From: langston@memstvx1.memst.edu (Mark C. Langston)
Newsgroups: misc.forsale.computers
Subject: Re: UPDATE: F*** You All UPDATE!
Date: 13 Sep 92 21:58:55 -0600
Summary: stop the nonsense
Followup-To: alt.privacy
Keywords: silly
Distribution: world
Organization: Memphis State University

In article <1992Sep13.220349.15568@husc3.harvard.edu>, sweeney@husc3.harvard.edu writes:
> Over the last week, our boards have been attacked
> by messages from two "anonymous" people a/k/a Jeff Spandenberg
> and Hugo Gonzalez. The racist and divisive statements 
> contained in their forged messages created a wave of anger and emotion
> that echoed throughout the Internet.
> 
> There are some investigators who believe these postings
> were not the results of pranks or impromptu behavior,
> but rather a highly-organized conspiracy to disrupt the community.
> Further, there is belief that these acts were conducted
> to agitate the "silent majority" 
> (i.e., the perpetrators believe those who remained silent
> were in agreement).
> 
> Their bigotry was designed to degrade and humiliate minorities,
> with a calculated attempt to pit Jewish, Hispanic and Black persons
> against one another (consider the racially identifying names 
> of Spandenberg, Gonzalez and Jackson).
> Perhaps these experts are wrong.
> But the actions of these people who hide behind the names of others,
> like those who hide their faces behind hoods,
> is clearly unlawful and must not be repeated.
> 
> The proper authorities must complete a full and proper 
> investigation to identify the individuals involved
> and take appropriate action against them. 
> They have violated numerous Federal regulations and laws,
> including fraudulent use of the Internet and forgery (for starters).
> 
> I ask each and every one of you that is an American
> to join me in demanding the FBI, FCC and other investigative units
> continue their efforts in this regard
> and better safeguard us from similar such events.
> The guilty persons can be identified and must be brought to justice.
> Prosecution of the parties involved is the best way
> to maintain the future integrity of the Internet.
> Our network is not the "anonymous" entity that some
> would have you believe. There are many traceable avenues.


Damn.  And I swore to myself I wouldn't get involved in this whole silly thing.

Whereas I feel that messages of the type that started this whole thing should
be posted on the net, I strongly disagree that any such federal investigation
should be allowed to take place.  From a practical standpoint, such an 
investigation caould possibly lead to censorship or monitoring of net posts,
or restricted use of the net.  From a philosophical standpoint, freedom of
speech should be maintained.

I refuse to angage in an endless sociopolitcal diatribe involving censorship
and free speech.  Instead, a few things to think about:

* We are (supposedly) all adults.  We should act like it.

* If someone insists on posting such inflamatory garbage, it should not be
  publicly acknowledged, for obvious reasons.

* If it bothers you that much, and you cannot or will not place the item in
  a kill file, report the individual to the system administrators at the
  originating site and let them handle the whole affair.

* Please do not resort to a 'backlash' response.  This only adds to the
  problem.

Until now I was determined to keep out of this, because the whole affair has
gotten incredibly infantile.  But when someone suggests censorship of one of
the major forums for worldwide communication and free exchange of information,
I tend to draw the line.  
Due to the very real possibility that the (us) government could take control
of the net (I also refuse to get into this...research it yourself), we should
think before we act.  If you receive a harassing/obscene phone call, you don't
call the FBI, you call the local branch of your telecom server.  Similarly,
when someone posts such crap, you dont bring the government down on everyone,
you simply report them to the people who have control of thier account and
let them take action.

Please note that all followups have been redirected to alt.privacy, since
this is where this topic belongs.  

I would actually prefer if no one followed up to this at all, and just got on 
with their lives.  It's all gotten way out of hand folks.  Let's stop
acting like children who need supervision, and start policing ourselves.  The
supervisors at the WELL seem to be handling things admirably.  Let them do
their job.




+--------8<------Cut Here------8<------Cut Here------8<------Cut Here---------+
  Mark C. Langston   |  "Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny."                 
  Psychology Dept.   |  "Always listen to experts.  They'll tell you what can't
  Memphis State U.   |     be done, and why.  Then do it."                      
      "Pftph!"       |           -From the notebooks of Lazarus Long         
Newsgroups: misc.forsale.computers