Topic: Must private messages be kept private?

[curryhell]

Would like to hear from CH on this subject, just to get his opinion.
Other than that, Cannot be bothered with this thread anymore, George will do what he want's in the end anyway

I'm afraid i find myself in agreement with everybody except the OP.  However you wish to interpret the PM, it is a communication / exchange that takes place outside of the forum boards, for whatever the reason and there could be several valid reasons for this.  As such i would not expect to see the content of my PM posted to member A posted in a thread.  If a PM's content is not for the eyes of other members in the first place, that's how it should remain.

CH has sent me a few messages with elements which are arguably abusive. Should I copy those to this thread or suffer in silence?

Not me guv  . Someone must have logged on to my computer while i was away  : .  No abusive PM's sent by me to you George.  Just checked other than my reference to your "symbolic" thread which i chose to rename to "shambolic". 
You did omit that i have also PM'd you suggesting you should alter your wording in a post as it could easily be misinterpreted  by some members, which you duly did.  It's alright, you don't have to thank me 

I don't think I have any more to say on the topic as most of you members have really said it all.
Happy currying those that cook 

[Micky Tikka]

One more question 
George do you think several members are wrong
And you are right
Please answer yes or no

Or are you bluffing !

[Peripatetic Phil]

CH has sent me a few messages with elements which are arguably abusive. Should I copy those to this thread or suffer in silence?

Oddly enough, I do think that that is one of the rare situations where public disclosure could be justified.  If a moderator is unfortunate enough to be on the end of an abusive PM from a forum member, then he or she should be entitled to forward the PM to his or her co-moderator and see if he/she agrees that it is abusive.  If both agree, then they can take a united stance to deal with the offender, copying Stu. in if necessary.  But if a moderator feels that he or she is receiving abusive PMs from his/her co-moderator, then to whom should he/she turn ?  I think in those circumstances the recipient is entitled to "go public" with the putatively offensive PM and seek support from his/her fellow forum members.  What do others think ?

** Phil.

[Stephen Lindsay]

No I don't agree Phil, I think that these messages should be dealt with internally.

[Peripatetic Phil]

No I don't agree Phil, I think that these messages should be dealt with internally.

That would be fine if there were three or more moderators, Stephen, because then there would be one or more independent moderators to whom to turn for support; but when there are just two, to whom should CH or George turn if they receive what they perceived as abusive e-mails from their fellow moderator ?

** Phil.

[Micky Tikka]

Phil it can't be worse than what  he gets on the forum  ;D

[Gav Iscon]

I've just had a call from Team GB looking for someone for the Back Peddling event at the 2016 Olympics? Any ideas anyone?

[Stephen Lindsay]

No I don't agree Phil, I think that these messages should be dealt with internally.

That would be fine if there were three or more moderators, Stephen, because then there would be one or more independent moderators to whom to turn for support; but when there are just two, to whom should CH or George turn if they receive what they perceived as abusive e-mails from their fellow moderator ?

** Phil.

Yes I agree Phil but I think that's another issue.My response was based on what I consider to be appropriate principles to the governance of PMs. The issue of what to do about them is another thing and certainly the limited number of mods does make that a difficult decision for them. However I don't think outing the sender is good for the forum. Goodness knows we have enough bickering here as this thread shows.

[George]

One more question 
George do you think several members are wrong
And you are right
Please answer yes or no
Or are you bluffing !

Yes, I'm confident I'm right and most of the others are wrong, from a legal standpoint.

For anyone silly enough to even hint at legal action, I suggest that many of you should look closer to home. Anyone that has published a recipe here, taken from a book, is running a real legal risk for copyright infringement. I'm surprised there's only been one or two approaches from publishing houses, if I recall correctly, if that.

[Peripatetic Phil]

Yes, I'm confident I'm right and most of the others are wrong, from a legal standpoint.

And from a moral and/or ethical standpoint ?
** Phil.