Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Internal listserv (was: Defining Cohousing)

[Kay Argyle (kay.argyle]

I'm one of those who say things in email that I'm too inhibited -- "polite"
-- to say in person.

Our community has also had disagreement over how public or private our
community listserve should be regarded as, and whether someone who moves out
should be instantly removed or someone interested in the community allowed
on. People have said they need to know exactly who will see a message, in
order to feel "safe" saying what they think on email. The heat of the last
such discussion was considerably dampened when someone pointed out that,
apart from the possibility of email being intercepted, half the community
uses their work email, meaning their employers have the legal right to read
it -- email inherently is not private.

Sharon, I feel for you over the incident about minutes mentioning a
company's unsatisfactory performance. Thumperism* drives me insane. (*"If
you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." -- Thumper)
The moral imperative to be kind doesn't justify suppressing the truth when
it leaves the offender's next victim unwarned. Violations of the social
contract (let alone of legal contracts) should not be confidential.

Kay