diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | app/views/help/about.rhtml | 65 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | app/views/request/new.rhtml | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | app/views/user/_signup.rhtml | 6 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | todo.txt | 17 |
4 files changed, 45 insertions, 45 deletions
diff --git a/app/views/help/about.rhtml b/app/views/help/about.rhtml index 5e5857b14..5ea001905 100644 --- a/app/views/help/about.rhtml +++ b/app/views/help/about.rhtml @@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ then read our page '<a href="/help/unhappy">Unhappy about the response you got?< pages on the Information Commisioner's website.</p> <p>If you're requesting information from a Scottish public authority, -the process is very similar. Notable differences are around time -limits for compliance and <a href="#real_name">pseudonyms</a>. +the process is very similar. There are differences around time +limits for compliance. See the <a href="http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=1858&sID=321">Scottish Information Commissioner's guidance</a> for details.</p> </dd> @@ -164,39 +164,52 @@ sell your email addresses to anyone else, unless we are obliged to by law, or you ask us to. </dd> -<dt id="public_request">Why will my name appear publicly on the site? <a href="#public_request">#</a> </dt> +<dt id="public_request">Why will my name and my request appear publicly on the site? <a href="#public_request">#</a> </dt> -<dd>It means that someone researching the same area can get in touch with you, -and maybe give you more information or ideas relating to your request. Also, -we're going to publish the response with the name of the civil servant who -wrote it, so it seems only fair that your name should be public too! -Therefore, we encourage you to use your real name, but you may use a pseudonym -if you would like to be anonymous. +<dd> +<p>We publish your request on the Internet so that anybody can read it and +make use of the information that you have found. +</p> +<p> +Your name is tangled up with your request, so has to be published as well. +It is only fair, as we're going to publish the name of the civil servant who +writes the response to your request. Using your real name also helps people +get in touch with you to assist you with your research or to campaign with you. +</p> +<p>By law, you must use your real name for the request to be a valid Freedom of +Information request. See the next question for alternatives if you do not want +to publish your full name. +</p> </dd> -<dt id="real_name">So I can make an FOI request using a pseudonym? <a href="#real_name">#</a> </dt> +<dt id="real_name">Can I make an FOI request using a pseudonym? <a href="#real_name">#</a> </dt> -<dd><p> -It is good practice for the public authority to reply to an anonymous request, -except in special circumstances such as if they suspect you of making vexatious -requests. See <a href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/detailed_specialist_guides/motive_blind_v1.0_25_10_071.pdf">Freedom of Information Good Practice Guidance No 6</a> -for details. You should refer to this if a public authority attempts to refuse -a request because you used a pseudonym. -</p> -<p>However, there are good reasons to use your real name: see the previous -question. If nothing else, it avoids the risk of an authority being picky, -ignoring the guidance and refusing your request. +<dd> +<p>Technically, you must use your real name for your request to be a valid Freedom of Information request in law. See this +<a href="http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/detailed_specialist_guides/name_of_applicant_fop083_v1.pdf">guidance from the Information Commissioner</a> (January 2009). </p> -<p>For requests to Scottish public authorities you should ideally provide a -real name, especially if you forsee the possibility of complaining later to the -Scottish Information Commissioner - based on -<a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/advice_on_pseudonyms">legal advice</a> -they received in 2005, they will not accept complaints where they find out that -the request was originally made under a pseudonym. +<p>However, the same guidance also says it is good practice for the public +authority to still respond to a request made using an obvious pseudonym. +You should refer to this if a public authority refuses a request because you +used a pseudonym.</p> + +<p>Be careful though, even if the authority follows this good practice, the +pseudonym will probably make it impossible for you to complain to the +Information Commisioner later about the handling of your request. </p> +<p>There are several good alternatives to using a pseudonym. +<ul> +<li>Make the request using a different form of your name. The guidance says +that "Mr Arthur Thomas Roberts" can make a valid request as "Arthur Roberts", +"A. T. Roberts", or "Mr Roberts", but not as "Arthur" or "A.T.R.".</li> +<li>Make the request using the name of a company, the trading name of a company, +or the trading name of a sole trader. +<li>Ask someone else to make the request on your behalf.</li> +</ul> + </dd> <dt id="full_address">They've asked for my postal address! <a href="#full_address">#</a> </dt> diff --git a/app/views/request/new.rhtml b/app/views/request/new.rhtml index a8499b182..2ff56e62a 100644 --- a/app/views/request/new.rhtml +++ b/app/views/request/new.rhtml @@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ Everything that you enter on this page, including <strong>your name</strong>, will be <strong>displayed publicly</strong> on this website (<a href="/help/about/#public_request">why?</a>). - If you would like to use a pseudonym, + If you are thinking of using a pseudonym, please <a href="/help/about/#real_name">read this first</a>. </p> <% else %> diff --git a/app/views/user/_signup.rhtml b/app/views/user/_signup.rhtml index 7f03077bd..2fa6dbf77 100644 --- a/app/views/user/_signup.rhtml +++ b/app/views/user/_signup.rhtml @@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ <div class="form_item_note"> Your <strong>name will appear publicly</strong> (<a href="/help/about/#public_request">why?</a>) - on this website and in search engines. We encourage you - to use your real name, but you may use a - pseudonym if you <a href="/help/about/#real_name">read this first</a>. + on this website and in search engines. If you + are thinking of using a pseudonym, please + <a href="/help/about/#real_name">read this first</a>. </div> <p> @@ -121,9 +121,6 @@ http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/policy_regarding_body_scans#incoming-1100 Show similar requests after you have filed yours - maybe on preview too. -Consider putting the request email address in footer? So when -forwarded about, address sticks there. - Knackered view as HTML: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/statistics_for_allocation_of_dut#incoming-4793 http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/post_lawrence_report_diversity_t_7#incoming-5483 @@ -202,18 +199,6 @@ Something to check which tags are used but aren't in PublicBody category lists When described state is edited in admin interface, automatically reset the flag for needs classification. -Public body tags should perhaps be forced to be lowercase only :) - -In sidebar of request - Share this request on Facebook, by email etc. - Try using James Smith's plugin for this: http://github.com/Floppy/rubymarks/tree/master - Email icon here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/video/2008/apr/03/mugabe - Simple Digg style "I like this request" button -(Hmm, I'm not sure requests in and of themselves are popular enough things for this -to matter to be honest, but maybe I'm wrong) - -Show list of popular tracks somewhere (finds most popular requests in a way) - Advertise WDTK search queries on TWFY Advertise alerts on end pages with WDTK @@ -259,6 +244,7 @@ Interface for when you change your email address - easier to do now with post_re Tell application developer if working days table not up to date, and needs updating +Make text boxes autogrow as you type into them. (10:32:14) richard: you just need to count the number of rows of text and compare it to the number of rows in the textbox (10:32:29) richard: then increase the height of the textbox by 1em-ish (10:32:52) Matthew: their function is called autogrow_textarea() by the way, if you just want to look at it... @@ -331,6 +317,7 @@ Render HTML alternative rather than text (so tables look good) e.g.: And indeed so links work: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/recycling_levels_in_the_winchest + Larger new features ------------------- |