Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!jdevoto
From: jdevoto@Apple.COM (Jeanne A. E. DeVoto)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Moving beyond the flame war?
Message-ID: <45599@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 12 Oct 90 14:40:42 GMT
References: <200@netsys.NETSYS.COM>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA
Lines: 29

In article <200@netsys.NETSYS.COM> God only knows who (is there any way
to get the gateway to post the name of the original writer?) writes:
>I've exchanged a few private notes with John Haugh and he indicates that his
>original post that rankled many of us was not intended to be mean spirited,
>and that he in fact wishes the subject of his post good luck and feels
>compassion for his situation.

Regardless of the extent of John Haugh's compassion for Len Rose, he has
publicly accused Mr. Rose of a serious crime and has provided no proof.
The accusation itself can, and probably will, be used to damage Mr. Rose
legally, regardless of its truth or falsehood: what impression do you think
a claim by prosecutors that "defendant is widely known in the hacker
community as a purveyor of stolen equipment", along with a copy of Mr.
Haugh's original message, will leave on a judge or jury? (If anyone
considers this kind of distortion unthinkable in a court of law, I
suggest a close study of the Craig Neidorf case.)

Either prompt substantiation of this claim, or a public apology in the
same forum as the accusation, is the least that Mr. Rose (and other
readers of these groups) can and should expect from Mr. Haugh. None of
this, unfortunately, will completely ameliorate the damage that may
already have been done.
-- 
========= jeanne a. e. devoto ========================================
 jdevoto@apple.com     |  You may not distribute this article under a
 jdevoto@well.sf.ca.us |  compilation copyright without my permission.
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 Apple Computer and I are not authorized      |        CI$: 72411,165
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