On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 16:52:50 -0500 Jerry Levy <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> > Once more the silly playing with words.
> > Respecting list members' privacy is not "suppression". Suppression
> > is what will happen if you allow the British National Party, or
> > some other group of right-wing thugs, access to the subscription
> > list. I'm in favour of open discussion, without people having to
> > look over their shoulders in case some fascist is going to get them
> > for what they say,
>
> John:
>
> I'm not sure if you have been listening. To begin with, if some
> right-wing thug wants to join the capital-and-class list to see what
> has been posted, there's nothing to stop her/him. Indeed, he/she
> doesn't have to join the list since non-listmembers can gain access
> to the archives page. So, the simple fact of the matter is that some
> fascist can read what we're writing right now. As soon as you post
> to a list with public archives or an open list, you lose your right to
> privacy. Indeed, as soon as you post to a closed list and one without
> archives, you are vulnerable if the list has been infiltrated. As
> for Fred Lee's request that he be given access to the membership list
> for research purposes, don't you believe him when he wrote that
> the information sent to him will not be made available to a third
> party? If you take him at his word, then there's nothing to fear, is
> there? Has he done anything to the CSE to warrant a slap in the face?
>
> Jerry
An alternative model that I use. I field all the enquiries for the
London Socialist Historians Group, and we continuously get requests
asking to be put in touch with this or that person.
In every case, I handle this by passing the request onto the person
being sought. I never pass information to the requestor (except to
explain what I'm doing), even if I know the person making the request
and can confirm, to my own personal knowledge, that he or she is
thoroughly trustworthy. It's up to the person being asked to decide
whether to make contact or not.
It may be a case of petit-bourgeois individualism on my part, but I
regard contact information as part of a person's private property, and
I don't have any right to dispose of it.
Of course, anyone who reads this list can get hold of my email address,
because I post to it. There certainly others who do not post to the
list and may want their email addresses kept secret. I don't mind Fred
Lee having my email address, they might. That should be an individual
thing, not a matter for list policy,
--
All the best,
John
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