Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: dennis.l.erlich@support.com
Subject: A Public Apology for acti
Message-ID: <9512132005.0S87I03@support.com>
References: <hatunenDJHys4.HL9@netcom.com>
Organization: L.A. Valley College Public BBS (818)985-7150
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Date: Wed, 13 Dec 95 20:05:37 -0800
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schaf@cgl.ucsf.edu (Chris Schafmeister)

>Hello everyone.
>
>On Tuesday, Dec 12 I discovered to my deep disgust that a binary
>file had been posted to alt.religion.scientology that
>depicted a woman in a sado-masochistic scene being tortured.
>The picture had been crudely altered by cutting and pasting
>the face of Leisa Goodman (the chief Scientology apologize)
>onto the face of the woman depicted in the scene.
>
>I went into IRC and discovered Ron Newman in a similar
>state of outrage over the same picture.
>
>We discussed the situation and shortly came to the
>conclusion that the best way of dealing with the picture
>and the inevitable noise and protestations that it would
>create within alt.religion.scientology was to forge a cancel
>message for the post that offended us both.
>
>We then canceled the post.
>Ron performed the actual cancellation but if he hadn't
>done it I am sure that I would have.
>
>Now I feel that I must publically apologize for what I now consider
>to be a rather hot-headed action on both of our parts.
>
>I personally care little for the honor of Ms. Goodman.
>
>What upsets me about our action is that we had no right
>to decide what you should or should not see.
>
>I am after all the person who conceived of the "Lazarus program"
>(implemented by Homer Smith), a program conceived to notify
>a.r.s readers of forged cancellations.
>
>I now feel that it was wrong and I apologize.
>
>While I don't welcome the original poster to repost
>his/her rather crude paste job, if it gets posted again
>I personally will not raise a hand to cancel it.
>
>.Chris.
  
    That's okay, Chris.  Everybody makes mistakes.  We know 
    you're heart's in the right place.  But if it will help ...

    By the Power vested in me by the ars Central Committee, I
    hereby pronounce you "Free of Blame"(tm) for the act you
    never committed, but only thought about doing.

    Now Newman ... that's another matter.  There's already talk
    of a recall election for Sheriff in 1996.

    We'll just have to see.

            +--------------------------------------+
           Rev. Dennis L Erlich  * * the inFormer * *
                 <dennis.l.erlich@support.com>
                     <inForm@primenet.com>