Conference noted::equitation

	I can't find the note in which the discussion took place,
	but you may remember that someone suggested a note on "bad
	instructors" - or was it "bad vets"? At any rate, I questioned
	whether this would be safe, and asked for info from the
	moderator(s). I haven't heard anything, yet, so I thought I'd
	include this excerpt from the HOME_WORK notes file about what
	is/is not safe to put in these notes files:

From:
            <<< JOET::SYS$SYSROOT:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HOME_WORK.NOTE;1 >>>
================================================================================
Note 1.1                    Welcome to HOME_WORK.NOT                      1 of 1
BEING::WEISS "Trade freedom for security-lose both"  46 lines  14-JUL-1987 14:26
                           -< The four commandments >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
				.
				.
"				.
2) Recommendations or warnings about contractors, stores, or supplies which you 
   have used/frequented/bought are very welcome.  But in light of the legal side
   of things, to avoid prosecution of Digital or yourself for libel, if you are 
   issuing a warning, stick to facts.  "Smith never returned my calls, was two 
   weeks late, and was 20% over budget" or "XYZ windows are higher priced than
   ABC windows, which seem to be of better quality" are fine, "Smith is a sleazy
   slimeball" or "XYZ windows are overpriced junk" are not.  If the facts are 
   debatable, add a disclaimer such as "From my perspective."  Remember that 
   whoever you are commenting against cannot defend themselves in this forum, 
   so try to be as objective as you can.
"				.
				.
				.
	So, I guess it behooves (har har har! oops) us to be careful how
	we comment on people we've come in contact with - at least with
	a negative recommendation.

	Something else I also found interesting, and really true, in the
	same (HOME_WORK) notes file:

"Oh, and a nit:  IF YOU WRITE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE
SOMEONE ASK YOU TO STOP SHOUTING."


	-julie

    Julie, I agree with you in the respect, that we have to watch out
    how we handle verbal warnings etc.... I may not like someone's
    method of instructing or a Vets way of handling a situation, but
    that doesn't necessarily make them bad in what they do? Just different.
    I'm entitled to my opinion and cannot force it upon anyone. If I
    feel a need to make such a warning, I'll do it off-line or just
    give the facts, and try to leave emotion out of it. I'll give 
    the emotion off-line if I feel is needed, but again you have to
    understand that this is personal and the best method is to look
    into the story without the emotion.  When it comes to my horses,
    I DO get very emotional. 
    
    -Marianne-
    

     I will look into this subject. I know there have been similar
     discussions in other notes files.

     Kiirja
     

   The general consensus is that while it's ok to say
       "I don't recommend Person X"
   it's not ok to say
     "Person X is incompetent"
     "Don't do business with Person X"    
     "My experience with Person X was terrible."

   And that statements about situations are best left out, since people
   have different interpretations of the "facts".

   It is recommended to contact others off-line to discuss these things
   if you have questions. It is the best way to find out the other person's
   frame of reference (differing values) for making the statements anyway. 

   If you do want to discuss the facts of an experience in the notes 
   file, (we *are* here to share experiences) do not make accusations 
   or mention specific names in that note. 

   Another notes file which was shut down (voluntarily by the moderator)
   due to 'defamatory remarks', will be re-opened with the guidelines given
   above.

   

    For more information, you might want to check out the MODERATORS
    conference.
    

   
   That's where I got this information.    

  Here is some information sent to me about Personnel's view of
  negative recommendations. I feel that notes are an important
  way of sharing experiences and information. These days when 
  we are are so spread out over geography, it is difficult to 
  find people to share experiences with. I know many of us have
  averted disaster because of the knowlege we gained from shared
  experiences from this notes file. 

  If you have a negative experience, please do not state any 
  business or person's name in the note explaining what happened.
  And if you, as reader, are interested in finding out more details 
  about someone's experience, please contact the writer'off-line'. 
  Another reason for contacting people off-line is that you will each
  have a better idea of the other's frame of reference for what
  they consider acceptable and unacceptable, and you may change
  your perceptions accordingly.

  Thank you everyone! 
  (Feel free to discuss this topic if you like, of course.)

================================================================================
Note 1.43  Conference Introduction and Ground Rules -- Read and Heed!   43 of 44
STARCH::WHALEN "Personal Choice is more important t" 41 lines  28-FEB-1990 16:01
           -< From Ron Glover - Corporate Personnel Policy Manager >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the last several months Digital has been contacted by a number of
individuals and business entities that were angry about negative
comments made about them in our Notesfiles and Conferences.  As the
Personnel Policy Manager for Digital I have been the recipient of many
of those notes.  I thought I should take the time to post this note to
inform employees that it is not appropriate for them to make negative
comments or references about any person or business entity in any of
Digital's employee interest notesfile or conferences.

There are several reasons why we are establishing this rule.
The first has to do with fundamental fairness.  It is simply not fair
for an employee to make a negative comment about a business when we
don't provide those businesses an opportunity to respond and defend
themselves.  This is particularly true given the fact that we have no
way of determining whether the comment is honest, fair or accurate.
Clearly Digital has no intention, or desire, to open up its notesfiles
to third-party businesses so that they can engage in a debate about
whether they provide quality services.  The only logical solution then
is to ask our employees to refrain from using the Notesfiles to air
grievances they have with individuals, vendors, or organizations.

In addition to out concerns about fairness, we are concerned about the
potential damage that these kinds of comments may cause to third-party
businesses.  In that regard, employees should understand that they may
be personally liable if the statements they make cause harm to any
person or business.  Moreover, there is some possibility Digital may be
held liable for such comments as well.  Stated more simply, comments
made in a Notesfile or conference are in no way privileged or immune
from claims of liable, slander or defamation.

We are asking all of the users of Notesfiles to exercise discretion and
judgement in the comments that they make in the system.  We are also
asking moderators to go back and review the notesfiles they
moderate and to remove any notes that include derogatory references to
third-party businesses.

Please feel free to contact your moderator if you have any questions
on this subject.

Ron Glover
Corporate Peronnel Policy Manager