The Importance of Being Honest

At Maven, we believe that everybody knows something.  Whether you are using Maven to network with others, or to microconsult, or to look for a job, everyone has a reason to be on Maven.  That’s one reason why, generally speaking, we do not ban individuals from our network because of their disciplinary history.  We do not condone driving while intoxicated – but we don’t believe a conviction for that offense is relevant to your ability to discuss, say, chocolate manufacturing.  Nor do we believe in gratuitous punishment.  If a person has a criminal past but has paid his or her debt to society and changed behavior, then the system has worked.  Ostracizing that person from productive work for the rest of his or her life does no one any good and is not the hallmark of a civilized society.

Moreover, some individuals with a dubious past can provide rich contributions on Maven.  A convicted hacker might be the best consultant on internet security matters.  A convicted capo could provide great material for a book on the mafia.

That said, some customers of Maven are subject to regulatory or other restrictions that make certain interactions inadvisable.  For instance, an institutional investor may be prohibited from interacting with anyone with a past involving securities law violations.  That’s why during registration we ask about your disciplinary history.  We promise to keep it confidential, but we need to know.  Maven strives to provide all of its users with the interactions that are most appropriate for their situation.  But we cannot safeguard the Maven platform unless you are completely honest with us.

THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE… and make Maven work better for everyone.