I was looking for the apartment number of a client, and backward searched their address on Google. They happen to work for the federal government, so I found the one public place that publicizes the addresses of anybody who works for the federal government: Paladium.net

This page probably wins the award for Most Random. The title of the website reads:
"opinion, analysis, and publicly available information including home addresses of government officers and other people (for example, German diplomats' residences)"

It's good to know we're keeping an eye on those German diplomats. They are all sleeper cells for a future Nazi takeover as you know.

It also might win the award for Least Harmless. No one really called into question the legitimacy or motives behind posting the addresses of everyone working for the federal government, but the webmaster feels the need to head off any potential criticism:
Welcome to the world's safest website. You won't find a website which causes less violence than this one.

There is a huge amount of violence in the world, and a huge number of websites. How much violence is caused by websites, and how much by other forms of communication (for example: face-to-face conversations, telephone conversations, and newspaper articles)? Websites are astoundingly, incredibly, amazingly safe. This website has been on the Web for years, and has done no harm. This website is not intended to cause violence (for example, great bodily harm) or anything else bad. Do not feel threatened by this consistently harmless website.

It goes on to add:
Please do not confuse us with the government. We are expert and do not cause violence. Please do not write that this astoundingly safe website is dangerous.


And further:

This website resembles Amadou Diallo: harmless and legal.

So, for those of you who haven't thought about the safety levels of the websites you view, take another look. That care2.com ecard site may actually be a crack dealer.

Labels: least violent website