Members of the service must not publish other people’s private and confidential information – such as credit card numbers or home address – without their express permission.''
Now, that rule is a sensible one, but in general, I am amazed at the great numbers of people who happily comply with every arbitrary, and in some cases unconstitutional rule that is laid down by anyone who holds authority. Case in point: when the new airport security rules were announced, there was a great deal of grumbling in some quarters, but when the time came, people went quietly. Air travel was enough of a convenience or simply a habit that they chose to be subjected to assaults on their dignity, privacy, and their persons in order to be allowed the 'privilege' of flying.
Similarly with the social media; I see few people willing to give up Twitter or Facebook, though the PC thought police are becoming more overbearing.
Now Debrett's gets into the act, telling us how to act and communicate online. Really, just as with real-life etiquette -- does anybody heed that anymore? -- it should be a matter of common sense, but as the saying goes, nowadays common sense is anything but.
Yes, there are some very bad manners displayed online, not only on the 'social media' but everywhere. You Tube is one of the most uncivil and totalitarian places of all --partly because of 'democratic censorship' from liberals who act as freelance censors and PC enforcers. Forums and blogs have long been plagued by trolls, provocateurs, and just plain ignorant and obnoxious people who delight in disrupting others' discussions.
However, it is an overreaction to call the law on someone who writes rude or malicious things to others on the Internet. Unless there is reason to believe that the person presents an actual threat, there are other ways to deal with bad behavior and ill-mannered communications online. There is too much tolerance for disruptive and annoying people; the bad drives out the good, and makes the Internet a jungle at times.
But don't make rudeness a 'crime.' There's no need to bring in draconian speech laws. Let's not give up our freedoms so easily.
