[Vision2020] enough... MSD Pay and Tenure

[Ted Moffett]

Dale et. al.

I think there are numerous issues that render legal action against First 
Step for V2020 content problematic.

1)  All content is sent to private computer accounts when posted via a 
non-commercial discussion group, not presented in public like a newspaper on 
the newsstands, or even on a commercial web site making money off the 
content where the site is intended for view by any and all people with a 
huge audience.

2)  The account holders voluntarily choose to receive the content, and can 
stop the content at any time.  No one should be surprised by what may be 
posted on a free public discussion group where content is offered freely by 
individuals.

3)  A person who goes to the V2020 archives on the web must go through 
numerous steps to read the content, that is presented with no pretension 
from First Step that they are providing pre-screened factual news or 
information.

4)  V2020 is NOT moderated!  I'm not sure why you mentioned Bill London as a 
"moderator."

5)  If a web site can be sued and shut down for libel for content offered 
freely by individuals in a discussion format, Google would be shut down NOW, 
because Google hosts Usenet newsgroups, where you can find the most 
astonishing lies and profanity about any and all subjects and persons, along 
with mostly sincere and honest offerings, posted freely by individuals on 
Usenet.  Vision2020 is similar to a Usenet newsgroup in some respects

I have been slammed on Usenet newsgroups before, and I got all steamed up 
over it, till I found out that the individual doing it had been at his evil 
task for a long time, targeting numerous other Usenet users.  I just ignored 
him after that, knowing that those following the newsgroup knew he was a 
crank.  This is the best approach, as Janesta Sullivan indicated on 
vision2020 today.

The solution might be to have a moderator for V2020, like many Usenet 
newsgroups.  I am not sure if this idea is possible.

BTW, I carefully read your analysis of MSD teacher pay, promotion process, 
tenure award, etc.  I agree that it appears from what you presented that 
public school teachers should not be offered tenure so quickly, and pay 
raises should be more tied to performance.

But I do not agree that the problems with public education prove that more 
money could not help public education.  More money spent in the right way 
might help improve public schools.  Just because some of the money in public 
education is not spent wisely does not prove that any future increases in 
spending are certainly to be wasted.

Ted


>From: "Dale Courtney" <dale@courtneys.us>
>To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] enough already
>Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 16:53:06 -0700
>
>Visionaries,
>
>I wrote the Email below and was asked off-line if I was threatening a 
>law-suite.
>
>No, I'm not threatening a lawsuit; That's not what I was trying to convey.
>
>However, FSR needs to be aware that it is hosting a website where libelous 
>statements are being made and hosted (see: 
>http://lists2.fsr.net/pipermail/vision2020/2003-June/002698.html).
>
>When people can find libelous material on the internet, the ISP is often 
>libel for hosting it.
>
>That was my only point.
>
>Best,
>Dale Courtney
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Dale Courtney
>   To: vision2020@moscow.com
>   Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 16:36
>   Subject: Re: [Vision2020] enough already
>
>
>   At what point is FSR and perhaps Bill London and the other moderators 
>liable for providing a forum for libelous and slanderous statements?
>
>   The Daily News is libel for any Editorials that they print that are 
>slanderous/liable. There have been legal findings that show that ISP's are 
>libel for any slanderous/libel statements posted on their system.
>
>   I'm going to mention this to the FSR bubbas. We may well find ourselves 
>shut-down until this is resolved; otherwise, FSR may find themselves up to 
>their ears in legal brouhaha.
>
>   Best,
>   Dale

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