From: rodney@odie.cs.mun.ca (Rod Hutchings)
Subject: Re: Phil Stromer
Organization: CS Dept., Memorial University of Newfoundland
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 05:42:04 GMT

In article <1992Dec12.172809.24414@infoserv.com> root@infoserv.com (Postmaster) writes:
>Pro-wrestling fans,
>
>
>Phil Stromer's account has been restored. He has promised in writing to
>never again post to this group while he has an InfoServ account (this
>means he will not post even from another host which has a totally unrelated
>account).
>

Well, I seem to remember a similar promise from Phil when he had his first
account on the Internet.  However, sometime after this, his homophobic trash
postings, and his subsequent flame-wars resurfaced.  It wasn't long after
this that we were informed that he was fired from Sun, and we celebrated.
Then we were informed through none other than the devil himself that he had
an account on Infoserve, and was posting his mindless drivel again. Now much
complaining has been done again, and the cycle continues...

>After reviewing the complaints, the InfoServ administrators agreed unanimously
>that his postings were not appropriate for this group. However, he is also
>active in other groups from which we have neve rec'd a single complaint.
>Therefore, we could not, in the free-speech spirit of the Net, censor him
>from those other groups (there just ain't no justification for that).
>

It's quite possible that the other groups that Phil is involved with are
hotbeds for teh sort of homophobic tripe that Phil is known for in
rec.sport.pro-wrestling.  If this is so, then that would explain why there
were no complaints from those groups.  It would also explain the obvious
ignorance that Phil displays for the many flames he has been sent from
r.s.p-w.  Maybe he figures that if the other guys are not flaming him or
complaining, then these rspw guys are just over reacting, or just missing
the point.  I can assure him, we aren't over-reacting, and we get the point
quite clearly.  Phil Stromer is a homophobe.  His postings clearly indicate
that.  IMHO, the majority of readers of rspw do not want this sort of
garbage in our group.

>Also, in fairness to Phil, he claims that many people in this group are on
>his side. So, please decide democratically among yourselfs if you want
>him back. I have heard only one side so far; if there is a second, I would
>like to hear it. But please, email me results only; not individual votes.
>

This is not to be considered as a vote for or against having Phil back in
rspw.  It is meant to serve as an echo of the sentiments of the Sun
Corporation, who dismissed Mr. Stromer for the same sort of behavior that he
is getting away with through Infoserve under the guise of free speech.  Free
speech is one thing, but the sort of poison spewed from Stromer is the stuff
that many people are in courtrooms battling against today.  His words are
direct insults toward an entire group of people.  Gay bashing is not my idea
of "Family entertainment" or even "Adult material", but rather is the sort
of thing that should be banned from any kind of public forum.  Mind you, I
am not in favor of censorship.  But I do not feel we are engaging in
censorship in banning Phil Stromer from Internet.  Instead, in doing so, we
would be creating an environment which would be more conducive to public
forums and open debate.

I trust you will give this the attention it deserves.

Thank you.
Rod Hutchings
rodney@riemann.math.mun.ca


Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling