On Mon, 13 Dec 2004 11:57, you wrote:

I guess I should really pay attention to the old maxim "don't feed the 
trolls".  Shouldn't this be marked OT anyway?

> So, why is okay to publicly flame idiots?
> You would not do it in a social setting.

What makes you say that?  You don't know what I would or would not do in 
any setting.

> So why is okay to do email flames on a public email list like clug?

I think it's okay.  I generally don't do it.  In fact if I do, people might 
not notice it.  If I don't, people might misconstrue a message as a flame 
anyway.

> Surely, the more socially acceptable way of doing such flames is
> privately? Or is email a new social order, with new rules?

No, as you say below there are no new rules.  How often do you wish someone 
would get what they deserved, or look on smugly when they get it?  Watching 
the flame process unfold on a mailing list is just like that.

> Nope, email is not new rules. The lawyers will tell you that email can
> be regarded as a legally binding document.

Well, they would, wouldn't they.

Andy

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