Normally, I don't post or discuss the unique crank e-mail I get from the world at large. I assume you can figure out that running a site like textfiles.com brings out some interesting folks, with some very special things to say to me.
However, this showed up in my e-mail box today:
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 90 16:45:43 -0600 From: Black OperativeTo: jason@textfiles.com Subject: Anarchist Files on your site Hello. Im with the Anti Internet Lamer Group COPSL. (COVERT OPERATIONS LAND) We try and eliminate lamers, warez, and anarchists. We have been looking through some anarchist sites. We found you had a section on anarchists. I realize you have many mirror Sites. But you could help us by taking down or removing some files from your anarchist section on your MAIN site. Personally, I learned allot from your site on other sections. I used to goto it alot untill I got up in this Anti Lamer thing. Please help us fight lamers by doing the above. Its your choice. Remove all anarchist files, remove most, or some. We also know that many people get their information from your site. And Anarchy is not a good thing. I hate this part but I must do it as a COPSL Agent. We have to make a statement. "We have taken down many anarchist sites before for not cooroperating with us. Not only have we reported them to their web server hosts, but we have reported each member affiliated to them to their ISP and the FBI Offices that are on anti civilian Anarchy. They have all been delt with to the fullest extent of the law. Sites that have some anarchy material in them, we have asked to remove that material. Most go with it but the ones that don't get shut down and reported to their ISP's. So the Covert Operations Land asks you to take down any material that has any connections with information on anarchy. Thank You." So, Jason, We have noted it. We sent this on the 6th. After you have taken action, you MUST e-mail us after. This must happen within 20 days, or else we'll have to take action. Thanks. Any Questions or comments visit our site at: http://www.members.tripod.com/copsl/ Get your Free E-mail at http://covertoperations.zzn.com ____________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE Web and POP E-mail Service in 14 languages at http://www.zzn.com.
Obviously, the years of sandblast-like front-line experience of running my websites
means that I'm not exactly running to delete the (general) section that Mr. Operative
has demanded I remove. But I figure I can piece out some of what's so wrong with his
writing for a moment, and make people understand the (actual) danger here.
The poor spelling in the letter usually indicates youth, although I've been burned by
that assumption before, but let's assume he's under 25, because one usually knows
how to spell "dealt" after their first quarter-century. If that's so, then we have
someone who may very likely be telling me how to conduct myself online when I've been
online for longer than he's been alive. Very poor, sir.
What I think bothers me here is using the spectre of the FBI and threats to my
ISP to tell me to censor myself. Life in this world is tough enough (I spend hundreds
of dollars to run TEXTFILES.COM without taking any sort of ad banners or trying
to sell anyone anything) and the times we're currently living through too filled
with stupid initiatives and overboard reactiveness to not make one pause, even if
for the merest second, over such a threat. It is not to be used lightly, to bring
the forces of the government down upon someone else. Lives have been wrecked
over nothing by crying a false alarm and shouting "J'accuse" at someone because
you decided you didn't like them this week.
The website that they have at the tripod.com site (which I encourage everyone to
read) is a good example of poorly-thought out wording, cramped writing style,
and someone who thinks he's helping the world when all he's doing is making it
a little more weak, a little less open. For shame.
I invite the users of TEXTFILES.COM to write to
COPSL
and give your perspective on their requests and mission.
- Jason Scott
January, 2002