From: Will Steeves <goid@zooid.guild.org>
Subject: False allegations of abuse / Chesler's book...
Note: I have removed soc.women, for this isn't *strictly* a women's issue.
X-To: AARON.L.HOFFMEYER
Organization: The Zoo of Ids
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 21:33:00 GMT

noraa@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (aaron.l.hoffmeyer) writes...
AA> She is, in my opinion, a truly scary person.  One of her books is about
AA> women getting sole custody.  A "How-To" book.  I forget the exact
AA> title.  It wouldn't be hard to get it again.  It is probably in YOUR
AA> library.  I wouldn't doubt that it is in just about every library in
AA> the US.  Anyway, the book instructs women on how to make accusations of
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AA> abuse, the virtues of lying in order to get sole custody--you know, the
    ^^^^^^
AA> normal, level-headed, rape, pillage and burn, "`for the sake of the
AA> children' women MUST be the sole custodian" spiel.


Are you *deadly* sure of your interpretation of the book?  If what you
are saying is strictly correct, Ms. Chesler's book is instructing women
to do something which is a federal *felony*, ie., fabricating a charge
that is known to be false, and I am sure that the authorities will have
had a word with her, before allowing the book onto the shelves (Before
anyone slams me for being a pro-censorship cad, I am *not* saying that I
would consider it a good idea to censor her book, I *do* believe that we
should do *something* about books that instruct people on how to break the
law!!).  Also note that this distinction is the reason why I have cross
posted to misc.legal.

At any rate...what I am basically asking is : Does her book instruct women
how to build a case, where *abuse is suspected*, or does it give instruction
on how to build a *false case*?  The distinction is *very* important, and I
apologise if you feel that I am nitpicking with you.



AA> P.S.  I talked to Kim Hart, author of "Guilty Until Proven
AA> Innocent"--which was also on the FAQ Book Review List.  Fred Haywood
AA> stated that the book is "expensive."  He also stated that, if you needed
AA> it, it was invaluable.  Kim said the book costs $38.  It is printed in
AA> small batches--for several reasons.  1) $38 covers the cost of printing the
AA> books, materials and shipping.  2) The principal purchasers are
AA> men who have been accused of sexually molesting children--usually as
AA> part of a divorce custody/visitation dispute.  There isn't much money
AA> for publicity to get the word out about the book.  These men usually
AA> find out about it through long, arduous searches.  After looking for
AA> this very thing for up to years, the price to them is peanuts.  3) There
AA> is not enough money to print it in bigger batches and store it, which
AA> would reduce the per copy price.  It would also improve the quality of
AA> the book.  I might offer to typeset it for her.

AA> If you are interested in getting a copy of this book, let me know and
AA> I'll post the information.  I've got it around here somewhere (I've also
AA> got the book).

Please do!

---
Will Steeves, goid@zooid.guild.org                      "Neil Hull is GOiD"
ZOOiD BBS, Toronto, Ontario - The Zoo Of Ids            "GOiDS Rule"
(416) 322-7876

"Cthulhu for President in '92 - Why vote for the _lesser_ of two evils?"
                                                          - Bronis Vidugiris
---
 * SLMR 2.1a * Do witches run spell checkers?
Newsgroups: alt.feminism