As I understood it, the request was from the founder of FCC who presumably doesn't want the drama.

I get his concern, but as someone uninvolved in FCC but who does read Medium I'm glad to see this sort of thing out in the open.

I get his concern as well, but at the same time... why would ANYONE share something you might regret (like on this case) if the content is made public?

For sensitive communications within a organization, generally it's implied that the contents are secret and shouldn't be disclosed.

In this case, the communications aren't sensitive (not even a "keep this on the down low" caveat), and the recipients of the email generally aren't in the organization (it was sent to "a few of our other authors", using the royal "our").

you've never told someone something in confidence?

Yes, because telling someone something in confidence is the same as sending a fucking email. You are reaaaaaaaally making an effort to look obtuse.

It's probably because they're afraid of even more frivolous lawsuits coming from Medium.