From:� "J. van Baardwijk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date:� Mon�Mar�11,�2002� 9:01 pm Subject:�
At 11:57 11-3-02 -0500, Jon Gabriel wrote: >I will not and cannot due to cost considerations change my ISP. I believe I >have a right to post to the list using what is for me, the most convenient >and easy means accessible. > >Do I or do I not have a right to post to the Brin-L list as an AOL user? Of course you do. Just like everyone else.>> Thank you. The posts Bob and other people have made onlist and off demanding I (or, for example, Dr. Zim) get a different ISP because I/we are inconveniencing them have made me wonder. >If the answer is NO, please inform the entire list immediately that AOL users >are unwelcome and unwanted on Brin-L. And if I might make a suggestion, you >might also consider posting this on brin-l.com as well. Others might make >the mistake of thinking that this is a friendly and welcoming community. <<Now, I do think you are being a bit too harsh here. You do not get treated differently from other people just because you are an AOL member.>> Baloney. I and other AOL users and/or HTML-encoded e-mail users have been singled out _repeatedly_ online both on and offlist because of the unchangeable nature of my AOL posts. In this case, Robert Chassel specifically wrote: <<Please, whoever is using AOL: since you cannot use AOL email and also be frugal and readable at the same time, either stop posting in a crude, expensive, and unpleasant manner to the Brin list; or else write to and tell AOL that you are quitting them because their software prevents you from being frugal and considerate. Thank you.>> * What part of "stop posting to the list" seemed non-discriminatory to you? * What part of telling me I am being "rude" and posting in a "crude" and "unpleasant manner" do you think I, as an AOL user, shouldn't take personally? I would appreciate it if you would please re-read his post to the list carefully and answer these questions. Since I have a right to be here it is wrong for someone to demand that I stop posting. Someone does so and when I respond you tell me *I'm* being harsh? << I can understand that people complain about HTML postings, and they have just as much right to complain about AOL and its stupid rules as AOL members have a right to post here.>> Sure they do. But Robert was *not* complaining. He was *demanding* that I "stop posting to the list" due to something I cannot change. There is a difference. A complaint might have taken the form of "Your e-mails are unreadable, is there nothing you can do to change your settings?" The demand took the the form of "change your settings or stop posting, then quit AOL and write them a nasty letter." He was being rude and presumptive and I said so. I considered saying something along the lines of '....and the horse you rode in on!!," but that might have seemed harsh. I have in the past and will continue to respond in the future with polite responses to _complaints_. I will also look into the possibility of using convenient alternatives. >If the answer is YES, then please inform the entire list of this and >**please** change the rules of etiquette to reflect my right to post. <<Speaking of "having rights": outside the US, Americans have a reputation for being sue-happy and demanding that their rights are respected. Despite that reputationm, has no AOL member ever bothered to say "hey, I have a right to use whatever e-mail client I choose!" and subsequently sued AOL for that? (Personally, I find it crazy that people let their ISP dictate to them what software they can use.)>> Do I *really* need to repeat myself onlist to the holder of the great Brin-L archive? I am unhappy with AOL, but am not in a position to change ISP's. It's none of his business, and who is he to demand that I do so? BTW, It's interesting that you mention suing AOL. Even if I wanted to, which I don't, I probably couldn't sue them in a class action suit. The Seattle Times had an article on AOL's software agreement on Saturday, March 9th. AOL's usage agreement makes sure that law suits against the company are filed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia doesn't allow class-action law suits. <<There is no need to changes the Etiquette Guidelines to reflect anyone's right to post. This mailing list is open to everyone, which by definition means that anyone who joins has a right to post. If AOL members would not have that right, you would probably not even be allowed to subscribe in the first place.>> Fine with me as long as someone from the powers-that-be steps in to tell him and the rest of the list that I have a right to post. Let me repeat myself _again_: I'm tired of being harassed by certain listmembers for something I cannot do anything about. Sheesh. :-( Jon [EMAIL PROTECTED]
