APA Webpage

Dear Bill Mann,

I am writing to express some concern about your note on the APA's webpage explaining why you have removed the link to the APA Governance blog.  Your note states that some members have complained that it "contains inappropriate material."  I'm not sure what "material" some members find inappropriate, but I've expanded the "about" section of the blog to explain why it is appropriate to publicly discuss the public actions and statements of leaders of large organizations. I am concerned that, rather than responding to statements with which they disagree in a forum of their choice or on the APA Governance blog, some APA members prefer to keep other members from knowing about a blog generated by the concerns of several hundred petition signers and members of the organization.  Also, I am concerned that, rather than responding by defending the right of members to criticize improper or "inappropriate" actions by APA officers or by facilitating dialog among opposing perspectives, you have responded by giving in to unwarranted fears or threats about the APA's "liability" for perfectly legitimate political speech.

Laurie Shrage, Professor, Philosophy Department, California State Polytechnic University

Comments

[apa]

To repeat the announcement that is posted on the APA home page: the link to your blog was removed because of members' complaints that it contained material that was inappropriate. It is not my function, nor the function of any other APA officer, to judge the issue. In the absence of a policy concerning the APA's liability in such matters, the link was removed. Until such a policy is in place, neither your nor anyone else's blog will have a link from the APA web site.

--
William E. Mann
Acting Executive Director, American Philosophical Association
Marsh Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy
Department of Philosophy
University of Vermont
70 South Williams Street
Burlington, VT 05401

[Laurie Shrage]

Thank you for replying to my email. I disagree with your reasoning below though. I think it is your responsibility to investigate and judge whether there is inappropriate material. But to remove it merely because of an unsubstantiated complaint is to abdicate your responsibility to make fair and informed decisions in the best interest of the APA. "Inappropriate material" to me would be claims that are known to be false, claims that intrude upon the privacy of APA members, or some such material. Alternatively, if you feel that linking only my blog on the APA homepage gives it disproportionate attention, then that's fine (and I would agree with that judgment). But then the appropriate response should be to link other blogs along with mine somewhere on the APA page. What I find troubling, as an APA member, is that your action chills and inhibits dissent and suggests that the actions of APA officers are above public criticism (which is what is on my blog). Respectfully, Laurie Shrage