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Posted by Andy W. on 1997/02/03 23:43

I have just noticed this in my inbox and feel I must defend my actions.

Before I start Andrew (t.i.r) I ought to point out that forwarding peoples
private emails to newsgroups without their permision is a good way of

a) Getting their eternal hate.
b) Getting your sys admin to pull your account if they complain.

Course thats less likely to happen at RHUL, but the principle still holds.

My defence goes like so:

a: I credit this newsgroup with some sense and I hope that they would
not abuse any information found within. ( eg. posting it to an internet
bulletin board
)

b: I had been specifically asked to forward any replies and I felt that
rather than having to forward any comments, It would be easier to reply
direct.

c: I ( maybe wrongly ) assumed that we are all adults and would consider
writing hate mail to someone you don't know and have never met ( and
probably never will ) a cowardly and contemptable action.

d: He is still talking to me, and no complaints so far. ( That's not an
invitaton to go and give him something to complain about. )

Sorry if this caused any problems.

Andrew the insane ranter ( in serious mode ).

Oops

Posted by Adam Hattrell on 1997/02/04 10:59

Hi Andrew,

I have just noticed this in my inbox and feel I must defend my actions.

Before I start Andrew (t.i.r) I ought to point out that forwarding peoples
private emails to newsgroups without their permision is a good way of

a) Getting their eternal hate.
b) Getting your sys admin to pull your account if they complain.

Course thats less likely to happen at RHUL, but the principle still holds.

I'm not sure if I'm trying to teach my Grandmother to suck eggs but, what
I was talking about is general netiquette. It's basically common sense.
Newsgroups / Mailing lists etc are a public forum - a virtual down the
pub as it were. Emails are a virtual privite conversation. Common
courtesy dictates that we don't discuss peoples private conversations
down the pub without their permision. As such:

My defence goes like so:

a: I credit this newsgroup with some sense and I hope that they would
not abuse any information found within. ( eg. posting it to an internet
bulletin board
)

Isn't really a defense, the good sense or otherwise of the person your
telling someones secrets to, doesn't change the fact that your relaying
something told to you in confidence.

b: I had been specifically asked to forward any replies and I felt that
rather than having to forward any comments, It would be easier to reply
direct.

Now this is a defense, I apologise for jumping the gun. However, it
would have been a good idea to include that line from the email to avoid
busybodies like me jumping on your back.

c: I ( maybe wrongly ) assumed that we are all adults and would consider
writing hate mail to someone you don't know and have never met ( and
probably never will ) a cowardly and contemptable action.

It is generally considered that quoting peoples emails without their
permision - no matter how rude - is "not a good thing". Telling people
the existance is fine, quoting specific details or their name is not.
To take my pub analogy, you were spouting off on a topic, and he quietly
took you aside and pointed out in his opinion that you were boring him
senseless. At which point you come back, and pointing a finger say "he
said I was boring". When put in that light, who is being the more "adult"?
To be quite honest I'm not sure quite what your saying here. That you've
never met the guy who sent you the flame? In which case the next point
is kind of strange. In any case you had met him, you filled up his mail
box!

d: He is still talking to me, and no complaints so far. ( That's not an
invitaton to go and give him something to complain about. )

Thats good, there has already been at least 2 cases of things going a little
to far on the mailing list with people ending up with their feelings hurt.
When it's discussed in private then hopefully people can avoid falling
out. Once it's brought into the open people feel they have a point to prove
and will find it difficult to change their voiced opinion.

Sorry if this caused any problems.

I don't believe it has. It's a general principle, rather than a rule. The
point is that if your not aware of it, then it's difficult to tell when
it's okay to step over the line and when it's not.

Andrew the insane ranter ( in serious mode ).

Later,

Adam Hattrell, Support, Cimio Ltd. adam@

If two wrongs don't make a right, try a third.

Oops

Posted by Nick Waterman on 1997/02/04 15:07

Wren A allegedly said:

Before I start Andrew (t.i.r) I ought to point out that forwarding peoples
private emails to newsgroups without their permision is a good way of

a: I credit this newsgroup with some sense and I hope that they would
not abuse any information found within. ( eg. posting it to an internet
bulletin board

Just thought I'd remind you that ifis-chat, ifis-announce, and gamesoc
are archived and made available to the entire world on the IFIS web
pages. Just my 2p's worth. I'll not contribute to this flame-war any
more.

Nick Waterman, Network Manager, Cimio Ltd.
nick@ nick@ G7RZQ @ GB7DEO.#32.GBR.EU
http://www.noseynick.org/ #include <disclaimer> Team *AMIGA*!
Toroidal carbohydrate modules? Make mine glazed! -- Zippy