I think that's a very bad idea. While Jim might have to honor a warrant or subpoena for the information, it would be a very bad precedent to offer the information without one.
There are plenty of folks here who would take it unkindly if their identities were offered to government agencies.
I suspect Jim Robinson has no intention of offering up this information.
I agree with your sentiments. No reason to offer the information without being subpoenaed(sp?). Why set the precedent? Who knows who'll be coming along trolling for information after that.
I agree with you. But I am inclined to leave it up to Jim Robinson what he should do about releasing the name in the case of an obvious troll and agent provocateur like MD4BUSH, who signed up on FR with the apparent intention of abusing the site and abusing other members. Indeed, he violated a private confidence when he apparently gave private Freepmails to the Washington Post, which were then used in an effort to falsely smear Governor Erlich, thus unjustly forcing a good man--and fellow freeper--to resign his post.
I remember Jim saying, many years ago, that the identities of Freepers would only be pried from his proverbial cold dead fingers. I have trusted him ever since to preserve our confidences. But I don't see why Jim should risk sacrificing himself on behalf of someone who appears to be an agent of the enemy, and who appears to have signed up under false pretences with the intention of booby trapping and injuring other freepers and damaging the reputation of FreeRepublic.
Identities of Freepers or banned Freepers should not be revealed in the case of ordinary disputes and fallings out, no matter how bad their behavior. If they wish to reveal their identities, that's another matter. But deliberate, premeditated, and malicious actions such as MD4BUSH appears to have indulged in from the moment he first signed up fall into a different category.
That's Jim's decision to make, as far as I'm concerned.
Exactly!
FreeRepublic has a published privacy policy.
Jervis Finney will have to employ subpoena powers to obtain infromation.
Jim Robinson is probably last on his list of people he wants to talk with. Jervis wants everyone else to provide an answer first.