AICHE emails

October 25, 2020

From the AICHE Code of Conduct (discussion rules),

AIChE reserves the right to remove any content we deem inappropriate for use in the community, and/or to revoke any member's access to the community at any time and for any reason.

We support that right, but believe that it should be exercised ethically, and should not be used to discriminate against those expressing opinions that are counter to AICHE policies.

AICHE moderators placed Brian Coats under moderation, and the AICHE CEO suspended Brian Coats from discussions for 2 months for violating discussion rules.  Emails are below.

On October 22, 2020, Brian Coats received an email from the AICHE CEO claiming:

The posts you have submitted for review continue to negatively impact the Engage community and degrade other AIChE members and their opinions and professional backgrounds, show unwillingness to consider other points of view to the point of contention and lack reputable, external resources.

As such, effective immediately AIChE will deactivate your AIChE Engage account for a period of three months.  We will reactivate your account on January 22, 2021, as long as you agree to adhere to the AIChE Engage Code of Conduct. 

Brian Responded:

From: Brian Coats [mailto:bkcoats@coatsengineering.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2020 4:15 PM
To: <AICHE CEO>
Subject: RE: Engage

Dear ***,

Those who have been complaining and flagging my posts are violating those discussion rules and others and our ethical codes.  I have certainly not violated Number 5 and others are violating Number 4 and Number 3.  This is a technical debate and I have not violated any of those rules.  Please see the many personal attacks against me, particularly in the discussion on diversity, in which was called racist and a bigot.  Your claim of negative impact is seemingly based on the fact that I have proven that the AICHE policy on climate change is wrong and incompetent and is causing great harm to science and engineering and our economies and the environment, wasting trillions of dollars of the people’s money all over the world, amongst other issues that I have demonstrated that seem to be counter to AICHE policy.  This (wasting of the people’s money) is actually a crime in the US and in most countries.  AICHE support of it and other issues on which I’ve commented are obviously the reason for your unethical censorship of my comments.  You are censoring my posts and protecting fraudulence.

Regards,

Brian Coats

3. Be honest, be yourself. The community is intended for the helpful exchange of information between members. False, inaccurate, or otherwise misleading information is not helpful. Please be sincere in your community participation by only contributing content you know is accurate.

4. Keep it clean, keep it friendly. Every post should make a positive contribution. The community is open to all points of view on the intended topics; mature, polite debate is encouraged. Attacks or cyber-bullying will not be tolerated. The community is meant to stimulate conversation and trigger the exchange of information (technical, career-related) not to create contention. Contradictory opinions are of course welcomed, but should always be thoughtful and respectful, rather than emotional, impulsive or anger-driven.

5. Keep it about Chemical Engineering. AIChE Engage is a place to discuss chemical engineering, its related disciplines, professional development and education. It is not a discussion forum for politics or religion. When citing sources with respect to chemical engineering, use only technically reputable sources.
 

“By posting material, the posting party warrants and represents that he or she owns the copyright with respect to such material or has received permission from the copyright owner. In addition, the posting party grants AIChE and users of this site the nonexclusive right and license to display, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, print, and use such information or other material.”

Brian was placed under moderation by AICHE employees on October 15, 2020:

From: ***** [mailto:*****@aiche.org]
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 3:57 PM
To: Brian Coats
Subject: [SPAM] RE: moderation

Hi Brian,

Thanks for your response and suggestions.  AIChE Engage discussion forums are intended for professional, polite, chemical engineering-related discussions.  The current discussion threads have created contention rather than being thoughtful and respectful of fellow chemical engineers in the community. They have turned to personal criticism rather than discussing the science and providing technically reputable evidence behind opinions on the topics at hand.

Every post on AIChE Engage should make a positive contribution and foster knowledge sharing in an environment accepting of all viewpoints.

Please continue to post to AIChE Engage discussions.  They will simply go through our moderation process before being posted to the community. (Note that posts will be moved through the process during business hours only.)  We appreciate you reviewing the AIChE Engage Code of Conduct and look forward to your thoughtful contributions to the community.

*****

Senior Membership Associate

AIChE

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From: Brian Coats [mailto:bkcoats@coatsengineering.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 12:06 PM
To: ***** <*****@aiche.org>
Subject: moderation

*****,

Many are sending me emails supporting me and my arguments but don’t make any public comments.  Those who have been proven wrong are flagging me and trying to get me censored, successfully.  Those people are violating the rules and ethics by making false claims and statements for which they have no qualifications and by refusing to disclose them and their business interests.  These things are flagrant violations.

I’ve made 5 or so posts since yesterday evening but they haven’t appeared yet.  Is there a problem with them?

...

Thank you,

Brian