Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 21:56:28 -0400
From: Elspeth Kovar <ekovar at radix.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: My records.
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

N Lynch wrote:
>
> > More importantly here, such gossip is a poison, one
> > that seeps through
> > an group and spreads to all.  It doesn't just damage
> > the reputation of
> > both accused and accuser, it damages everyone.  I
> > sincerely hope that
> > people will keep this in mind.
> >
> > Elspeth
>
> I resend the implication you are giving this list that
> Rich and I are spreading gossip about Lee.  She is not
> being "accused" of anything, although we seem to be.
> This is his *History Outline*, answers to questions
> Rich has asked people, not whatever has been culled
> from "Google searches".  When he started this, I doubt
> Google was around.
>
> Unless anyone has had the forethought to let him know,
> Rich is finding out about this out from me.  I suspect
> what he will do is remove any mention of anyone who
> objects to being in the history, same as the history
> of the 50's.  Oddly enough, there are people who wish
> to be forgotten.

Nicki, I most sincerely beg your pardon as well as Rich's.  That is in
no way what I intended to imply although, rereading what I wrote, I can
see how it might have appeared that way.  I've read most of the outline
for the book and not only find it useful but fascinating.  And I'm
really looking forward to the time when he stops traveling so much and
can flesh it out more, making the connections that I'm beginning to see
come from the information that he's gathered.

It isn't gossip: it's the outline of what looks to be a valuable book
and is already valuable as written.  I'm sorry if I gave anyone any
impression otherwise as that would be entirely incorrect.  My paragraphs
about accusation and gossip were solely in reference to things that had
been said in person and on the list recently, and people's questions
about it.  Richard's book only comes into this only in that Keith read
it (and if this gets more people to read it I may come to consider this
particular mess worth it!) and asked Lee about it.

I have not included Rich in this message since, to the best of my
recollection, he mentioned that he was unsubscribing while traveling
(although he'd be posting 'postcards' to the list) and getting this
without the background might be more confusing than otherwise.  His work
is an entirely innocent bystander in this and, because of that, I didn't
write to him directly when it first came up.  It was not lack of
forethought but the opposite, knowing that he is traveling and that
you're aware of what is going on.

I hope that you and Rich will read what I wrote in my first post under
this header, about the value of the work that he and Timebinders are
doing and my gratitude for the efforts.  I am sorry that following those
with my comments about accusations and gossip with no more than an extra
line after between them to indicate a shift in subject lead to this
confusion.  And, again, I apologize to you both.

Please feel free to forward this to Rich if you consider it appropriate
-

Elspeth