Hi all, a friend and fellow PhD, Tutku Aydin, has asked to pass this question to you. if you have responses for her could you send them directly to tutku.aydin@utoronto.ca. In particular, if any of Barry's students have had to deal with these issues in the context of UofT's "ethics review" requirement, i assume that'd be particularly helpful for her. thanks, reuven <begin pasted section> My research involves transnational ethnic identity formation through the discursive interactions over the internet. What is the standard related to quoting people in a chatroom or in a discussion list on the internet? When you become a member of the list should you identify yourself as an observer of the list? Should you ask for informed consent of the people with a letter if you are quoting, or paraphrasing people? Or are these chat or discussion environments are considered public billboards and people should be aware that they can be quoted when writing to those places? Is it ok to quote people or paraphrase people by using (double)pseudonyms so that they cannot be easily identifiable? <end pasted section> Reuven Shlozberg Political Science University of Toronto -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Or how I learned to stop worrying and love email again