[WikiEN-l] Legal obligation to report Wikipedia editor under UCMJ (Mike G weigh in?)

[George Herbert]

On Jan 3, 2008 1:47 PM, Matthew Brown <morven at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 3, 2008 5:25 AM, Chris Howie <cdhowie at gmail.com> wrote:
> > What about workplaces where it is policy that if you come into knowledge of
> > a policy breach you are obligated to report it?  Foo may only be trying to
> > cover their own butt.
>
> While there are cases in which someone may be obligated to report
> known or suspected wrongdoing, I am aware of no cases in which someone
> is obligated to threaten to report someone they happen to be in an
> on-Wikipedia disagreement with.
>
> This discussion has gone on endlessly about the former, but in actual
> fact what is being done is the latter.  You cannot justify threats (no
> matter how politely phrased) by pointing out a supposed obligation to
> DO it, not THREATEN it.
>
> If you think you're obliged to, why bother with threats?  It doesn't
> let you off the hook on your obligation.
>
> If you're not actually obliged to, don't threaten it.
>
> -Matt

I guess if you determine it to have been an uncivil threat, then
whether it breaches the NLT policy or not is immaterial in that sense.

Admins need some leeway to handle problem users, but we shouldn't be
getting away with abusing them in the process.


-- 
-george william herbert
george.herbert at gmail.com