacy outcry on Facebook is why people thought it was some lock box under their bed in the first place. It's a public web site and the main focus of it is to (key word here) SHARE information with your social network. Why would you even consider putting something that you feel is private on this site in the first place? I've only been using the site for a few months now when I caved after seeing all my friends scheduling things on it but that's really all it is. A place to talk to all my friends (technical and non-technical) at once. If you have some private pictures to share with them or something to tell them privately just send it in an email or tell it to them next time you see each other.
There's a difference between "share" and "publish". People signed up intending to share with their friends; akin to drawing a satiric photo of a friend, and cupping your palm over it so he couldn't see it, whilst you showed it to everyone else.
Facebook is now trying to push users into publishing data. Akin to drawing a satiric photo of a friend, and sending it to the school newspaper.
Arrington is right, but seems to miss that this serves as the most delicious illustration of how FB policy can harm its users: by unintentionally exposing information out of context which could be used against that person in a myriad of ways, anywhere from forcing an uncomfortable conversation with one's friends and loved ones, to being blackballed during a job hunt, or school application.
Zuck: Just ask.
Zuck: I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS
[Redacted Friend's Name]: What? How'd you manage that one?
Zuck: People just submitted it.
Zuck: I don't know why.
Zuck: They "trust me"
Zuck: Dumb fucks.
I'm having a hard time trying to put this into a flattering (for Facebook) context.