Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!hoptoad!ihnp4!chinet!meg From: meg@chinet.UUCP Newsgroups: alt.flame Subject: What's in a name?? (was: There IS a hoax at UCB) Message-ID: <1884@chinet.UUCP> Date: Sat, 21-Nov-87 15:20:07 EST Article-I.D.: chinet.1884 Posted: Sat Nov 21 15:20:07 1987 Date-Received: Mon, 23-Nov-87 06:28:52 EST References: <5909@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> <1842@chinet.UUCP> <5944@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> <1851@chinet.UUCP> <1311@aurora.UUCP> Reply-To: meg@chinet.UUCP (Meg Geddes) Organization: Chinet - Public Access Unix Lines: 67 Geezopete. With all the fuss I finally got around to reading this newsgroup. What is the matter with you people????? 1. Mark Ethan Smith is a real person. I have seen Mark's driver's license (or a copy of it) I know more than one person who has talked to him on the phone (most notably Mike Myers, sysadm of M-Net, who is convinced that Mark is legit) and from my own dealings with Mark which have been on a pretty consistent basis for well over a year. I've been pseudo watching for *years*, people, and I'm sorry, but nobody is that good. You can't maintain that kind of consistency while generating that volume of text without slipping now and then - and Mark hasn't slipped. Moreover he invited me to call him him myself this weekend, which I will probably be doing as soon as we agree on a convenient time. I am 150% convinced Mark is real. I only don't understand why people would question such a thing. 2. Rhonda Scribner is a real person. Granted I have no first hand knowledge of her, but Randy had to verify her all over again yesterday when some twit attempted to break into her account here on Chinet. Randy does not hand out other people's passwords indiscriminately, and if he's satisfied, then I'm satisfied. I am 130% convinced Rhonda is real (though I spose the possibility exists that "Rhonda Scribner" is a pen name - I don't for a minute believe she is anyone else currently on Chinet) 3. Rhonda Scribner is not Bill Vajk. Bill is a close friend of mine. I asked him point-blank, and he said no. If you can't trust your close friends, who can you trust? Now, you gonna run *MY* veracity through the wringer as well?? Now, I would like to inquire as to *what difference it makes*?? Who CARES if a person is using their real name or not? What is supposed to be important here, the ideas/opinions discussed, or the people involved? I submit that for this medium - electronic communication - it is NOT the people. An opinion is an opinion, and should be judged on its own merit - not the person behind it. While I myself have never and would never say anything under another name that I wouldn't say under my own, I don't feel that gives me the right to disregard others opinions in that respect. When I am evaluating another idea or opinion, I compare it to my own, and perhaps take into account other ideas or opinions brought forth under that name, and make my judgement accordingly. Whether that person is named "Mark Ethan Smith" or "Rhonda Scribner" or "Captain Crunch" is totally irrelevant. Whether that person is male or female or martian is totally irrelevant. I used to feel differently on this subject, but I've come to see that nothing but the idea is important. What for example, is any different about a person taking another name to post to the net, than if the same person had a 'nom de plume' under which they published books? Nothing that I can see. I further submit that if you are getting real worked up over this issue, on either side, you are taking this all a mite too seriously. [Lest someone start to question *my* authenticity now, I will forestall it by saying that I hold the position of Conference Administrator (cfadm) on Chinet and Igloo in Chicago, and M-Net in Ann Arbor, run my own system, netMeg BBS in Ann Arbor, am employed by Newman Computer Exchange in Ann Arbor, and have met FTF any number of regular posters to the net, all of which is most easily verifiable.] Chill out, people!!!! -- Meg Geddes Chinet - Chicago, Illinois {meg@m-net, meg@chinet, ihnp4!itivax!m-net!meg, ihnp4!chinet!meg} Don't take life so seriously... it ain't nohow permanent...