Posted by Lester M. Levy on March 21, 1999 at 19:22:48:
In Reply to: chats posted by AJ on March 21, 1999 at 03:45:16:
: These chats are a very valuable source of information thanks to the cooperation of many independent experts, who devote a lot of time and energy to answering questions and posing new and interesting questions themselves.
: However, indirectly the cooperation of these experts lends prestige and credibility to a commercial site, helping it to attract new customers.
: Wouldn't it be more ethical for these experts to chat at a non-commercial site?
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AJ declares that he or she finds these chats very useful, but suggests that the ethics of the contributors are somehow deficient because they indirectly enhance the commercial sponsor who owns the web site.
The kindest interpretation would be that AJ possesses a fine ethical sense which all the others have somehow overlooked. My take is that this implies a stereotypical bias (usually called prejudice) rather
than a willingness to examine each situation with its own unique set of parameters.
Is the chat site useful? Clearly, the answer is yes, as even AJ acknowledges. Since participation is absolutely voluntary, all the readers and writers must find this true equally.
Has Shogun interfered with the free expression? Clearly, the rules are directed to keeping this site free of self-serving, commercial interest. The one quoted episode of mild censorship was directed at
preventing an attack and request for boycott on print dealers generically.
Is Shogun unfairly benefiting from this chat group? If we feel more kindly toward Shogun because of its sponsorship, that is an attitude only each one of us can engender in ourselves. If any enterprise,
commercial, non-profit or government performs a good deed, then they should receive credit.
Lester M. Levy