Ethics Thread.

Q: What is interesting to me, is how this thread points out that when you make something public, although you may have followed all of the legal rules and used your personal integrity to give credit as you feel appropriate, someone else is bound to disagree (you maybe lucky enough not to hear from them though).

A: I'm thinking about using this thread in my freshman writing class on argument (I teach English at the 'U. of New Orleans' by day, and make lampworked beads and teach classes in beadmaking at the 'New Orleans School of Glasswork' by night) to show how an argument can degenerate into an ad hominum attack when the argument itself is weak. My reading of this discussion, and I admit that I'm looking at this academically, is that because most the responders don't know enough about copyright law to really address it in a meaningful way (and I know I don't!), the only recourse is to shift the discussion away from the issue to something else, which in this case is an attack on Lara for raising the issue in the first place. It's an absolutely textbook example, and a real shame to see it occur in a forum that is usually so friendly and helpful. I really wanted to stay out of this thread, I've been reading, but previously I haven't felt any urge to respond. I guess just the thought of the apparent bitterness resurfacing continually has gotten to me. I am weary of it... I see no need of lashing out at others,and please, I'm not accusing anyone of this, okay? I think comunication via the Internet, is much more difficult than actual listening and talking, because you can read and reply almost immediately but you cannot hear inflections in the voice, or others can't hear yours. It can be a real challenge. Legitimate issues can be discussed here in a professional manner, and that is definitely the norm from what I've seen, but just my two-cents worth: Our reactions to certain things strike emotions, that's natural, but once you hit the [Send] button, that's it! Someone is going to react to whatever you said. I may be wrong, but it seemed to me that it wasn't the issue that caused the furor, but what many perceived as an attack on the ethics of 'Suzanne Cooper', who is respected (and in some cases adored) in beading circles around the country. Many who would not otherwise have entered the thread, posted in defense of 'Ms. Cooper'.