Posting guideline - remember to avoid personal accusations!

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I have been asked to modify a post which is alleged to make an "accusation" against someone who doesn't post regularly here, but who reads the forum (I think) avidly. It has been made very clear to me that and steps I can take to avoid such accusations appearing in the future would be appreciated.

It's all too easy to write words which can be regarded as critical and indeed we do so of things like the fare systems, timetables and other decisions made. Rightfully discussed. However, where such criticisms drift into becoming personal rather than systemic, we're into a new field. If an individual can be identified (or thinks he / she can be) and is critisized (or thinks that a post is critical), he / she can be upset. And that upset can be magnified if the individual regards the criticism as being out of order.

So .. some points

1. I have modified the post that was reported to ensure that it now shows text acceptable to the person who felt that he/she was being accused.  We usually ask (and wait for) posters to make changes if that's desired, but in this type of circumstance we are required to take action as soon as we become aware of the situation.  I have a copy of the original post, and if after review our moderator team feels that the original should be restored, that can be done.

2. If you're going to make a negative accusation, you need to be able to back it up and provide evidence. And you are responsible for your own posts and could (in theory) find yourself in very hot water indeed - far beyond this forum - if you can't.

3. The operators of this forum have limited time and resources (and better things to do) than to police / get caught up in what are regarded as personal accusations.  Quite apart from a desire to be nice and polite to everyone and make this a friendly place, this is another reason that our forum agreement has a "no personal attacks" clause.  I'm afraid it really doesn't matter if accusations are false or not - that's irrelavant to the need for us to take a pragmatic view.   We simply don't have a legal team or budget of the sort that some of the more combatative newspapers have. 

Please don't post things that can be regarded as personal accusations ... as the implicatons / effects can go very much beyond the board. That applies even if your comment is within a post which is otherwise completely positive to everyone, including the person who may feel accused by just a handful of words.

One particular poster may be wondering this morning "why did he pick on MY post ... what's worse than things I have seen here in the past?".   Nothing's worse (though th epast things have been cleaned up as notified) - it's just that you've unfortunately happened to be the unlucky one to strike a particularly sensitive spot at a particularly inopportune time. And in that circumstance, these words are sufficient action on the part of the forum and we'll not be taking it furthre in any way. You were just darned unlucky.

[GBM]

Guidance please from employees within the industry.
I've been reading this forum for many years as a guest.
A few posts really made me want to reply, but didn't want to without permission from my employer.
Emailed HR^▸ (Human Resources) with a  note to say I would like to post as a (bus) driver and am old enough to know slander, etc. and would try and post neutrally but factually.
I received no reply, so a few months later, started posting.
Should I mail HR with my user name & make them aware, & keep posting as and when?  They are notorious for not replying unless pushed hard.
Do current posting employees make their HR aware of their forum user name & posts?
I want to be as honest as possible.

[Phil]

I would say that so long as you have retained evidence that you notified them, and have copied your immediate manager or appropriate next-in-line with that notification, then you may post here in the same exemplary fashion shown to date with a completely clear conscience.

In the very unlikely event that something untoward happens in future you then at least have evidence that you have made every possible effort of informing the appropriate authorities. I don't believe it's necessary to wait for the green light from them to proceed, or indeed practical for them to respond to every piece of information received from their employees. It is however incumbent on them to record that information, and if they choose not to then quite frankly that's their problem not yours.

[TonyK]

It is a matter for your company to decide. Their policy may not preclude you from posting, or may even positively encourage you to do so - look at Ollie's often revelatory posts from the beating heart of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) as an example. Criticism of one's employer or customers will inevitably result in one being carpeted. I am not involved in the public transport sector in any capacity other than passenger, which gives me the freedom to say what I want.