Not too irrelevant, I trust =========== Date sent: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 21:54:45 -0500 (CDT) From: John Aravosis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: THE LIST: 8/25/99 [...] GODHATESFAGS GOES HOME Unless you live under a rock, you're probably aware that over the last week, the Reverend Fred Phelps lost his domain name, www.godhatesfags.com, when some unknown individual surreptitiously transferred it to an individual owning the site www.godlovesfags.com. According to the latest news, the person who received the gift is now returning it to the good Reverend, after some pressure from his employer. Now, I must admit to a chortle or two on hearing of the news, but I have to also admit a bit of concern. Some Internet reporters I spoke with didn't think it was a big deal that Phelps lost his Web address, because he had been reportedly sloppy in the security he used to protect that name - i.e., it was his fault. But yet again I'll beat my drum and say that if companies are going to lure ma and pa onto the Net, claiming its safe and fun for the whole family, then they need to ensure that people won't up and lose their Web sites simply because they aren't computer rocket scientists. What if a large gay organization had lost its site in the middle of the Shepard murder, or during the Senate debate on hate crimes legislation? That would be a loss we could ill-afford. ========
