[Vision2020] the rantings
Ellen Roskovich
gussie443@hotmail.com
Mon, 23 Jun 2003 20:16:28 -0700
<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV>
<P><FONT color=#0000cc size=4>Dear Mr. Wilson:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#0000cc size=4>You should not have to put up with this. Your family should not be made to suffer. First Step Research CAN and HAS pulled the plug in the past. Those new to the list don't realize this because everything was purged from the archives. Let's not make a mockery of free speech.....this is TRASH.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#0000cc size=4>E.A. Roskovich, Moscow, ID</FONT><BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>From: Bill London <LONDON@MOSCOW.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: london@moscow.com
<DIV></DIV>>To: Douglas <DOUGWILS@MOSCOW.COM>, Vision2020 <VISION2020@MOSCOW.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: [Vision2020] the rantings
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 17:28:31 -0700
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Open letter to Doug Wilson:
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I want to apologize for the rantings you have endured as postings to the
<DIV></DIV>>Vision 2020 list. I am truly sorry that your name and reputation is
<DIV></DIV>>being attacked in this reprehensible manner.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>A number of V2020 members have suggested that the author of those
<DIV></DIV>>messages be dropped from the V2020 list. While I certainly understand
<DIV></DIV>>why they want to eliminate those postings, I disagree with that tactic.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I am writing you to explain why, in hopes that you will agree that
<DIV></DIV>>allowing such postings is not evidence of agreement or support by Vision
<DIV></DIV>>2020 or any of the list's subscribers. And I want to make it clear that
<DIV></DIV>>I totally reject the vile and malicious nature of those messages. I
<DIV></DIV>>just feel that the values of open discussion, free speech and an
<DIV></DIV>>unmoderated list are paramount.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Vision 2020 is ten years old. Throughout that decade, at least four or
<DIV></DIV>>five times, the list was bombarded with some variety of
<DIV></DIV>>potentially-libelous postings by some disgruntled person who saw the
<DIV></DIV>>list as an opportunity to rant. In each case, the V2020
<DIV></DIV>>subscriber/members were polled with the question: should this list stop
<DIV></DIV>>being an open vehicle for free speech and become a moderated
<DIV></DIV>>discussion? Every time the answer has been "no--let's just use our
<DIV></DIV>>delete keys."
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Plenty of related issues were discussed each time. Most dealt with the
<DIV></DIV>>question of who would become the moderator, and what would be the
<DIV></DIV>>criteria for elimination of a posting or a poster. Nobody wanted that
<DIV></DIV>>responsibility.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>And I think legally, there is plenty of reason for everyone to reject
<DIV></DIV>>that responsibility. My understanding is that any public communication
<DIV></DIV>>system (Daily News, ISP list manager, etc) that manages the information
<DIV></DIV>>in any way (allows some and not others, etc) can be held responsible for
<DIV></DIV>>libelous material. However, if that system does not manage the
<DIV></DIV>>information in any way (much like the soap box in Hyde Park), then there
<DIV></DIV>>is no legal responsibility for the libelous material.
<DIV></DIV>>I don't think that is just a legalese distinction. I think it is the
<DIV></DIV>>essence of our right of free speech.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I guess I just think that the V2020 subscribers are able to recognize
<DIV></DIV>>the source of the rantings and reject them. While those posted
<DIV></DIV>>accusations are certainly uncomfortable for you, I do not think anyone
<DIV></DIV>>believes the source of those accusations.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>BL
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>_____________________________________________________
<DIV></DIV>> List services made available by First Step Internet,
<DIV></DIV>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
<DIV></DIV>> http://www.fsr.net
<DIV></DIV>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com
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