Selma wrote:
I wish to categorically refute this unfounded accusation made, without any
proof whatsoever. This,as I have said many times before is what is wrong
with the internet, where people can make all sorts of unfounded accusations
and then there they hang heavy in cyberspace, like scarlet letters hanging
around cyber necks or real necks even.
Cecil replies:
1) Selma the know-all has said so many things with authority so many times
that nobody can keep count of her diverse, and sometimes
self-contradictory, opinions.
2) Millions of Internet users worldwide will be eternally grateful to Selma
for so easily pin pointing what exactly "is wrong with the internet".
Actually in my opinion it is the few-holds-barred nature of such discussion
groups that makes them vibrant. Some hypocrites use this to advantage to
insult others but then criticise this same property when they, or their
friends, come under scrutiny.
3) Selma should learn to differentiate between an accusation, an opinion
and a statement. Here is an example to throw some light on the usage: "She
keeps saying that she will take a break from spewing nonsense on GoaNet but
returns at the drop of an opinion to have the last word". Now is that "a
charge of wrongdoing that is made against a person or other party" or an
opinion or a statement?
4) Scarlet Letters Hanging Heavy - is a nice name for a song.
-------------------
Selma wrote:
I have it on very good record that Gilbert has contributed substantially in
dollar amount to a certain project. I do not know anything else about
Gilbert, except for this bit of information, which I hope Gilbert does not
mind me sharing in his defense.
Cecil:
What a pity you valiantly defend someone you claim to know nothing about
other than that he "has contributed substantially in dollar amount to a
certain project".
Read Gilbert's self written (but not for 'personal aggrandizement') bio
data here:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2003-March/000277.html
There's also a photo for you at:
http://www.goanet.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=281
I am happy to have educated you. I too have contributed substantially in
dollar amounts to a certain project. But like you I will not get into
specifics.
Being at ground level in Aldona and Goa I am involved with a quite a few
local fund raising projects and am hence in the know about anonymous and
non-anonymous donors. So unlike you I can be quite specific in that area.
Here's a few anonymous people who have given generously to causes here:
- Towards the annual Goemchem Prize
- Towards Aldona church repairs
- Towards magazine subscriptions for the Aldona Institute
- Towards Edward Soares Memorial Fund
- Towards Andrew Viegas cancer treatment
- Towards relief for Andrew's child
- Towards gifts for poor children
I could go on but that's not the point. Some of the sums mentioned above
are huge, even in 'dollar amounts'. I have mentioned only these because
they have all been given by Goan doctors living in the USA. I cannot
divulge their names but can assure you none of them is Gilbert.
That of course does not discount the possibility of Gilbert having donated
generously to some projects here in Aldona/ Goa. I just seriously doubt
though that he has given anything other than his gratuitous advice.
---------------------
Selma:
People on this forum seem to see it as their right to make all sorts of
accusations in public, anything from theft to character assassinations. It
is of course a good thing that they live in Goa, where any defamation law
suit can be dealt with by bribing the appropriate MLA.
Cecil:
1) Selma herself has attacked so many people's character here that she
really has no right to complain.
2) Please send me the name of the appropriate MLA that I can bribe to get
out of a defamation suit
3) Just dramatically shooting your mouth off without specific knowledge is
too easy.
4) Plagiarizing other people's articles and publishing them as your own is
'theft'. Read the rules of intellectual property laws. Read a book named
"Amchem Goem". Know who and what you defend.
-------------
Selma:
This post is not such much in defense of Gilbert but more to illustrate the
point of spurious character assassinations on GoaNet, which one is then not
obliged to substantiate with any proof.
Cecil:
Your post is nothing but a defense of Gilbert. You should be the last
person top speak of character assassination on GoaNet having indulged in it
yourself many times. You and Gilbert can continue to scratch each others
backs. I have a life. Cloudy morning here in Aldona but the monsoon
greenery is unbelievable. Am tempted to take the boys for a jump in the
field well. On the other hand I do have lunch guests who will arrive any
moment.
Cheers!
P.S.
In Selma's defense I must state that she has contributed quite generously
in terms of cash and kind towards Goan causes. In fact she herself
volunteered enthusiastically without being forced. I cannot give details of
her contributions as that is a confidential matter. But I must say that
despite her other failings Selma puts her money where her mouth is. The
same cannot be said about the people she defends. And a lot of overseas
Goans who can talk the talk but rarely or never actually walk the talk.
===============
