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Anyone but the sort of person who might actually believe that story in the tabloids that aliens from another world are impregnating human women knows that all content on V2020 is to be viewed with skepticism. There is no editor or fact checking person or persons or moderator who verifies content. Anyone can literally claim anything in a V2020 post.<BR>
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Bill London is an alien, a member of the Nommos life forms, from the star Sirius, plotting to take over Earth! Really! Trust me! For info on this star and the Nommos:<BR>
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<A HREF="http://www.crystalinks.com/sirius.html">http://www.crystalinks.com/sirius.html</A><BR>
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I find it laughable that Dickison feigns ignorance about the way V2020 works, and implies he will take action against First Step for V2020 content. I do agree that some of the content posted to V2020 recently is just plain rude and inconsiderate. But this does not make it legally actionable.<BR>
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First Step is no more responsible for V2020 content than the phone company is responsible, for example, for someone who uses Verizon's phone lines to arrange illegal sales of stolen goods. If the authorities contact Verizon about crime being committed with the assistance of their phone business, they can force Verizon to help law enforcement. But Verizon cannot be held responsible for the original "criminal" conversations. <BR>
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Of course this is a criminal law issue. Dickison's complaint is merely civil, a claim of personal damage to reputation or livelihood from statements posted to V2020. Dickison must know his complaint has a very weak legal standing.<BR>
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This scenario has been sliced and diced several times in recent years on V2020. Anyone who has followed this forum knows that it would be difficult to prove any substantial damage to reputation or livelihood based on postings to a voluntary public Internet list serve offered free to the public. And the person who posted the damaging claims to V2020 would be the responsible party, not First Step, if I understand correctly.<BR>
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It is possible that if someone was using V2020 to, for example, post coded messages that could be read off the Internet to communicate information critical to the commission of a crime, that First Step could be legally forced to take action regarding this content. But again this is a criminal matter, not merely civil. Or if First Step was knowingly selling advertising on V2020 that was promoted by libelous content creating a scandal of great public interest that was damaging someone's reputation or livelihood ... maybe ... but this is NOT what is happening.<BR>
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The tabloids get away with astonishing scandalous content aimed at public figures presented on a national stage publicly viewable by anyone in the check out line at your local Supermarket, yet taking legal action for this content is very difficult.<BR>
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But is Dickison a public or a private person? This is an issue in slander and libel suits. Public figures have far less grounds to sue for libel or slander than individuals leading a very private life.<BR>
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Ted Moffett</FONT></HTML>