> It is common courtesy and proper netiquette *not* to forward someone's
post
> without their permission.  The rule is, of course, not one we can enforce
> but we would like subscribers to show other subscribers the courtesy of
> asking permission before forwarding a post.

Kathy, thanks for responding.  What I should perhaps have said in my earlier
post was this: it strikes me that there is a certain futility in not
forwarding LACTNET posts without the author's permission when on a daily
basis hundreds of net users, potentially thousands or millions in the coming
years - who will not all be LACTNET subscribers - will be searching the
archives and passing along whatever they find to all and sundry.  Given this
situation, is the permission requirement really promoting the interests of
LACTNET and LACTNET members, or is it possible that it is or could be
stifling the free interchange of ideas?

Asking people not to violate copyright law seems to me a very sensible and
necessary step.  Asking them not to pass along URLs and or entire messages
(if this is indeed what is being asked - it is still not clear) seems to me
to be like asking people to suggest that others read the online version of
the NY Times only if they first get each contributing journalist's
permission to do so.  There is, for better or worse, a tidal wave of people
using the archives every day in any manner they see fit.  LACTNET posts are
just as much published as is anything on the web.  We can't prevent people
from referring to them nor do I think we would want to.

I like it when people tell me they have passed on my post to others, because
it makes me feel as if it has been worthwhile to write it.  I don't expect
them to get my *permission*, however.  And if and when I have criticized
something in a post, it is only reasonable for me to expect that the target
of my criticism will eventually be apprised of that criticism.  Since I have
written in a public forum, I don't necessarily expect to be forewarned when
that is going to happen.  (And if anyone wants to pass along this post in
its entirety, or any other of mine, please do so freely; you don't need my
permission.)

While I think the permission idea is a good one in principle, I think its
intent is overtaken by the reality of the way LACTNET works and the net is
structured.

Barb Strange

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