Date: Mon, 02 May 2005 14:15:34 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Re" Phone Numbers
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 12:23 PM 5/2/05 -0500, samlubell at verizon.net wrote:
>>From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>

>>Google (and Yahoo and 411.com, etc.) can only get what the phone company,
>>or others, publish.  At the moment it only turns up my work phone number.

>Except that each of the many many phone number services on the web do not
have to contact each individual whose number they list to get permission.

No, because they list numbers that are already in the phone book, which
implies that the person doesn't mind having their phone number publicly
available.  Mine doesn't show up on those services because it isn't
published by the phone company, at my request.

>When you choose to have your number unlisted by your phone company, is
this a service they provide (and charge extra for) or a right you invoke?

It's a service they provide and charge extra for.  To ignore the obvious
wishes of WSFAns who use this service, and publish the information anyway
would just be extremely rude and divisive...unless the other legal issues I
suggested are valid, in which case it would also be along the lines of
"actions inimical to WSFA" as it would expose WSFA to unnecessary risk of
harm.

Again I ask: what is the benefit to WSFA of publishing this particular
information?  If there is no benefit, and there is harm or even potential
harm, it shouldn't be done.  If there is benefit, then it should exceed the
potential harm or, again, we shouldn't be doing it.

-- Mike B.
--
In all trust, there is the possibility of betrayal.