October 08, 2004

Moral & Ethical Question

Let's say that for the last year or two you have been getting e-mail for another individual. That person seems nice, and you even "talk" with them a bit, yet their friends and comrades still -- despite nice notes and even some not nice notes -- continue to send you mail intended for the other person. Suppose they send you their plan to promote a certain candidate for President, one you loathe. Are you legally, morally, ethically, or otherwise obligated to keep confidential the material they sent?

Discuss!

LW

Posted by wolf1 at October 8, 2004 11:02 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I'd have just set up an email filter to automatically delete anything about the person, thereby eliminating any moral quandries. Under the circumstances however, I don't think that you are obligated to keep anything confidential. If it was me, I'd inform all of them that all subsequent emails would be published (by whatever means), then follow through and let the chips fall where they may. But that's just me, and I'm a bit of a harda$$. :)
jan

Posted by: jlb at October 8, 2004 11:26 PM

No way to set up a filter, as each subject is different and all the mail comes to my main addy. Glad you are one, and I can be more of one than most realize. :)

Posted by: Laughing Wolf at October 8, 2004 11:39 PM

One strike you're out rule, I think. Tell 'em once. They don't listen... too bad... then it's YOUR mail and you do as your please.

Posted by: Boudicca at October 9, 2004 12:09 AM

You warned 'em. If you can use what they sent to crucify them and their Candidate, do it. In fact mail the emails to all the bloggers you know who agree with you on that Candidate.

Posted by: Oscar at October 9, 2004 12:30 AM

so your getting interesting spam... well, if there's no legal disclaimer at the end of the email you receive that prevents you from further distribution, then your to do as you please. you've done the ethical/moral thing. since he's kept you on the list you can do a number of things legally:
- contact his isp and explain you're receiving spam from him
- if you receive no response then publish as you please, but remember, "turnabout is fairplay".

Posted by: note from michele at October 11, 2004 04:48 AM

Comments are Closed.