Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!think!ames!ptsfa!ihnp4!chinet!fmsrl7!nucleus!netsys!len From: len@netsys.UUCP (Len Rose) Newsgroups: news.admin Subject: Re: Mark Ethan Smith: For real? Message-ID: <1477@netsys.UUCP> Date: Sat, 3-Oct-87 14:40:31 EDT Article-I.D.: netsys.1477 Posted: Sat Oct 3 14:40:31 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 7-Oct-87 04:14:21 EDT References: <378d6016.b8ab@apollo.uucp> <5261@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> <2050@kitty.UUCP> <1975@midas.TEK.COM> <2058@kitty.UUCP> Reply-To: len@netsys.UUCP (Len Rose) Followup-To: alt.flame Organization: NetSys Public Access Network Lines: 98 In article <2058@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes: >In article <1975@midas.TEK.COM>, darcic@midas.TEK.COM (darci chapman) writes: >> >> >Is this Mark Ethan Smith for real, or an elaborate... >> >> BTW, yes though we have not met in person. >> >> > No Usenet site should have anonymous users. >> >> Since Mark does sign his articles with his legal name how does this imply >> that he is an anonymous user? > > How do you KNOW that is his/her legal name? > There have been serious questions raised in a number of articles >by a number of people as to whether this person is real. > There is not one shred of evidence posted to identify "Smith"; > "Smith" posts no address >or telephone number, and does not appear to be an employee of or student >at any organization on the Net. I didn't know this was a pre-requisite,to be an employee or a student,or to reveal personal information to anyone on the net. >I can pick up the telephone and eventually >find you through Tektronix. You can certainly find me at the organization >and telephone number always appended to my articles. But we can't do >this for "Smith". So, what EVIDENCE exists that this person is "real" >as claimed? >*I* am the system administrator at my site, and thank you very >much, but I'll leave my account intact. >*I* take responsibility for everything I post. I consider Usenet >to be an electronic publication, and as such feel that anyone who posts >articles has to bear legal responsibility for same (the site also shares >responsibility). I don't say anything that I am not prepared to defend >legally, or otherwise. Can't fault you for that,it seems to be the right way to look at things. >But "Smith" is quite insulated from such recourse. How does one >find "Smith" through a public access UNIX system or as a non-student >paid account at berkeley? >1501@dasys1.UUCP, rsweeney@dasys1.UUCP (Robert Sweeney) takes a protective >attitude by stating "It is our policy to keep all personal information >we possess concerning our users strictly confidential." This strikes >me as a rather formidable and defensive position, considering that dasys1 >is a "public access" UNIX system run as a hobby by 20 year-old Charles F. >Foreman from his parent's apartment in Manhattan. [I have proof of these >details, in case anyone is wondering]. You attack the person for doing the only sensible thing possible. You just can't give people's names,addresses,etc out without incurring some sort of legal liability yourself (even if you are an admin)... > I state the above, because it makes ME wonder if "Smith" is merely > an assumed name used by young Mr. Foreman. Right..Mr. Foreman is going to call across the country,pay for access to a machine at berkeley,just to make your life miserable. (I think someone that runs a "dreaded" public access UNIX site has much more pressing things to do with their money than pay for accounts all over the country). I think you have a real attitude problem concerning Public Access Systems and their role on the net. It is also apparrent that you have some sort of problem with people younger than yourself. I wonder what "young Mr. Foreman" ever did to you? > I have a particular "beef" with "Smith" - who, because I disagreed >that "pornography causes violence" - stated in article 1412@dasys1: If you have some sort of personal problem with MES,then consult a lawyer, and stop dragging this crap through the net.It seems that MES delights in baiting certain people,and you have obviously given her the response she was looking for. > So my point is: how do I find "Smith" if I want recourse for >his/her libelous statement? > UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, is it responsible administration for >the sites permitting "Smith" accounts to protect and insulate this person >from responsibilty for his/her statements? > Like the conscientious person I am,all follow-ups have been redirected to alt.flame,and Mr. Lippman,if you don't get alt.* feeds then I will be happy to send you one. Len Rose -* Netsys Public Access Network *- The East Coast Machine. 301-540-3656,3657,3658,3659 3B2/Unix SV3.0