This is the complete email correspondence referenced in this opinion piece of mine. I’ll update it as new emails are posted.
Before you go on to read it, I want to say this:
- Open discussion of issues is essential for the health of any community.
- It’s equally important for that discussion to be free of personal rancor.
- These two principles are NOT incompatible.
- It’s totally possible to focus on actions you disagree with or even find unethical without being uncivil.
- However, claims of “incivility” must not be allowed to serve as a shield against disagreement or dissent. It is not uncivil in itself to disagree. It is not uncivil in itself to assert that wrongs have been committed.
- Respecting both principles is the best way to true collaboration and accountability.
I’ve exported the email thread from my Gmail account as a single PDF. If anybody wishes, I’m also still happy to show you the conversation in Gmail. You can open the PDF through this link.
I’m sorry it’s come to this.