Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!emory!hubcap!ncrcae!ncrlnk!ncrwic!qa1!mlawless
From: mlawless@qa1.Wichita.NCR.COM (Mike Lawless)
Newsgroups: ncr.misc,comp.sys.ncr
Subject: Re: Survey regarding Planned Parenthood corporate support
Summary: Apology for inappropriate cross-posting
Keywords: NCR, Planned Parenthood
Message-ID: <387@qa1.Wichita.NCR.COM>
Date: 5 Jun 90 20:56:43 GMT
References: <535@secola.Columbia.NCR.COM>
Reply-To: mlawless@qa1.UUCP (Mike Lawless)
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCR Corporation, Wichita, Kansas
Lines: 37

I have received, via both news and email, a considerable amount of criticism
for having included the newsgroup "comp.sys.ncr" in my recent followup
posting on Planned Parenthood.  This is a valid criticism, as this newsgroup
is reserved for technical discussions on NCR systems, as was pointed out to
me by the Corporate WIN administrator by private email.  As I explained to
him in my reply, this was NOT intentional, but was a result of the fact that
the original posting which started this thread included that newsgroup, and
I did not notice the crossposting until it was too late.  I certainly did not
intend for that posting to have anything but internal NCR distribution.
Mea maxima culpa.  It won't happen again.

I disagree, however, with those who suggest that it was inappropriate to post
this to "ncr.misc" since it was basically about an issue of interest 
primarily to NCR employees.  In fact, I didn't really intend for it to go to
"talk.abortion" either; I don't follow that group, and I don't see any
purpose that would be served by its appearing there (I doubt that I would
change the minds of any of the readers of that group).  However, to those who
suggest that I should have kept my opinions to myself entirely, I respond
that you're entitled to your opinion, but I'm also entitled to mine.  Flames
based on the content of my posting will be ignored; you might as well
conserve the bandwidth.

Basically, the original poster raised the issue, someone else asked about
why some people find financial support for Planned Parenthood objectionable,
and I answered the question.  While I sincerely apologize for the unintended
inapproprate distribution, I stand by my opinion as stated.  I am apologizing
for a netiquette violation, not for having stated my opposition to PP.

I have included "comp.sys.ncr" in the distribution on this posting only
because it was the inclusion of that group in the previous posting that
caused the uproar.  Since it appeared there, my public apology should appear
there also.  By the way, if this seems tardy, it is only because I did not
start receiving the flames until over two weeks after I sent out the previous
posting.  You may therefore be seeing this as much as a month later.

Finally, to anyone still inclined to tell me to shut up, don't bother;
I don't plan to post anything further on this subject anyway.