[news.misc] Sue the bastard

john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond) (12/06/88)

"Well, Johnathan Richmond proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that monkeys
really do practice anal sex.  This guy is the worst scum of the earth
I've run into lately.  Hell, the Neo-Nazis ought to make him their
poster child."


The above is pretty much verbatim from a Jewish friend of mine who has read
this little escapade. My thoughts are less friendly than this but I'll save
them for now.

What I think needs to be done is for us in the Usenet community to form
a legal defense fund so that Brad can file a libel suit against this asshole
and his cohorts in the newspapers.  The one way to crush such drivel is 
through their pocketbooks.  If Brad does not have the time, then surely
we can find someone else who has been slandered or libeled.  

It really does not matter which side of this issue you were originally on.  
Being for or against tasteless jokes is not irrevelant.  What's happened now is
that a cowardly little pinhead, after failing to achieve his goals through
legitimate channels, has betrayed all of Net-dom  with his taking his 
whining little crybaby beef to the media.  It's exactly this kind of 
low rent, stab-in-the-back drivel that promulgates the bad-jew stereo-
type.  This is the old "if i can't have it, nobody can" attitude 
that most people shake shortly after sheding their diapers.

I'll volunteer my time to administer such a fund if there is any interest.  
I'll also kick in a couple of hundred bucks to get it going.

What do you think, netlanders?   Are we going to let this cesspool of a 
person ruin the net for everybody?  I sure hope not.   Let's get a 
discussion going.  I've changed the subject line to "Sue the Bastard"
to reflect the new subject thread.  Lets talk it up and get moving!!

John De Armond
gatech!stiatl!john

dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi) (12/06/88)

In article <1991@stiatl.UUCP> john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond) writes:
[nasty comment quoted about Richmond]
>The above is pretty much verbatim from a Jewish friend of mine who has read
>this little escapade.

Your Jewish friend perhaps realizes something that others don't.

Richmond's campaign against ethnic jokes is doing much, much more to
harm the image of the Jew among non-Jews than rec.humor.funny could
ever have done.

Richmond is no fool.  He is well aware that a charge of "making fun of
people of many cultures including Scotts and Jews" would be laughed at,
so he consistently uses the inaccurate label "racist".  He is
unavailable to respond to charges on Usenet, where he seems to have few
allies, but is happy to talk to the press, which loves a scandal.

But what he's really doing, in his campaign as self-proclaimed
representative of Jews, is helping propagate the image of Jews as
sullen, rebellious, and dishonest.  Those of you who consistently post
articles in his support should think about this.
-- 
Rahul Dhesi         UUCP:  <backbones>!{iuvax,pur-ee}!bsu-cs!dhesi

culmer@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Charles Culmer) (12/07/88)

In article <1991@stiatl.UUCP> john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond) writes:
>
>What I think needs to be done is for us in the Usenet community to form
>a legal defense fund so that Brad can file a libel suit against this asshole
>and his cohorts in the newspapers.  The one way to crush such drivel is 
>through their pocketbooks.  If Brad does not have the time, then surely
>we can find someone else who has been slandered or libeled.  
>
>I'll volunteer my time to administer such a fund if there is any interest.  
>I'll also kick in a couple of hundred bucks to get it going.
>
>What do you think, netlanders?   Are we going to let this cesspool of a 
>person ruin the net for everybody?  I sure hope not.   Let's get a 
>discussion going.  I've changed the subject line to "Sue the Bastard"
>to reflect the new subject thread.  Lets talk it up and get moving!!

A few comments--

(1)  I don't care to use the legal system just to punish someone, no matter
what kind of jerk he is.

(2)  On the other hand, this jerk may have acted in a deliberate attempt to
damage the moderator's business.  I would contribute to a fund to seek some
compensation for that damage.

(3)  Most of all, I want the newspapers and administrators to forget about
the incident before we lose any freedom of communication.  Confrontation is
probably not the best way to get out of the limelight.  However, I will be
happy to contribute to any fund whose purpose is to protect the environment
to which we have become accustomed.  This might be a job better suited for
lobbyists than attorneys.

Charles W. Culmer
culmer@eniac.seas.upenn.edu        Mike Milken for Treasury Secretary

shore@ncifcrf.gov (Melinda Shore) (12/07/88)

In article <4969@bsu-cs.UUCP> dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi) writes:
>Richmond's campaign against ethnic jokes is doing much, much more to
>harm the image of the Jew among non-Jews than rec.humor.funny could
>ever have done.

I agree that it was *completely* inappropriate for Jonathan Richmond to
try and depose Brad Templeton and, failing that, go to the press.

However, having said that, I would like to point out that the argument
included above has been used time and time again against progressive
reform movements (women, black, gay, ethnic) to try and coerce them
into a) assimilating, or b) shutting up.  And personally, I find speaking
out against oppressive behavior admirable, not objectionable.
-- 
Melinda Shore                                    shore@ncifcrf.gov
NCI Supercomputer Facility              ..!uunet!ncifcrf.gov!shore

clong@topaz.rutgers.edu (Chris Long) (12/07/88)

In article <1991@stiatl.UUCP>, John DeArmond writes:

> I'll volunteer my time to administer such a fund if there is any interest.  
> I'll also kick in a couple of hundred bucks to get it going.

I'll help in any way, shape, or form that I can also.  I'd love to
see that weasel-faced git show up on Usenet again, now.
-- 
Chris (Munson)-Long

"The proofs are so obvious that they can be left to the reader."
Lars V. Ahlfors, _Complex Analysis_

jbuck@epimass.EPI.COM (Joe Buck) (12/07/88)

In article <4969@bsu-cs.UUCP> dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi) writes:
>>Richmond's campaign against ethnic jokes is doing much, much more to
>>harm the image of the Jew among non-Jews than rec.humor.funny could
>>ever have done.

In article <680@fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov> shore@ncifcrf.gov (Melinda Shore) writes:
>I agree that it was *completely* inappropriate for Jonathan Richmond to
>try and depose Brad Templeton and, failing that, go to the press.

>However, having said that, I would like to point out that the argument
>included above has been used time and time again against progressive
>reform movements (women, black, gay, ethnic) to try and coerce them
>into a) assimilating, or b) shutting up.  And personally, I find speaking
>out against oppressive behavior admirable, not objectionable.

I second what Melinda has to say.  Richmond's campaign is destructive
and harmful to the net.  But Rahul's comment, and other similar ones,
are extremely unfortunate.  It's not up to Jonathan Richmond or anyone
else to uphold the "image of the Jew", as if there is such a thing,
and to make remarks like this is only one step away from alleging that
Jews have an "image problem" because types like Richmond are common.
That is, it's right on the edge of coming off as a bigoted remark.


-- 
- Joe Buck	jbuck@epimass.epi.com, or uunet!epimass.epi.com!jbuck,
		or jbuck%epimass.epi.com@uunet.uu.net for old Arpa sites
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long
as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.  -- G. B. Shaw

campbell@redsox.UUCP (Larry Campbell) (12/07/88)

In article <680@fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov> shore@ncifcrf.gov (Melinda Shore) writes:
}                                     ...  And personally, I find speaking
}out against oppressive behavior admirable, not objectionable.

Hey, I'm of Scottish descent.  Can I be oppressed, too?  "Look!  He's
oppressing me!  Brad Templeton is oppressing me!  You saw it, didn't you?
OOH!  Look!  There he goes again!  OOH!  He oppressed me again!  I have
witnesses!  OOH!  OOH!"

-- 
Larry Campbell                          The Boston Software Works, Inc.
campbell@bsw.com                        120 Fulton Street
wjh12!redsox!campbell                   Boston, MA 02146

jkg@gatech.edu (Jim Greenlee) (12/07/88)

OK, I give up. I can identify most of the major players in this little 
melodrama, but just who the hell is "Sue, the bastard"? 

						Jim Greenlee
-- 
Jim Greenlee - Instructor, School of ICS, Georgia Tech     jkg@gatech.edu

Cato said, "I had rather men should ask why my statue is not set up, than 
why it is." - Plutarch

bga@raspail.UUCP (Bruce Albrecht) (12/07/88)

In article <1991@stiatl.UUCP>, john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond) writes:
] [insults to Richmond deleted]
] 
] What I think needs to be done is for us in the Usenet community to form
] a legal defense fund so that Brad can file a libel suit against this [insult
] deleted] and his cohorts in the newspapers.  The one way to crush such drivel 
] is through their pocketbooks.  If Brad does not have the time, then surely
] we can find someone else who has been slandered or libeled.  
] 
] [more insults to Richmond deleted]
] 
] I'll volunteer my time to administer such a fund if there is any interest.  
] I'll also kick in a couple of hundred bucks to get it going.
] 
] What do you think, netlanders?   Are we going to let [another insult
] deleted] ruin the net for everybody?  I sure hope not.   Let's get a 
] discussion going.  I've changed the subject line to "Sue the Bastard"
] to reflect the new subject thread.  Lets talk it up and get moving!!
] 
] John De Armond
] gatech!stiatl!john


I wonder if Jonathan Richmond would have a case for suing people like you for
describing him as you did in this posting.  I believe that Richmond was overly
sensitive about the original joke, and I don't think he should have complained
to the newspapers about this.  However, I think the idea of suing Richmond
because he is trying to fight anti-semitism as he sees it is stupid and petty
minded.  I doubt that this will be remembered more than a week or two by the
general public, and will have little effect on the net, unless people like
you keep make inflammatory statements about the principal parties (Templeton,
Richmond, etc.).

roger@esquire.UUCP (Roger Reid) (12/08/88)

In article <4969@bsu-cs.UUCP> dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi) writes:
>
>Richmond's campaign against ethnic jokes is doing much, much more to
>harm the image of the Jew among non-Jews than rec.humor.funny could
>ever have done.
>
It is not the task of Jews to make the rest of the world like them.
If you think that is the whole point then [rude suggestion deleted].
Racism is racism and should be fought as such.
-- 
				   Ro
			      {rutgers|phri|cucard}!cmcl2!esquire!roger
			      roger@woof.columbia.edu

	  "Your face was open so I just moved in." -Rhukilenya

dc@gcm (Dave Caswell) (12/08/88)

In article <4969@bsu-cs.UUCP> dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi) writes:

.Richmond's campaign against ethnic jokes is doing much, much more to
.harm the image of the Jew among non-Jews than rec.humor.funny could
.ever have done.

Just because one (or X where X is less than the total population) Jewish 
person is making a stink about something doesn't cause my opinion to change
of all Jewish people.  I just think there is one Jewish person who happens
to be acting inappropriately.  There is no tendancy to think he is somehow 
representative of all Jewish people. The image of Jews hasn't been harmed;
not by the joke - and certainly not by Mr. Richmond.

-- 
Dave Caswell
Greenwich Capital Markets                             uunet!philabs!gcm!dc

kenny@felix.UUCP ( __Lizzard et al) (12/08/88)

In article <1991@stiatl.UUCP> john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond) writes:
>
>What I think needs to be done is for us in the Usenet community to form
>a legal defense fund so that Brad can file a libel suit against this asshole
>and his cohorts in the newspapers.  The one way to crush such drivel is 
>through their pocketbooks.  If Brad does not have the time, then surely
>we can find someone else who has been slandered or libeled.  
>

If it comes down to a legal defense fund for Brad, there wouldn't
be much problem getting support from the net. However, I do not think
that it is in the best interests of Usenet to start such a fund to sue
Mr. Richmond for libel.  Besides, shouldn't that be Brad's decision?

Let's just ignore Mr. Richmond for the time being, and soon he will
crawl back into the heap of rotting vegatation from which he came.

__Lizzard
kenny@felix

karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) (12/10/88)

In article <1991@stiatl.UUCP> john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond) writes:
>What I think needs to be done is for us in the Usenet community to form
>a legal defense fund so that Brad can file a libel suit against this asshole
>and his cohorts in the newspapers.  
>
>I'll volunteer my time to administer such a fund if there is any interest.  
>I'll also kick in a couple of hundred bucks to get it going.

Here's a pledge of a $5.00 donation... where do I send the check.

It's about time that we had the guts to do something about this kind of 
nonsense.

C'mon, net people, let's get going.  Off your duffs -- every buck helps!

--
Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, ddsw1!karl)
Data: [+1 312 566-8912], Voice: [+1 312 566-8910]
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.    	"Quality solutions at a fair price"

shore@ncifcrf.gov (Melinda Shore) (12/10/88)

In article <2413@ddsw1.MCS.COM> karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM(Karl Denninger) writes:
>C'mon, net people, let's get going.  Off your duffs -- every buck helps!

Yeah, that's it -- let's get *even*!  Doing something nasty to somebody
else sure helps make my day.

C'mon, net people, vengeance is stupid.  Offering a net feed to Brad
really is a great way (i.e. constructive, positive) to deal with the
situation, as is putting in a good word for him at Waterloo.  I fail to
see how persecuting Jonathan Richmond will help.
-- 
Melinda Shore                                    shore@ncifcrf.gov
NCI Supercomputer Facility              ..!uunet!ncifcrf.gov!shore

bbh@whizz.uucp (Bud Hovell) (12/13/88)

In article <688@fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov>, shore@ncifcrf.gov (Melinda Shore) writes:

> C'mon, net people, vengeance is stupid.  Offering a net feed to Brad
> really is a great way (i.e. constructive, positive) to deal with the
> situation, as is putting in a good word for him at Waterloo.  I fail to
> see how persecuting Jonathan Richmond will help.
> Melinda Shore                                    shore@ncifcrf.gov
> NCI Supercomputer Facility              ..!uunet!ncifcrf.gov!shore

I agree - we should drop Richmond's name and "victim" agenda like a hot rock
and quit giving him air time. Brad's the one with an actual grievance as a
consequence of this recent stupidity. Let's fix that and get on with business.

My maps show *alot* of sites in Ontario - surely someone there can give him
a feed that won't cost him a fortune to maintain.
 
                                                      OVERTURE SYSTEMS CORP. 
                       Bud Hovell                     Operations Specialists
                                                      Lake Oswego, Oregon
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
: USENET: {attmail! | tektronix!tessi!bucket! | pacbell!safari!} whizz!bbh :
: TELEX: 152258436 (Whizz/Bud Hovell)                  VOICE: 503-636-3000 :
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
                   "Follow your bliss" - Joseph Campbell

crscott@sdrc.UUCP (Scott_Klosterman) (12/15/88)

In article <569@redsox.UUCP>, campbell@redsox.UUCP (Larry Campbell) writes:
] In article <680@fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov> shore@ncifcrf.gov (Melinda Shore) writes:
] }                                     ...  And personally, I find speaking
] }out against oppressive behavior admirable, not objectionable.
] 
] Hey, I'm of Scottish descent.  Can I be oppressed, too?  "Look!  He's
] oppressing me!  Brad Templeton is oppressing me!  You saw it, didn't you?
] OOH!  Look!  There he goes again!  OOH!  He oppressed me again!  I have
] witnesses!  OOH!  OOH!"

    COME and see the violence inherent in the system!!
    COME and see the violence inherent in the system!!

eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder) (12/19/88)

In article <688@fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov>, shore@ncifcrf.gov (Melinda Shore) writes:
> In article <2413@ddsw1.MCS.COM> karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM(Karl Denninger) writes:
> >C'mon, net people, let's get going.  Off your duffs -- every buck helps!
> 
> Yeah, that's it -- let's get *even*!  Doing something nasty to somebody
> else sure helps make my day.
> 

HEY, LETS S U E THEM BASTARDS!  I'M TIRED OF TAKING THIS KIND OF
A B U S E!

Uh, did you say sue which bastards?

SUE A L L THE BASTARDS!  SEND PROCESS SERVERS AFTER THE KIDS THAT THROW
THE PAPERS ON YOUR LAWN!  ARREST THE GUY WITH THE SANDWICH TRUCK THAT
SELLS THE REPORTERS LUNCH! [foam at mouth, chew on keyboard, jump up
and down waving fist]



     "      "
        ||            [big smiley face]
    \________/
       ----


-- 
Dani Eder / Boeing / Space Station Program / uw-beaver!ssc-vax!eder
(205)464-4150(w) (205)461-7801(h) 1075 Dockside Drive #905 Huntsville, 
AL 35824  34 40 N latitude 86 40 W longitude +100m altitude, Earth