Klarinet Archive - Posting 000067.txt from 2002/04

From: "Ian Black" <clarinet1@-----.uk>
Subj: [kl] shocking?
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2002 14:31:10 -0500

A little while ago, I received an email from the list owner of an online IT
development and database related forum which advised me that my company's
email filters had been bouncing several of the list's messages. I learnt
that any email which contained the word "sex" was automatically bounced. So
every email along the lines of "I have a database which holds client info
(name, age, sex, marital status etc.) ..." was bounced. I missed out on an
entire discussion topic because of this (and annoyed the list-owner with all
the bounce messages). Naturally, I complained to my company's email
sysadmin.

My point is that, like it or not, companies all over the world have silly
filters which can stop worthwhile messages getting through. These companies
obviously feel the need to restrict this traffic, whether on moral grounds,
for professionalism, to stop non-work-related emails or whatever.
Nonetheless, these messages will not get through to some people, and doesn't
this counteract the very purpose of the online discussion forum?

I personally am not _shocked_ by any of these words under discussion, but I
choose not to use them myself. It's not an issue of what is shocking, or
what is moral, but more what is appropriate. We have an eclectic mix of
people on this list, and so I would suggest that the tone should comprise
that which is acceptable in polite company. Besides, if we all follow that
etiquette ("netiquette"?) few, if any, messages will be bounced by these
automatic email filters.

Just my opinion, but I reckon it seems like common sense.

Regards

Ian

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