ETHICS

I have considered "Ethics" the past days, and there is another point I am interested in.

• Where is the ethics in publishing references to a private email message without the author's consent?
• Where is the ethics in joining a group, taking advantage of what the group's offers and thus being trusted by a number of people, and then publishing statements criticizing the very group one is a member of?
• Where is the ethics in criticizing a group openly and then trying hard to join it in disguise?

The fact is that to do any of the above one must either be a very unethical person or a complete narcissist.

I do not mind discussing ethics with regards to zero rates at all! I do mind someone starting such a discussion using information not intended for the general public and with a cry of outrage so hypocritical that I cannot believe any grown person (or lawyer) could stand behind such a post.

If someone is against a specific group and states this position openly that is a thing I can respect. To join it, pretend to be against it, but still benefit from its offers is so much what a completely looser would do that I have great difficulty describing my disgust.

I will, in the future, consider more carefully which FlyerTalkers to email, since I would not want my personal correspondence put on display. No, I am not the author of the "300 rooms" email, and I do not want Diamond for years, I have few rooms but this should not be the issue.

While as I have stated above the discussion is interesting, the fact that it originated through current events in people's personal lives makes it less gratifying to participate. As before, some people here have difficulty starting or participating in a debate without getting personal or using personal references (or private correspondence for crying out loud). It is an invasion of privacy, purely.

I actually think the demands in the referenced message were somewhat excessive. If it really bothered me this much I might start a theoretical discussion on the ethics of $0 rates on FlyerTalk. What I would not do is start a topic in such a critical, hypocritical and narcisistic way as done here, apparently I have a decency that must be lacking in others.


[This message has been edited by Goldlust (edited 09-06-2001).]