From: strike@steam.rome.ny.us (Strikemaster)
Newsgroups: misc.forsale
Subject: Re: Vote No--Buyers Beware List
Date: 30 Aug 92 04:05:38 GMT
Organization: Iron Horse InfoSys

df1r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Daniel M. Fishman) writes:

>In article <1992Aug27.132111.17952@ncsu.edu> ykcheu@eos.ncsu.edu
>(YIHNSIANG KASAMA CHEU) writes:
>>
>>	2:  Verification problems.  It would be too hard to verify whether
>>		or not the complaints or true or whether they were just
>>		lies.
>>
>>	4:  You could be sued for defamation of character by posting their
>>		e-mail address (or id, or whatever...)
>>
>Even if the verification and legal issues are solved, this is still an
>unpleasant prospect.

>I believe that there will be a big problem with inaccurate accounts and
>unfounded complaints directed against innocent people.  I don't believe
>that these will be mostly lies.  People who post complaints to this list
>will in general be angry and will be in vindictive moods.  They will try
>to use this list as an opportunity to "get back" at the person they feel
>wronged them.  

>There must be a general feeling of uneasiness amongst network users because
>of their vulnerability to scams, but this kind of "witch-hunt" system will
>be much more effective at causing bitter feelings and hurting innocent people
>than it will at assuaging the uneasiness.  I think the "yes" voters aren't
>considering this viewpoint.  I hope that some of them will rethink the
>issue and request to change their votes.

Sorry for the lengthy quote, but I don't want to introduce any more
confusion to the issue than there already is.  The idea was proposed that
there be a misc.forsale.d group, possibly for the discussion of "rotten
apples" among the ads placed in this group and it's subs.  There have been
a few 'scams' perpetrated in here; I managed to fall for one about three
years ago.  The fact that I have since transacted three more deals without
incident does not lessen my uneasiness.

There is a need for such a group, otherwise there wouldn't be such a
clamor.  The incident I got dragged into wouldn't have happened if such a
list had been available.  The individual concerned had been known for not
shipping items paid for, had falsely advertised items for sale that didn't
belong to him, and misrepresented items that eventually made their way to
the purchaser.  The situation, in my case, was only partially resolved by
getting the dean of students of the university involved.  The argument that
a miscreant can "change his account" is also true; this individual had
several accounts on the school's machine.  A listing of those accounts,
names, aliases and observations would be invaluable.

Slanderous accusations, disturbing innuendoes and wildly outrageous
hyperbole are nothing new to the USENET.  The 'alt' distribution serves
well to cater to those tastes in a general manner; it's when the matter is
more narrowband that it deserves a place tied to the 'mainstream' group it
affects.

People can make a decision when they are presented with the arguments.  My
personal "manure filter" is tuned within microns when I check the ads in
this and related groups.  The same is true when I read flames both
defending and accusing.  The innocent party can defend himself in a manner
which will ultimately vindicate his activities.  A guilty person usually
skulks away under cover of the barrage leveled in his direction.  In either
case, give 'em a forum where they can air it out.

My vote is 'yes' for the .d group.

# void 'soapbox';
end.


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