[net.followup] A response to libel.

chip@t4test.UUCP (Chip Rosenthal) (06/02/84)

>  From: fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell)
>  
>  I believe that Dr. Buckley need not be concerned about his reputation.
>  The article was obviously the work of an extremely irresponsible individual,
>  and, I believe, no one on the net feels that it hurt anyone except the
>  poster.

While I agree with your first statement, I have to take very strong
exception to the second.  When articles like this appear, we all suffer
the damage.  You can bet that there is now some sort of ad hoc group at
Dalhousie debating whether their school should continue to allow use of
the net.  Furthermore, I would not be surprised if some other
organizations are debating the prudence of allowing access to the net.

Unfortunately, this network is infinately abusable by people who refuse
to show a small amount of maturity.  I hope that Mr.  Keast
(dalcs!keast) and Prof. Buckley realize that the majority of the people
using this network are fairly mature.  This is evidenced by the fact
that articles such as this one are the rare exception.  Further example
is given in that all followup responses to the original article have
unanimously been very contemptous of both the article and its author.

The damage which has been done to the reputations of Prof. Buckley and
Dalhousie is minimal.  The aggravation which resulted to these parties,
however, has probably been extreme.  Let us hope that the damage to all
of us who use this network can also be minimized.

-- 
Chip Rosenthal, Intel/Santa Clara
{idi|intelca|icalqa|imcgpe|kremvax|qubix|ucscc}!t4test!{chip|news}