Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 16:26:09 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at KeithLynch.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Warning
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

Yes, I too am concerned by the lack of verifiable detail.  In fact,
you'll note that I promptly asked for some in the rec.arts.sf.composition
newsgroup where someone mentioned the URL in question.

I am not vouching for it.  I have no idea whether it's true or not.
WSFA members are all perfectly capable of making their own evaluation.

I find it plausible for several reasons:

* Something similar -- but much worse -- happened to me, 27 years ago.

* Similar things have happened to several people I know.  Many are
  deeply ashamed of having been arrested, and have only confided in
  me because I am "out of the closet" as having been falsely convicted
  of a felony.  So it's not surprising that someone with such a story
  would hide their name and location.

* There have been many recent news stories, in mainstream media,
  with verifiable names and locations, of security run amok.  See
  http://www.stupidsecurity.com/ for pointers to many such stories.

* Under the Patriot Act, records of what you checked out of the
  library and of what you purchased via credit card are available
  to the government without a search warrant, a subpoena, or any
  notification to you whatsoever.

I don't see this as a left-right thing at all.  The erosion of our
civil liberties steadily gets worse no matter which party is in power.
It's true that the site in question suggests that we should vote.
But my take-home message is a little different:

* Always keep offsite backups.  Even if there is no risk of a police
  raid, everything in your home could be lost due to fire, flood,
  tornado, or theft.

* Just in case, you may want to buy any controversial books by paying
  cash, and not using a discount card.  Then there's no record as to
  who bought it.

* Just in case, you may want to read any controversial library book in
  the library, rather than checking it out.

It's a matter of simple prudence.  Just as everyone should have a
fire extinguisher and smoke detector, even if the risk of a fire is
very small.

I have taken such precautions for decades, whether a Democrat or
Republican is in the White House.

I am sorry that you, Lee, took it so badly.  I was thinking mostly of
you when I posted it, since I know you like to write fiction, often on
controversial topics.  And since, as far as I know, you are not yet
professionally published, which will deny you an important defense if
you are ever accused.  Tom Clancy, Stephen King, or Ann Rule can point
to a shelf full of books they wrote on the topic of terrorism and
crime that they wrote if they are ever accused.  A writer just
starting out cannot.