This is a very interesting issue and one that should get discussed,
particularly for the benefit of list members and for press folks on the
list.  In putting together our meager North Phillips Press, we also
considered quoting from the list, but declined to do so because we felt
it would be inappropriate to quote an individual who had no idea he or
she was also speaking to the "press."  Though I do not think it can be
required and that this is a publicly available list that can be quoted
from freely, press should as a courtesy contact a member first before
lifting from the member's post on the list. Perhaps additional context
could be established if the post needs additional context.

Consider the rather good and funny movie "My Cousin Vinny," in which
Ralph Macchio tells the Sheriff, in an obviously exasperated and
questioning response, "I killed the clerk?, I killed the clerk? I killed
the clerk?".  That was read back at trial, when the Sheriff read dryly
from the transcript:

I killed the clerk.
I killed the clerk.
I killed the clerk.

Voila, a confession, brought to you by the dry noncontextualized words
of a transcript.

At the very least, comments from the list should be attributed as "in an
e-mail published on a local list-serv, So and So said . . . ").  At the
same time, list members should certainly understand the public nature of
the list and be prepared to answer to publication elsewhere, if it
occurs.

Gregory Luce
St. Paul



> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] 
> On Behalf Of Joseph Barisonzi
> Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2003 10:08 AM
> To: 'List Manager'; 'Mpls list'
> Subject: RE: [Mpls] PiPress take on 3rd Ward race
> 
> 
> I think we should set a policy for the list that press must 
> check with the author and ask for permission before lifting 
> straight from the list.
> 
> 


TEMPORARY REMINDER:
1. Send all posts in plain-text format.
2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible.

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