Advice - A little caution on discussion lists

This is good advice on any fan-type list. It was written for the NativeCelebs discussion list, a list that is very low on gushing generally.

Written by Sandy Sunderland:

It's not really the "gushing" over the celebs that concerns me but the tone of some posts. We tend to think of ourselves as a group of friends with like interests and we sometimes chat in that manner but there is a standing rule of e-mail which should be remembered. 

"Never put anything in an e-mail that you would not want to be seen on the front page of the New York Times." 

Even though we do not have archives, I have seen e-mails come back to haunt people from other lists. Remember that what is said about a celeb may someday be read by media people, potential employers, their family members, future spouses, ex-spouses, children, and who knows who else. Once something is sent out on- line it is out there. That is why you are advised not to put out credit card numbers of other personal information. 

So when the gushing is done on a respectful level it won't ever be harmful. If is starts to get a little down and dirty or even risque, it may possibly create a problem. And if someone reads a post out of context they may not realize that the writers were joking around.