The AOL/Thelma Arnold fiasco has proven the risk and potential value of what John Battelle called the 'Database of Intentions'. The implications of the issues surrounding this database will be discussed and debated for days and weeks to come.

Jason Calacanis, who has some juice at AOL but probably can't make it happen, suggests that AOL for one stop collecting search data.

While that debate begins and then rages, I'll suggest a less drastic option: opt-out.

All the engines should agree to a delimiter that when it precedes a search, leaves that search out any permanent tracking. Any search that starts with "!!" for example a search on "!! the stupidest person at AOL", would return results but not be added to the 'database'.

Don't we at least deserve that level of control?

Update: Traffick reports that iquick does not retain any search data.