Posted by Dinah on January 5, 2011, at 10:22:28
In reply to Re: to Phillipa - personal information » violette, posted by Phillipa on January 2, 2011, at 12:54:50
Phillipa, there are some general rules of internet etiquette. Not following those rules can cause a lot of anger.
One is that you don't publicly publish emails of others. Even if it seems like spam, it may be spam that is cc'd to innocents. Please be careful not to post emails, certainly not to post headers of emails, and in general not to post any information that was sent to you in a nonpublic manner.
Another is that you not send information received by you privately to others, either publicly or privately. I think I'd go so far as to not send photos or anything that was publicly published on Babble. Even if the photos were public at one time, the photos may have subsequently been removed from links, which makes it personal to those with whom it was originally shared. I think it's ok to send links to posts that contain links to photos. You're then just sending public information, posts, which are available to anyone including the sendee.
We're an affiliative species and it's natural to wish to talk about others. I think if talking about other people was removed from conversations, a heck of a lot less conversing would go on. It's natural to want to share information out of concern for someone going through a hard time, or interest in someone who is in some way interesting, or to warn people about the behavior of others. I'm not sure where that natural inclination turns to "gossip". Perhaps it's in the eyes of the beholder.
But I'd advise you to be wise. I wouldn't tell you to trust no one. There are a handful of people I trust, and one or two I trust completely. But for the most part, remember that any information you send to others can and possibly will be sent by them to others. If they send you information, don't pass it on. If you send them information, assume it will be passed on and interpreted in whatever ways the sender wishes. It will probably not be sent on in context. It's ok to engage in the activity of talking about others. You'd be a singular person if your discussions were never about acquaintances. But try not to say anything that you wouldn't want plastered on Babble or on the front page of the NY Times. Be kind. Be discreet.
That's advice I'd give to EVERYONE.
poster:Dinah
thread:975555
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20101201/msgs/975894.html