Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!osh3!chip From: chip@osh3.OSHA.GOV (Chip Yamasaki) Newsgroups: comp.admin.policy Subject: Re: harassing mail Message-ID: <1991May30.042902.10573@osh3.OSHA.GOV> Date: 30 May 91 04:29:02 GMT References: <1991May21.232534.17880@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> <1991May23.030459.8377@osh3.OSHA.GOV> <1991May29.025740.499@midway.uchicago.edu> Organization: U.S. D.O.L - Occupational Safety & Health Admin. Lines: 45 In <1991May29.025740.499@midway.uchicago.edu> wag5@quads.uchicago.edu (john peter wagner) writes: >If a person yells in open air a harrasing statement, is the medium, the >air, to blame? Or is the person who is harassing? The net is in this >case merely the medium of communication. If there are problems, let the >offended party use the E-Mailed message as evidence in normal vocal or >phone harassment disciplinary avenues. You are assuming a judicious >stance on a personal matter, one better suited for 'personal' policy >rather than 'system' policy. Where do people get these strange analogies? You can't compare open air to E-Mail. I don't think I should have to explain this one, but anyone who would make such a ridiculuous statement obviously need it explained. Open air is a free and absolutely necessary element that is ever-present. It is assumed, in fact has been proven to be required for human survival. Humans (most anyway) are capable of vibrating it through the use of their own personal vocal chords, thus causing this "yelling" phenomenon you discussed, without the use of corporate resources. This makes it imparctical, at best to regulate and the privilige is nearly impossible to revoke. Therefore, it must be covered by other policies (which I'm sure it is in many places). E-Mail on the other hand, is a resource that is not an absolutely necessary resource to 99% of all corporations or organizations. It is normally paid for by the transport supplier, as well as the equipment used to generate, store, and access it. Since the PRIVILEGE to use it may be revoked at any time if its use results in problems that detract from the organizational goal, the use of it should be treated as a PRIVILEGE and not a RIGHT. In virtually any organization I would think that if the wrong person is annoyed by the E-Mail system (or users thereof) and the problem is not resolved to the users satisfaction, the system could be disabled and all of the other users would suffer. I have seen some outrageous comparisons drawn in this thread, but this takes the cake. Speaking of which, E-Mail is like fruit-cake. If someone beats you with a fruit-cake we can't just outlaw fruit-cake, so why pursue those nasty fruit-cake muggers? -- -----------------------+--------------------------------------------------- Charles "Chip" Yamasaki| The opinions expressed here are my own and are not chip@oshcomm.osha.gov | supported or even generally accepted by OSHA. :-) -----------------------+---------------------------------------------------