Conference 7.286::maynard

235.0. "RE: note 1.2, notes policy" by PAXVAX::RUZICH (Steve Ruzich, VAXELN Development) Wed Jul 11 1990 15:16

    
This is written in response to note 1.2, "notes policy statement", since
the topic is set /nowrite.  Note 1.2 contains a memo from Ron Glover,
Corporate Personel Policy Manager.

Pete,

I think we need a better idea of what we can talk about than this memo provides.

Mr. Glover is concerned about Digital being liable for defamatory statements in
the notesfiles, for good reason.  It's not fair to slander someone, and
it certainly isn't right to make DEC the target of lawsuits. However, Mr.
Glover does not even acknowledge that there is potential benefit for Digital
employees in a discussion of 'individuals or business entities'.  I think it is
clear that such discussions are important and benficial to us.  I think we need
some balance here. 

Is there any way we can have a useful conversation about, for example,
where to get your car serviced, as note 1.0 suggests we do?
Mr. Glover says we should avoid 'negative comments'.  

If someone posts a note saying "I need an auto machanic - have you
ever been to Joe Jones' Garage?", is there any way to say "yes, and
I have a problem with the service"?  I don't see the liability for DEC
in such a statement.  It is, none the less, a negative comment.

Can I say "Go to Smith's garage - they do a good job"?  It implies
that Smith is better than Jones.  Is that negative?
How about "Call me about Joe Jones."?  How about if I point out that
Smith's garage is closer to the Mill that Jones', so it might be more
convenient to go to Smith's?

Can a marketing notesfile discuss how we might beat IBM on a sale?
That discussion would necessarily be negative.  IBM might not like it.

Heaven forbid that Mr. Glover reads some of the really opinionated
notesfiles, like firearms conferences.

I suppose we could just quietly ignore the memo, and go our own way,
since no one has complained about our notesfile, but I really don't like
that.  It would be like a Boston driver's attitude about traffic laws.

What do you think, Pete?  Does anyone else have any background on this?
The memo looks like a big deal, and a substantial change in policy -
is it really so?

-Steve Ruzich

    Steve, you raise an important issue and you comments are apt.
    
    I agree notesfilers should refrain from malicious and false statements
    but to exclude negative statements seems inappropriate, and the
    implications are ludicrous as your examples suggest.
    
    Ron Glover's argument against negative statements is tied to
    "fundamental fairness". Specifically, he states, " It is simply not
    fair for an employee to make a negative comment when we don't provide
    those businesses an opportunity to respond..."
    
    Nevertheless, a conception of "fundamental fairness" isn't primarily
    about providing opportunities to respond. To use an extreme example, I
    have a lot of negative things to say about Adolph Hitler. Is what I say
    unfair because he can't respond?
    
    Fundamental fairness seems to be about treating people (and businesses)
    with honesty, reasonableness, and respect. You can be negative,
    derogatory, have grievances and do it in a way that is reasonable and
    respectful i.e., considerate.  Granted 3rd-parties don't participate,
    but conference participation allows balance and additional
    perspectives.
    
    Given one of cultural maxims, "Do the right thing", I hope we can
    continue to assume that people will be honest, fair and accurate", rather
     than fear "that we have no way of determining whether the comment is
     honest, fair, and accurate".   
                                    

There's a fair amount of discussion of this issue in SERENA::HOME_WORK, which is
about home maintenance and repair.  That conference used to contain both 
recommendations and non-recommendations for contractors in various specialties.
The new personnel policy caused the conference policy to change to positive 
recommendations only.  If anyone has a negative experience with a contractor,
they send MAIL to the moderators, who delete any existing positive references
to that contractor.

The policy statement is in topic 2000 in HOME_WORK, and the discussion that led 
to it is in topic 1312, starting at reply 23.

    This discussion has been moved to note 225.