Comments on: Is this ethical and/or legal?

Is this ethical and/or legal?

Plutor — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 04:57:46 -0800

I have prepared an FPP about an organization that was recently the subject of a couple Internet memes (and Metafilter threads) that is now being sued by a major international corporation as a result of one of their pranks. Their web site is vague and asks people not to post rumors, but they sent out a number of details to their mailing list, including ways to support them. Would it be unethical for me to post this semi-private information to Metafilter? Could I get them in more trouble with this lawsuit? Half of me feels that Mefites might be willing to contribute to the cause, but the other half wants to be extremely careful.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 04:59:18 -0800

Crap, as soon as I posted this, I noticed the date. I am almost certainly the victim of an April Fools joke. I will wait until tomorrow. If the joke has not been revealed, I will (maybe) post the FPP then.

Sigh.

By: cedar

cedar — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 05:04:27 -0800

...but they sent out a number of details to their mailing list, including ways to support them. Would it be unethical for me to post this semi-private information to Metafilter?

I know that in this case it's probably moot, but this is an interesting question.

I think that I would consider it okay to post the email if the list archives were available elsewhere. However, if the list is closed and/or the archives are available only to members I would consider it privileged and avoid^* posting it.

* Unless it was really really juicy or involved naked people.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 05:13:30 -0800

The archives are only accessible to list subscribers, but since the mailing list is free to all (and I'd be surprised if there weren't at least a couple other Mefites subscribed), that doesn't really matter (except that it means Google won't cache the details).

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 05:43:18 -0800

I would strongly advise you to consider not giving a crap and posting it anyway.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 05:44:34 -0800

I was *just* looking at this. I think it's an April's Fools joke.

By: mischief

mischief — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 06:21:56 -0800

Since we have no idea what you are talking about, you should post more details so we can make a more informed opinion.

By: rcade

rcade — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 06:42:37 -0800

A mailing list open to the public is not semi-private.

By: dabitch

dabitch — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 07:15:19 -0800

oooh.. do tell or at least hint at who it is... pleeeeez?

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 07:24:22 -0800

That would be Improv Everywhere.

By: mischief

mischief — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 07:49:47 -0800

Hmm, we are still wondering if this qualifies as "Best Of The Web".

By: papercake

papercake — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 07:54:16 -0800

Wow. I came very close to posting an FPP about that this morning but, due to post-poker-and-Jameson's fatigue, couldn't muster the energy. It never occurred to me this might be an April Fool's joke. Thanks for saving me the potential embarrassment. I'm going to go back ~~sleep~~ work now.

By: papercake

papercake — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 07:56:02 -0800

oh, and cedar: here's some naked people, or person for you. (NSFW and NSFPSOPH)

By: taz

taz — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 07:59:24 -0800

Thanks, ThePinkSuperhero.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 08:09:39 -0800

Now that I've seen it I change my vote. Don't post it.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 08:13:48 -0800

mischief: "Hmm, we are still wondering if this qualifies as "Best Of The Web"."

It's not snarks I'm afraid of.

By: mischief

mischief — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 08:44:29 -0800

If you have a link, Plutor, it is already public. If you are going to cut and paste from an email, that's different.

By: kindall

kindall — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 09:05:03 -0800

The Improv Everywhere thing is dated yesterday, which is not April 1, and their McDonald's prank has been baleeted.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 09:10:10 -0800

Yea, but they sent out the e-mail about it today, and of course they won't date it April 1- that would give it away instantly. I still don't buy it.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 10:23:03 -0800

On their site:

4/01/05
Posted by: ice ice baby
April Fools?

4/01/05
Posted by: Concerned Agent
This is no joke, guys. I saw a copy of the suit yesterday and it's definitely intimidating stuff. There's clearly NO credible basis for their allegations, but going up against a big company with deep pockets is daunting and I'm sure they think they can just scare IE into submission with the threat of long, drawn-out, expensive legal proceedings. Will we prove them wrong? I hope so!

I thought rule #1 of April Fools jokes was to never say "it's not a joke" but to remain vague instead.

BTW I'm a big fan, but I never read this mission report, nor does there seem to be a working Google cache, so does anyone have one?

For a real but of fun, check out the last comment for this mission report (the Thailand one).

By: plemeljr

plemeljr — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 10:43:09 -0800

Not to self link, but for people who want more info, go check out why McDonald's Can't Take A Joke. And I think it would have been a good post - lawsuits are part of the public record.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 10:49:23 -0800

huh. I'd say post it. It might not be a april fool's joke.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 10:50:59 -0800

Actually, wait until tomorrow. Then post it. If it's really true, it'll still be there.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 12:31:02 -0800

Improv Everywhere just sent out an e-mail saying it was all a joke. All is well. Yay.

By: mischief

mischief — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 13:01:23 -0800

The bathroom attendant was kinda cool, but as pranks go, saying they were sued for it was kind of lame. I would expect much more imagination from them than that.

By: Plutor

Plutor — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 13:26:53 -0800

Phew.

By: mds35

mds35 — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 13:50:10 -0800

It's official. It was a gag. Here's the email that IE just sent me:

"McDonald's has dropped their lawsuit against Improv Everywhere on the
grounds that today is the first of April.

Sincere thanks to those who so kindly offered to help us out by
performing, donating time, or contacting McDonald's. We don't deserve
friends like you.

We're sorry. We can't help being April Foolers."

Now I have to write to the musicians I contacted about doing the benefit. Egg on my face.

By: mds35

mds35 — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 13:51:36 -0800

Odd. I didn't see those last 3 of comments, even on preview. More egg on face.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Sat, 02 Apr 2005 09:29:39 -0800

I think that's an example of a rubbish April Fool.