[gojomo]

Sure, that's the precedent and official policy for actual employees and contractors.

But does that standard make sense applied to private citizens, having conversations about widely-available information, before ever applying for a job?

The State Department may get more careful, coldly calculating applicants by eliminating those who discuss leaked cables – but not more curious and well-informed ones.

[fooandbarify]

No kidding - and I can't honestly believe that current employees and contractors would be prevented from reading the leaks for fear of "possessing" said information. Burying their head in the sand. It's asinine.

EDIT: In case it wasn't clear - I am calling the policy asinine, not the employees/contractors.