Lactnet netiquette states that posts may only be forwarded with the
permission of the poster.  But the netiquette only really applies to
subscribers, since surfers don't read our welcome message.  As Barb Strange
points out, the archives are open for anyone with internet access to read.
I don't see any reason to change that, either.  They are a fascinating
resource for the internet community.

I think we should keep the permission thing as part of the culture of
Lactnet.  While all Barb says is true, there is no reason why we shouldn't
raise the bar for netiquette the way we are trying to raise the bar for
breastfeeding support.  Among subscribers I like the idea that we give each
other that respect.  Also, it is fun to know which posts someone else finds
worthy of forwarding, and you make lots of nice and strengthening
e-acquaintances that way.  To my mind that is analogous to the improved
immune defense one gets from being breastfed.

I can confirm that at least one post has been forwarded internationally
within a company, resulting in the poster being queried by a non-subscribing
representative of that company about the content of the post.  The post
involved did not mention any company by name, but was a general comment
about the entire industry in question.  If it was a Lactnet subscriber who
passed the post on, then that person was not playing by the rules of
politeness for this list.  We do not know whether that was the case, or
whether the company found it through their own monitoring of the archives.
This case will not lead to any lawsuits either, as the nature of the post
would not put anyone at risk for that.  It was just a less-than-pleasant
reminder that we don't really know what audience we are writing for.

The part in the welcome message about the front page of the NY Times is
important.  With the internet, you are not talking behind anyone's back.  On
several occasions recently there have been posts about people who themselves
subscribe to Lactnet, but who don't post so aren't obvious to the casual
observer in our virtual living room.  Remember that the person you write
about could well be reading your posts.  Read things through again before
you send them with that in mind.  That doesn't mean 'don't ever criticize.'
It means separate the issue from the person.  All persons are entitled to
respect as human beings, even heads of corporations whose ethics we condemn.
Their actions may be highly worthy of strong criticism, and that is allowed.
It is not libelous to tell the truth.  But try and think how you might feel,
reading the post, if you were the person you are writing about.  Sometimes
my aim is to jolt that person.  More often it isn't.

Another area in which to use caution is in relating personal anecdotes about
people in one's circle of acquaintance.  If they can be identified, you may
even be liable for breach of confidentiality.  I live in a country with so
few people that I have huge respect for this, and I don't post much of
anything from my own practice because of it.

I participate in a few other lists, none of which are as active or as
well-mannered as Lactnet.  This list has such high standards of courtesy,
thanks to all of you who contribute, that it is a continuing pleasure to
work with it.  I have made a very few forays onto discussion lists run by
newspapers and the flame level was startling to me, and really icky.  I
scuttled right back into my comfy little den here in Lactoland and that's
where I will stay.  None of us want Lactnet to lose its sting when that is
appropriate, and personally I think I could stand for anything I have ever
posted, including things I have winced over later, to be on the front page
of the NY Times.  (In fact, I would LOVE it if even 0.5% of what I wrote got
on to the front page of that paper, as long as I got to choose which 0.5%!)

Rachel Myr
Norway

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