Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology From: dennis.l.erlich@support.com Subject: THE NON-SCANDAL OF AN 1/2 Message-ID: <9509190818.0BO7A00@support.com> Organization: L.A. Valley College Public BBS (818)985-7150 X-Mailer: TBBS/PIMP v3.35 Distribution: world Date: Tue, 19 Sep 95 08:18:31 -0700 Lines: 178 Robert J. Woodhead I joke around with Bob: >[A lot of flamage attacking me for defending Andy Greenberg.] Ha, ha, ha. You call that flamage? Thin-skinned newby. >In the interests of rational discourse, I will attempt to answer your >questions. How about in the interest of a nice chat. >Robert J. Woodhead >>I've already written briefly in defense of Andy, but given the recent >>toasting Dennis and others gave him, I felt something more in-depth was >>in order, especiallu in light that I was the one who pointed him to >>a.r.s. > So he's got you to vouch for him. Big deal. You are a complete > unknown to me. You may be doing advertising for his practice. > This all smells like sizzling lunch meat to me. > >I am not "advertising for his practice." I am his friend, and a satisfied >client. So that you may not consider me a total unknown, allow me to >introduce myself: Gee. What a f*cking concept! >I've been on the net since the days of bang paths. I first made a name for >myself (for being a jerk) on the PLATO system back in the '70s -- I had a >whole notesfile (newsgroup) called "balsanotes" dedicated to what a bozo >I was. You musta thought you were pretty special back then, huh? >In the '80s I grew up a little. While on an enforced sabbatical from Cornell >(too many computer games, not enough term papers) I co-wrote "Wizardry" with >Andy. It became one of the first hit computer games. I later wrote >educational software, then was one of the founding-fathers of the Macintosh >anti-virus field, with Interferon and Virex. The former, as well as other >programs I wrote, >were "Charityware;" satisfied users were asked to send in charitable >donations. [characterization ommitted - Bob's being polite] >At one point in the mid-80's, I was invited to visit Bridge Publications to >discuss turning Battlefield Earth into a computer game series. Nothing came >of >this after the first meeting; I thought they were a bit kooky, and they >probably >felt the same way about me. [That sound you hear is the OSA checking the >files] Hey, maybe your file got put into the Current Contacts or Current Ops. We'd never know would we? Tell us more about this contact. Describe the conversations. Who did you talk to? What did they say? >In the '90s I started subtitling Japanese animation for fun, and turned it >into >a real business. I went over to Japan to write more computer games and ended >up >getting a wife and children. Now I'm back in the States. > >I've been lurking on a.r.s for quite a while. The fact that many of the >people >on a.r.s. who are in the best position to do something positive with regard to >the CO$ are busy shooting themselves in the feet distresses me greatly. Don't worry. We'll get over it an move on. We still got *real* fish frying. Meantime I pass the time feelin' out people like you and Andy. 'Cause you make me so curious. >Should you require further references, I give you my standard one: "anyone who >posts frequently on rec.arts.anime." While they may not always agree with my >business decisions regarding their beloved anime, they will, I believe, vouch >for my integrity. See. I don't have any idea what you're talking about and futhermore I don't care enough to find out. You didn't even take the time to tell us. Why should I waste my time looking? >>Andy is one of the finest people I know. He is a man I would trust with >>my life, nay, with my children's lives - and not just because I have him >>on retainer (grin). > Gee, that's so funny. Who else is retaining him? Are they > gonna speak up for him on this forum too? > >Andy has many clients in the Tampa area. Huh. So is Flag. Lotsa scienos down there, I hear. >Whether or not they read a.r.s. I do >not know. If you are implying that Andy (and possibly I) are agents of the >CO$, all I can say is this: when I first asked Andy for his opinion of the >Lerma case, his reply was that he would have to first check to see if there >were any conflicts (eg: had his firm every represented the CO$?). He later >reported that they had not, and proceeded to discuss the case with me, some >of his thoughts have been shared on the newsgroup. It was my initial >questions >to him that sparked his interest in a.r.s. in particular, though he was aware >of the CO$' local activities in the Tampa/St. Pete area. He did a "conflicts check" with his firm to see if he could post? This sounds less than casual. > Does he wear those cute sailor suits and do toilets too? >I have never caught him cross-dressing, but he does unplug toilets on >occasion. Nice. >>Face facts, people. The church is using the law, and more importantly, >>the _legal system_ to attack you. The legal system is a codified set of >>rules; it's a computer game with lots of people constantly tweaking the >>code. > Nobody owns the law (supposedly). The law is not someone's > intellectual property to tinker with for their own benifit. > At least it shouldn't be. So your analogy shows your own > twisted view of the law relating to IP. >I never claimed the law was someone's property (actually, it is everyone's >property). Nor does my statement make any claim regarding my view of IP. >Please don't twist my words. People tinkering with it like unbugging a computer game? Sounds like you think it's like someone's IP who has a right to improve to their liking. I'm curious how you'd go about "tweaking the code", Bob. Tell me how it's done. >The law is the law. Every case with new facts tweaks it. It is a living body >of rules, and as new circumstances occur, the legal system tries to come up >with >good solutions to the problems these circumstances pose. There is nothing >wrong >with this; it is a good thing. But how would you do it? You personally. >We may not always like what the law has to say, but we must either respect it >or be willing to face the consequences of breaking it ("don't do the crime if >you can't do the time.") Sometimes, civil disobedience is the only way to >gain the attention needed to push the law where it needs to go, and those who >strongly believe in a cause may indulge in it. But they are pushing against >a heavy inertia (a good thing, it keeps the law from swaying in high political >winds), and must be ready to face the music if the legal system does not >agree. The characterization of anything that has gone on on ars as CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE is a total lie. It is because of continued mischaracterizations such as this that I will unfortunately be in your face for a while, I guess. >As citizens, respect for the law is one of the cornerstones of society. >Changes >should be made carefully. Cautiously. Respectfully. So I tell you respectfully "With all due respect, you are full of sh*t. I don't have to be respectful. In fact, I reserve the right to be completely disrespectful to any man. I ain't gonna change. And I ... WON'T BACK DOWN! >The CO$ abuses the legal system. But remember, "Two wrongs do not make a >right." >Andy's whole point is that a.r.s protesters must realize that (a) the CO$ uses >the legal system to attack people (duh!) and (b) the CO$ has more money than >the [ Continued In Next Message... ]