Fair enough question and i would have to agree with your specific example, though when you say "use one of your examples..." you might actually be more correct in saying using one of "our" examples since Mr. Bush is all of ours (Americans) President, including yours (OK, so i know this will be a new thread on OMNI...!).
Another example which has happened in the past is when a member owns or has part in another business outside of their participation on FlyerTalk. For example, it is well known that the owner of BiddingForTravel.com is also a member of FlyerTalk. From time to time, FlyerTalk members flame her as an owner of that Web site. I try to drawn a difference in that they are not (and i will try and make sure it is not happening) criticizing her as a member of FlyerTalk, but rather as the owner of BiddingForTravel.com. And it's one of those situations that Sheryl and I disagree with when i would not edit a critique of BFT related to her in the role of owning that Web site.
When those situations happen, it's not so much FlyerTalk as it is the nature of the Internet. As long as you and I and our members make it clear that there can be a difference in which we cast comments related to a member, any member, including me, then we should be fine. There are instances on FlyerTalk where members has dissed me for certain decisions I've made regarding FlyerTalk. As long as it was in context of a decision i made as the founder/owner of FlyerTalk, then i really can't be an exception to the general rule on the Internet. But if they were to flame me as a member, then that's where the TOS comes in.
Is this what you needed to clarify?
Randy
Originally Posted by
Mary2e
Something interesting just came up about public people who may be also be FT members.
We all know that insulting/speaking badly of another FT by using his handle is a TOS violation.
What of a public person who is registerd on FT but not with his public name?
In other words, and to use one of your examples, if George Bush registered on FT as georgie, we couldn't say anything negative about georgie, but George Bush is still fair game. Correct?
I'm asking because handles are just that, and anyone can call themselves anything and there's really no way to check. Georgie can say he's George Bush, but this is still an anonymous handle.