Is this ethical and/or legal?

April 1, 2005 4:57 AM

I have prepared an FPP about an organization that was recently the subject of a couple Internet memes (and Metafilter threads) that is now being sued by a major international corporation as a result of one of their pranks. Their web site is vague and asks people not to post rumors, but they sent out a number of details to their mailing list, including ways to support them. Would it be unethical for me to post this semi-private information to Metafilter? Could I get them in more trouble with this lawsuit? Half of me feels that Mefites might be willing to contribute to the cause, but the other half wants to be extremely careful.
posted by Plutor to Etiquette/Policy at 4:57 AM (28 comments total)

Crap, as soon as I posted this, I noticed the date. I am almost certainly the victim of an April Fools joke. I will wait until tomorrow. If the joke has not been revealed, I will (maybe) post the FPP then.

Sigh.
posted by Plutor at 4:59 AM on April 1, 2005

...but they sent out a number of details to their mailing list, including ways to support them. Would it be unethical for me to post this semi-private information to Metafilter?

I know that in this case it's probably moot, but this is an interesting question.

I think that I would consider it okay to post the email if the list archives were available elsewhere. However, if the list is closed and/or the archives are available only to members I would consider it privileged and avoid^* posting it.

* Unless it was really really juicy or involved naked people.
posted by cedar at 5:04 AM on April 1, 2005

The archives are only accessible to list subscribers, but since the mailing list is free to all (and I'd be surprised if there weren't at least a couple other Mefites subscribed), that doesn't really matter (except that it means Google won't cache the details).
posted by Plutor at 5:13 AM on April 1, 2005

I would strongly advise you to consider not giving a crap and posting it anyway.
posted by nthdegx at 5:43 AM on April 1, 2005

I was *just* looking at this. I think it's an April's Fools joke.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:44 AM on April 1, 2005 [1 favorite]

Since we have no idea what you are talking about, you should post more details so we can make a more informed opinion.
posted by mischief at 6:21 AM on April 1, 2005

A mailing list open to the public is not semi-private.
posted by rcade at 6:42 AM on April 1, 2005

oooh.. do tell or at least hint at who it is... pleeeeez?
posted by dabitch at 7:15 AM on April 1, 2005

That would be Improv Everywhere.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:24 AM on April 1, 2005 [1 favorite]

Hmm, we are still wondering if this qualifies as "Best Of The Web".
posted by mischief at 7:49 AM on April 1, 2005

Wow. I came very close to posting an FPP about that this morning but, due to post-poker-and-Jameson's fatigue, couldn't muster the energy. It never occurred to me this might be an April Fool's joke. Thanks for saving me the potential embarrassment. I'm going to go back sleep work now.
posted by papercake at 7:54 AM on April 1, 2005

oh, and cedar: here's some naked people, or person for you. (NSFW and NSFPSOPH)
posted by papercake at 7:56 AM on April 1, 2005

Thanks, ThePinkSuperhero.
posted by taz at 7:59 AM on April 1, 2005

Now that I've seen it I change my vote. Don't post it.
posted by nthdegx at 8:09 AM on April 1, 2005

mischief: "Hmm, we are still wondering if this qualifies as "Best Of The Web"."

It's not snarks I'm afraid of.
posted by Plutor at 8:13 AM on April 1, 2005

If you have a link, Plutor, it is already public. If you are going to cut and paste from an email, that's different.
posted by mischief at 8:44 AM on April 1, 2005

The Improv Everywhere thing is dated yesterday, which is not April 1, and their McDonald's prank has been baleeted.
posted by kindall at 9:05 AM on April 1, 2005

Yea, but they sent out the e-mail about it today, and of course they won't date it April 1- that would give it away instantly. I still don't buy it.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:10 AM on April 1, 2005 [1 favorite]

On their site:

4/01/05
Posted by: ice ice baby
April Fools?

4/01/05
Posted by: Concerned Agent
This is no joke, guys. I saw a copy of the suit yesterday and it's definitely intimidating stuff. There's clearly NO credible basis for their allegations, but going up against a big company with deep pockets is daunting and I'm sure they think they can just scare IE into submission with the threat of long, drawn-out, expensive legal proceedings. Will we prove them wrong? I hope so!

I thought rule #1 of April Fools jokes was to never say "it's not a joke" but to remain vague instead.

BTW I'm a big fan, but I never read this mission report, nor does there seem to be a working Google cache, so does anyone have one?

For a real but of fun, check out the last comment for this mission report (the Thailand one).
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 10:23 AM on April 1, 2005

Not to self link, but for people who want more info, go check out why McDonald's Can't Take A Joke. And I think it would have been a good post - lawsuits are part of the public record.
posted by plemeljr at 10:43 AM on April 1, 2005

huh. I'd say post it. It might not be a april fool's joke.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:49 AM on April 1, 2005

Actually, wait until tomorrow. Then post it. If it's really true, it'll still be there.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:50 AM on April 1, 2005

Improv Everywhere just sent out an e-mail saying it was all a joke. All is well. Yay.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:31 PM on April 1, 2005 [1 favorite]

The bathroom attendant was kinda cool, but as pranks go, saying they were sued for it was kind of lame. I would expect much more imagination from them than that.
posted by mischief at 1:01 PM on April 1, 2005

Phew.
posted by Plutor at 1:26 PM on April 1, 2005

It's official. It was a gag. Here's the email that IE just sent me:

"McDonald's has dropped their lawsuit against Improv Everywhere on the
grounds that today is the first of April.

Sincere thanks to those who so kindly offered to help us out by
performing, donating time, or contacting McDonald's. We don't deserve
friends like you.

We're sorry. We can't help being April Foolers."

Now I have to write to the musicians I contacted about doing the benefit. Egg on my face.
posted by mds35 at 1:50 PM on April 1, 2005

Odd. I didn't see those last 3 of comments, even on preview. More egg on face.
posted by mds35 at 1:51 PM on April 1, 2005

I think that's an example of a rubbish April Fool.
posted by nthdegx at 9:29 AM on April 2, 2005