Re: Etiquette for off-list enquiries?

2 replies below.

Jeff

On Mon, 17 May 2004 16:32:49 -0400, Paul Bennett <paul-bennett@...>
wrote:

>Suppose I were talking with an off-list conlanger, and they asked about
>something this list could answer readily, what's the etiquette regarding
>handing over the list address and/or the addresses of the members in
>question? Note, this conversation is taking place in a public forum
>(Livejournal.com, FWIW).
As someone didn't quite say, "Etiquette, Schmetiquette."
Funny that this should come up today. I was just asking another conlanger
about LiveJournal etiquette.
To be safe, I wouldn't hand out any info that wasn't publicly available,
without asking that person, but quite a lot _is_ publicly available. In
your example, it's known that Tom created Degaspregos, that he's been known
to hang out on Conlang etc.

>In this particular case, my colocutor wants to know about Degaspregos, if
>Tom Wier has any particular personal feelings about being contacted.
>
>Paul
On Mon, 17 May 2004 22:27:49 -0400, John Cowan <cowan@...> wrote:

>Doug Dee scripsit:
>
>> Suppose I read something interesting here and want to bring it to a
>> friend's attention.  Presumably, I could sent a note referring to the
>> archive web page where my friend could find the message.  Would it be
>> an etiquette violation to just forward the interesting message itself
>> by email?
>
>IMHO no.  List postings are public, not list-private, so forward or
>link as you please.  Forwarding to a different mailing list would
>warrant dropping the author a note, but not permission in advance.
I'm not eMily Posting-Expert, but this sounds good to me. The only thing to
be cautious about is that occasionally we have a list member who doesn't
realize the archives are public, and who might flame someone.

>I'm not speaking as the Lord of the Instrumentality here, just myself.
>
>--
>We call nothing profound                        jcowan@reutershealth.com
>that is not wittily expressed.                  John Cowan
>        --Northrop Frye (improved)
http://www.reutershealth.com