First of all, I must admit I did not read all the messages from Cindy,
and from what I know of Ken I don't think he would say anything stupid,
even if, as far as I understand, there has been some animated discussion
between Cindy and other list members.
I should possibly underline a part of my previous message and suggest an
amendment, not to be accused to misrepresent anyone's intentions. I
wrote:
"...periodically new people come in with fake names and feel free to
send us any kind of stupid message. This was probably far from Ken's
purpose" I underline "this is probably far from Ken's purpose, and if
Tim insists this is not clear enough I would say that this was
"certainly" far from Ken's purpose.
In regard to the real-or-fake identity of Cindy:I don't know whether I
should consider Cindy a fake or a real person, it is certainly real now,
that we know she is Ken, but how real was before we knew who was hiding
behind that identity? And if we allow people to hide behind "second"
identities are we sure the discussion here will not degenerate in a
"turris babel"? And if someone is allowed to hide behind a second
identity how can we be sure that he/she will not misuse this position
(for instance by provoking with false statements or providing false
information or even sending spam-like messages)?
It may be interesting, as Terence proposes, that we present ourselves
with different identities according to our different positions, because
this would give more freedom of expression to everyone in this list, but
I would not be so sure that everyone would be able to stay within the
limits of a decent discussion. Furthermore Terence proposal may
undermine the very basis for the discussion in this list, that is trust.
At that point I would leave the list immediately.
Having said this, I would like to stop this discussion, as someone
wisely proposed.
Nicola
Associate Professor Nicola Morelli, PhD
School of Architecture and Design, Aalborg University, Denmark
Web: www.aod.aau.dk/staff/nmor
-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and
related research in Design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Tim Smithers
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 12:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: False personas (aliases and avatars) on the phd-design list
Dear Nicola,
With all due respect, I think you need to be more
careful with what you say here. And perhaps others
before you, could have been too.
Cindy was not a fake name. Nor was this a false
identity. Cindy was the real name of a real
identity presented on this list by someone we
also know as Ken.
Whatever the merits or demerits are, and whatever
our personal opinions and thoughts are of what Ken
did, none of the messages that were posted here
by Cindy can be properly described as being stupid,
as you seem to imply.
It is right, and I think acceptable, for people on
this list to post, or send privately, expressions of
disagreement, disapproval, and even anger over
anything anybody else does here, when this is done
with care and good reason: in a way that doesn't
cause further hurt and anger.
It is wrong to misrepresent, explicitly or
implicitly, what someone else has done.
You misrepresent what Ken did as Cindy.
Best regards,
Tim
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