What is the purpose of a discussion board?

[Tropicana]

Perhaps Xavier could clarify.

I thought it was a place where people could gather and safely discuss issues and topics of interest anonymously...like a water cooler, a gathering place. Why are people:

- contacting individuals who have been in news stories, alerting to them to the fact that their story is being discussed and inviting them to join in.
- posting contact information without somebody's permission.... seems to me to be totally inappropriate.

If every time a story is discussed, someone is going to contact the subject of the story or one of their relatives, soon no one will feel free to discuss any story in the news. If someone grants an interview, that is a totally different matter (e.g. if Xavier invites them and they accept or they are featured on the front page and they agree to participate in a discussion.

This is the context Xavier:

http://www.jamaicans.com/forums/showthread.php?71956-Wedding-Day-Tragedy-Jamaican-Man-Murdered-After-Marrying-British-National/page4

and

http://www.jamaicans.com/forums/showthread.php?72781-Hunter-College-professor-recounts-terrifying-machete-attack-in-Jamaica/page3

I looked up Miss Cassidy's email and contact information if anyone is interested.
I also shot her an email with a copy of some of the postings of this thread by those claiming that her story is fabricated and requested her response. Maybe she will respond to clarify or varify the story.

Lonewolf actually looked up and posted the woman's contact information at work including her phone number without her permission.

[RichD]

so the rule should be that only Xavier can contact anybody ?

[j-kid]

Wan ah di purpose is fi get good jokes, an destress during di stressful day!

[Tropicana]

No that is not what I am saying. I am using that as an example. If for example, someone writes a story for the front page and the subject of the story agrees to come on and answer questions, that's fine. (I've written stories and invited people to participate and answer questions. I'll be hesitant to do this in future though.)

Another example would be if a celebrity agrees to be interviewed. However, what is happening is that people are contacting private citizens with an agenda because they are losing an argument or not in agreement with views expressed in a discussion on the board. It is an attempt to make mischief and stir up trouble not facilitate open dialogue. That is crossing the line IMHO. Tracking down and posting someone's contact information without their permission is definitely WAY out of line and this happened earlier today.

[RichD]

Another example would be if a celebrity agrees to be interviewed. However, what is happening is that people are contacting private citizens with an agenda because they are losing an argument or not in agreement with what someone is saying. That is crossing the line IMHO. Tacking down and poosting someone's contact information without their permission is definitely WAY out of line and this happened earlier today.

if somebody wants to go as far a contacting a person in a story let them go for it. the person they contact can deal with as they see fit.. i don't think we have any need to police that kind of thing.

in the case at hand to day the persons contact information was freely available. its not like they were using a pseudonym and it required some digging to out them.

I addition you have to look at the context of the situation .. The poster felt he was offering the storyteller a avenue to defend her honour.

[Suesumba]

stressful day!

... as if - none a unnu sheggah wuk

[RichD]

... as if - none a unnu sheggah wuk

how yuh talk so funny?

[j-kid]

Sure wi doo. Wi as good at multi-tasking as yuh is.

... as if - none a unnu sheggah wuk

[remo]

I wish I knew what you guys are talking about

[Emperah]

ppl use fi get walkout a wukk if dem a one dem ppl who heng roun wata cooler more time den guh dem wukk.

[Tropicana]

The woman stated her name and where she worked. She did not give permission for her contact information to be posted on a bulletin board.

So every time we are discussing anything in the news and someone's nose is out of joint because they don't agree with opinions being stated, it's perfectly okay to drag the person into the discussion and stir up trouble?

I thought this was supposed to be a place where people could remain anonymous if they so desire and discuss whatever within the board rules without having to be concerned about having to get into a confrontation or uncomfortable situation with the subject of a news story.

There is no point in taking a risk and discussing ANYTHING that involves another person if this is going to be the modus operandi on a going forward basis.

I do look forward to Xavier's comments.

Xavier, a member Lonewolf posted someone's work telephone number and this is the second incident in 2 days where a discussion of someone from here contacted the subject of a news story and alerting them to the discussion here:

http://www.jamaicans.com/forums/showthread.php?72781-Hunter-College-professor-recounts-terrifying-machete-attack-in-Jamaica/page3

[Suesumba]

ppl use fi get walkout a wukk if dem a one dem ppl who heng roun wata cooler more time den guh dem wukk.

dem noh have water cooler roun here - dem have water pumpee

[Emperah]

what's de problem, shi have an invitation fi come defend har baxhide now

[Emperah]

dem noh have water cooler roun here - dem have water pumpee

[j-kid]

Besides, di new water cooler is dem personal cell phones. Dem jus text eachother back an forth.