Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 14:59:18 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at keithlynch.net>
To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net
Subject: [WSFA] Re: On Google and WSFA policy
Cc: jekindell at aol.com, macbuccfo at msn.com, erjablow at cais.com
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

As per her wishes, I have removed Lee Gilliland from the WSFA list.
Like all WSFAns, she can still post to it.  But she will no longer
receive messages other people post to it.

On Friday, Lee and another WSFAn became very upset with me either for
something I did or for something they wrongly believe I did.  I'm
still not sure which.

Months ago, I read a public web page produced by another WSFAn, on
the subject of the history of fandom.  It said something about Lee.
Something which was not at all shameful, and did not appear private or
inappropriate for a public web page.  I casually asked Lee about it in
person, in private.  She was upset, and asked me not to read anything
more about her.  I promptly apologized, and agreed not to do it again.
This was months ago.  I didn't even remember the URL of web page or
what was on it.  And I never told anyone else about it.

Then on Friday she brought it up again, at the Ginters, and in front
of everyone called me a liar and said that what I had sone was "about
three steps from rape".

Then yesterday, she broadcast an accusation to this list, accusing me
of criminal conduct.  And then sent another message asking us not to
discuss the topic.  Apparently the accused is not to be allowed to
speak in his defense.  Accusations have to stand unrebutted.

Then today, she posted "Due to his past actions, I no longer trust
Keith." and "Once again, I have replied to a missive I thought was
private, only to see it posted (and, interestingly, posted without
the usual delay) on the WSFA list."

I am extremely offended by accusations of dishonesty and criminal
conduct.  I pride myself on my well deserved reputation for honesty
and integrity.  I have NEVER lied to any WSFAn about anything.  Not
unless you count April Fool's pranks and other jokes.  (For instance I
don't really believe we're in communication with a parallel universe
containing a city named Eashington.  Surely this goes without saying?)
I have been a peaceful, honest, and law abiding person all my life.

As many of you know, a quarter century ago, I was falsely accused of a
serious crime.  I had no money for a good attorney, and I went through
hell.  I was convicted and sentenced to prison.  I learned that one
doesn't fully appreciate the value of one's reputation until it is
suddenly stripped away.  It's an indescribably horrible feeling to
speak the truth to police and prosecutors, and not be believed.  If a
writer were able to reproduce this feeling in his readers, he would
outsell Steven King and Edgar Allen Poe.

Until now, I had never been seriously accused of anything else, before
or since.

Needless to say, I have not forwarded any messages from Lee or anyone
else to this list.  If they appeared on this list, they were addressed
to this list.  I don't know anything about any "usual delay" or lack
of same.

Lee owes me a public apology, in a WSFA meeting, in the WSFA Journal,
and on this list.  Until I get it, I will not be speaking to her.

If her feeling about me or my not speaking to her result in my being
banned from the Gillilands', so be it.  I will continue to attend
third and fifth Fridays unless I am made to feel unwelcome there, or
unwelcome in WSFA generally.  I will continue to attend first Fridays
unless explicitly disinvited by Lee or Alexis.

I'm still not sure whether my offense was reading that public web
page, or my finding it via Google.  Or some third thing which she only
imagines I have done.

I started this thread (which initially didn't even mention Lee or her
accusations) on the chance that Lee is not the only person who objects
to Google (or other search engine) searches on their name.  If anyone
objects, I will of course refrain from doing any such searches.  And I
expect other WSFAns to do the same.

Since we have no control over what the rest of the world will do, but
DO have control over our web pages, which are searchable via Google,
if any WSFAn objects to such searches, we should remove all mentions
of that person's name from our web site, and we should ask all WSFA
members who have their own web sites to remove all mentions of that
person's name from their own web sites.  This will keep Google
searches from find those names on those sites.

If anyone believes that the use of Google is in violation of Virginia
statute, it would be appropriate for them to contact the state
attorney general about a possible prosecution of Google.  It would
make more sense to prosecute Google than to prosecute all of its
millions of users.

Having previously read the complete criminal laws of Virginia (I have
a copy at home), I do not believe there is (or ought to be) any such
statute.

Once again, I recommend that everyone do a Google (http://google.com/)
search on their OWN name, just to get some idea of what's out there
and what isn't.  Again I emphasize that Google does NOT find credit
reports, medical records, what web sites you have visited, files on
your own PC, military records, or anything else private.

Since I'm not yet certain of what Lee is objecting to, I will refrain
from removing her name from our web site.

I will put Lee back on the list if she asks me to, to avoid any
implication that I am banning her.  I will inform the list before I do
so.  If posts from her appear here before then, that does not mean she
is receiving the list.  As I said, she is still free to post to it.
--
Keith F. Lynch - kfl at keithlynch.net - http://keithlynch.net/
I always welcome replies to my e-mail, postings, and web pages, but
unsolicited bulk e-mail (spam) is not acceptable.  Please do not send me
HTML, "rich text," or attachments, as all such email is discarded unread.