Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: dennis.l.erlich@support.com
Subject: EFFECTIVE FREE SPEECH
Message-ID: <9509231121.0FY7801@support.com>
References: <440mqa$a5q@three.kiwi.gen.nz>
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Date: Sat, 23 Sep 95 11:21:13 -0700
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sgoehrin@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (scott goehring)

R Agent <rogue@ccs.neu.edu> wrote:
>I have just run into the perfect example of this chilling effect, in
>a current thread I'm involved in right now on a.r.s.  I posted a
>spoof KR (Knowledge Report) on Wonderful Russell Shaw.  He challenged
>my use of a piece of the Tech that says you can't laugh at
>Scientology, which I'd referred to but not quoted.  If I could quote
>the HCOB in question I could effectively refute his challenge.  But I
>cannot, for fear that Helena Kobrin and her pack of
>jackals^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hlawyers will sue me for copyright infringement.

Scott:
>your fear is not rightfully justified.  
 
    Of course it is, Scott.  Perhaps Rogue doesn't want to be 
    dragged into court to defend against their baseless claims.

>Helena is not so stupid as to
>not realize that if she were to sue for obvious fair use that she
>would not only lose on summary judgement but also be sanctioned under
>Rule 11.  attorneys who get sanctioned a lot get brought before the
>disciplinary committee.  Helena is useless to the Church if she loses
>her license to practice law, even temporarily.

    Maybe some people don't want to take the chance of being 
    harassed.  The cult is counting on just that to silence 
    criticism.

>The CoS's intimidation tactics have denied me the right to effective
>speech by limiting my ability to quote the Tech.
>
>you don't have to let yourself be intimidated.
              
    Yea he can take the chance of being dragged into revealing 
    his identity and have his life ruined in court.  Sounds like 
    it's really worth the risk.

>It is morally wrong that I cannot quote the HCOB that would prove me
>right.  My right to free speech has been taken away.  That is wrong.
>
>you are willfully surrendering your right of free speech; nobody is
>taking it away from you.
 
    Bullsh*t, Scott.  I am being sued for, among other things, 
    doing exactly what Rogue fears <and rightly so> to do:
    quoting policy and tek Droppings to illustrate a point.
    
            +--------------------------------------+
           Rev. Dennis L Erlich  * * the inFormer * *
      dennis.l.erlich@support.com  +  inForm@primenet.com
                           "tar baby"