1. What expectation of privacy did you hold when you joined the board? Was it your understanding that conversations in the Turf were confidential?
My understanding was that this board was private from casual or accidental reading. I realize that this is a closed board - for now - and that what is said now should not be spread to others. I also realize that this could be an open-to-everyone-in-the-world board very soon, in which case I must be careful what I say. I do not want to say malicious things that will hurt others - they always seem to get forwarded to the person by "helpful" individuals, even when said in a closed room. I also don't want to post things that will have to be erased before the board opens. Having experienced banning, I know that there could be a time in the future when I am, rightly or wrongly, unexpectedly prevented from accessing and erasing my posts. Better that I never post them, than that they go public and unretrievable. That is why I have not posted my address on the address thread. Who knows what hacker has that list now, or will have it in the near future. It is also why I do not post things I will not stand by in the light of day.
2. Is there a difference between cutting and pasting comments from the Turf so that non-members can read them, and simply conveying the gist of a B77 conversation to a non-member?
Yes. I have been asked point blank by TheDaimonLucifer why he was not invited, and I spoke from my knowledge of what had been told to me in both threads and emails, in very general terms, that it was because some people didn't want it, and we are a democracy. I was extremely vague, but I did say the gist "no" without the details of who didn't want him and why. That would be far different than copying and pasting his first invite thread, which by the way, I don't have access to because it is in a hidden forum or no longer exists.
3. Should there be a formal consequence for breaches of confidentiality that do not have to do with the Invite Forum? If yes, what do you think the consequence should be?
Depends on what a breach of confidentiality is. Is it a breach of confidentiality for several people to discuss on a thread here the best way to write a letter to Jonathan, and then for one of the people to write that letter? Is is a breach of confidentiality to write a parody here, then post it in TORC? Even if done in both places by the same author? Is it a breach of confidentiality to find out some information here, then post it in TORC? Can you prove that I found out here first? Posting here what IE said to me in email was a breach of confidentiality with her, according to her (though it was an official TORC message). Should I face consequences here? Quite often I show my husband (not a member of TORC or B77) some link I found here, such as a photo or trailer. I don't think I can be one hundred percent sure that I will never say to others something I heard first on B77. I fear this could be an unpleasant place to tread, if there were consequences to mete out for these actions.
4. How might we enforce confidentiality, or at least convey to all members that it is expected?
I don't think you can enforce it, any more than you can enforce any behavior, other than thru fear, intimidation, or restraint. You can convey its importance to everyone, and warn, fine, incarcerate, or banish those who breech confidentiality. But you can't guarantee that someone might say something in anger, drunkeness, or ignorance, dispite knowing the consequences.
We are posting out in the middle of the Internet, for heaven's sake. It is not nearly as secure as IM or email, and even those are not particularly secure. But you can't stop an outsider from hacking in, or pretending to sign up as a beloved fellow TORCer. And there is no way to enforce confidentiality on one who is here by deceitful means.
We can tell all members that it is expected. But that is all we can do. Perhaps people should be encouraged to take "private" gossip - anything intended to hurt a particular person or her/his friends - to PM. "Breach of Confidentiality" must be defined carefully, and it's reason for avoiding explained, if you want people to follow suit.
5. Should we actively seek to discover who has breached the confidentiality of the board so far?
No. The cat is already out of the bag. What can you hope to accomplish? Witch hunts would not increase my sense of security here.
By the way, I have mentioned several cases which could be taken by some as breaches of confidentiality, but by me as not breaches of confidentiality. So there is no reason to hunt me down, I am right here, if you choose to define me as in need of consequences.
Sorry if I sound antagonistic. But if we would all refrain from bashing people behind their backs, this kind of thing wouldn't be happening now.
Some smilies to let you know I am not trying to hurt anyone's feelings: