[OT] Quoting others

["W. Eric Martin" <eric@...>]

Mike Schoessow wrote:
> I don't know what the legalities are, but it would not surprise me to
> discover that private e-mails were covered under some sort of privacy
> law.

Privacy law?  What do you think this is, Europe?

Within the U.S., once you send e-mail (or a letter) to an individual, it 
is no longer private.  You have shared it with another, and that person 
has the legal freedom to show others or redistribute it.  People also 
have the right to discuss phone conversations with others, but letters 
and e-mail are potentially more damaging because you lose the ability to 
deny you said something.

I deal with this as a writer, such as when sources say they don't want 
to be quoted saying such-and-such, but then they give me information off 
the record.  I have never used such quotes because it would be rude to 
do so, yet should I ever desire to be a jerk, the law would back me up.

Rely on the advice of mothers everywhere: If you don't want others to 
know you said something, don't say it in the first place.

Eric-4

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W. Eric Martin - TwoWriters.net