NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Frank Reed's head appears. was: NavList admin
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2007 Oct 17, 14:59 +0100
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2007 Oct 17, 14:59 +0100
At last, after it's died down, Frank Reed has put his head above the parapet and commented on the recent unpleasantness that has appeared on this list over recent weeks. Where were you when we needed you, Frank? Why did it fall instead to your co-owner, Dan Allen, to say what needed to be said? And this is now what Frank has to say- | SOME SPECIFIC COMMENTS ON POSTS FROM LAST WEEK: | It seems a shame that I have to say this, but it is necessary: no member of | this group should worry about threats of libel suits (with the usual obvious | exceptions... like attacking someone's money-making business or accusing | someone of criminal activity). I do suspect that when George wrote that post | he was simply venting frustration and would probably retract it if he could. | I understand your frustration, George. Well, the way to avoid any such threat is to ensure that libellous words are not uttered by a contributor and published by the list. Frank has got it quite wrong. I meant every word, when I wrote, in Navlist 3372- "This business is becoming rather serious. In another poisonous mailing (Navlist 3365), Peter Fogg has referred to me as "dishonest". That is actionable, against both Fogg himself and also against the list owner, if he has taken no steps to prevent such libels. I have asked for some such action to be taken, in Navlist 3363, but it seems nothing has been done. Frank Reed, you have been warned." If Frank takes such words lightly, that is up to him. There are certain standards that need to be upheld if a list such as this is to work. When gross breaches of those standards repeatedly occur, it is the duty of a list owner to intervene, as Dan Allen realised, if Frank Reed did not. We all enjoy robust argument. Personal abuse is another matter, but my back is reasonably broad. I am not a sensitive soul, and can laugh it off. But libellous words take it into a different realm. George. contact George Huxtable at george@huxtable.u-net.com or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222) or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To post to this group, send email to NavList@fer3.com To , send email to NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---