Miata Mailing List: November 1996, Message #175
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   From: "Kathy O'Connell" 

Subject: Public Posting of Private Messages

   Date: Sat, 2 Nov 1996 21:01:41 -0500





Hi,



I don't know if this issue has been confronted on Miata.Net yet, but since

it seems to have presented itself, let's do so now.



I've been corresponding back and forth with lots of folks regarding my

ongoing nightmare with my '96 M-Edition.  I've been passionately involved

in every aspect of this problem since it's inception in early July.



I've made numerous posts to this list, and sent many other messages

privately.  Don't know about everyone else, but what "I" choose to say to

people privately is in some cases worded more freely, angrily,

humorously, or just plain differently from that which I'd choose to say

to "everyone" ... hence some messages are sent privately, some publicly.



In fact, I would say MANY things privately to some people whom I regard as

confidants or friends that I would NEVER choose for ANY other eyes to see

or ears to hear.



Therefore, regardless of intentions in publishing a person's PRIVATE

email, I think that the Miata.Net should have STRICT guidelines (or does

it?) to prohibit this breach of confidence.  If I wished for the letter I

sent privately to ANYONE to be read widely, I'd post to the list, or

expressly state that disseminating it was okay with me.



Which of us don't have emails we've sent which would a) embarrass us

terribly, b) embarrass others needlessly, c) compromise our position with

some or certain people, d) cause us severe interpersonal relationship type

problems since they may be taken out of context, or e) EVEN WORSE ...

if they were published publicly?



If permission to post my letter publicly had been requested, such

permission would NOT have been given.  Let me take this opportunity to

state my position clearly now that NO ONE has my permission to EVER post

publicly any private email I have sent, or ever WILL send!  If I want

something posted publicly, I'm perfectly capable of doing so.



I bring this up to the list, because I think if it hasn't been addressed

previously, it SHOULD be.  May I elicit people's comments on the above

issue?  How do you feel about it?  How should the list as a whole respond

to such breaches of trust and confidentiality?  I feel violated.



Let me also say that John has been a tremendous source of comfort to me

during this whole thing, and although I'm certain his intentions were good

(if misguided) in posting my private email to this list ... I think that

if I searched through my email folders I could cause heads to roll before

morning by posting some of them to the list publicly.  Something we ALL

should be thinking about.



I know that there's a thing called "netiquette" and that to post private

emails publicly without the writer's express permission is in violation of

that - I think we as a group need to condemn this behavior now and

forevermore.  



Kathy

(Who can't believe this happened to her)















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