Time: Wed Oct 30 13:15:11 1996 To: Bill Utterback <butterb@connecti.com> From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar] Subject: Unwanted E-mail Cc: Bcc: At 01:52 PM 10/30/96 -0600, you wrote: >At 07:08 AM 10/30/96 -0700, you wrote: >>Dear Bill, >> >>I grew very concerned >>when I asked him to remove >>me from his broadcast list, >>and he did nothing about it >>for what I considered an >>unacceptable amount of time. >> >>Then, when he finally did >>remove me from his list, >>I did continue to get his >>posts to lists we share, and >>I was too upset to notice the >>difference. I simply escalated >>until it became a crisis for >>someone at his end, and we >>all worked together to figure >>it out. If you want to call it >>harassment, that is your choice >>of words. When he first put me >>on his list, I asked him why he >>did not first ask my permission >>to do so, and he did not answer. >> >>When I asked him if he was spending >>federal funds at the CDC to be >>doing what he is doing, he did >>not answer. I do not think that >>the man is being straight with me. >> >>So, with that introduction to him, >>I did overreact when he did not >>remove my name more quickly from >>his private list. I take full >>responsibility for failing to >>distinguish his private posts from >>the ones he was posting to PIML. >> >>When I figured that out, I apologized >>to him, and he accepted. But, now >>there are the two remaining problems: >>why did he put me on his private >>broadcast list, which he feeds very >>VERY frequently? And does he spend >>the better portion of his working >>day feeding the Internet, using >>federal funds for same? I don't mean >>to be disloyal here, but I have some >>very serious questions about what >>the CDC does from day-to-day. I feel >>I have a right to know answers to these >>questions, particulary his decision to >>ignore my question as to why he put my >>email address on a very active broadcast >>schedule without first getting my >>permission. Disk space may be free for >>the CDC, but not for me. Finally, I once >>politely asked him to do "blind copies", >>to prevent long recipient lists in his >>email. He lapsed into bureau-speak about >>his not having software which will do that, >>LAN policy, and some other garbage. I asked >>him why he could not make local calls to >>the nearest ISP, and he came back with more >>bureau-speak about CDC policy, etc. etc. >> >>So, my question is this: is it CDC policy >>to underwrite his day-to-day activities >>feeding the Internet with the kinds of stories >>he posts on PIML and elsewhere, and does the >>CDC also underwrite the work required to screen >>incoming email for reposting on other such >>lists? If they receive federal funds, and >>we know that they do, what is their authority >>to spend such funds in this manner, if any? >>Every American has a right to know how federal >>funds are being spent, because this is our >>government. Do you agree, or do you not agree? >>I await your answer. >> >>Thank you. >> >>/s/ Paul Mitchell > > >Paul: > >I can not answer questions about Roger's actions, so I am sending >him a copy of your message above. Perhaps he will answer your >questions. > >I know that Roger works at CDC and uses a government computer. I >do not know how he manages to find so much time for personal >business. I assume he must come to work early, stay late, or >somehow arrange "off-the-clock" time to use the computer for his >e-mail message service. If his time spent sending e-mail is his >own, I don't see how government funds are involved except for the >tiny amount of electrical power used to run the computer. I am >not moved to quibble about pennies spent for electrical power. >Perhaps Roger will explain to you how he arranges his time so that >the public is not paying him while he works with personal e-mail. >It seems to me that question of a government employee would not be >out of line. > >Bill Bill, Thank you. I don't expect people to agree with me, but it is always nice when they do. For Roger to be selectively screening all his incoming mail, for later re-posting, he MUST be reading one huge amount of incoming email. All of this takes time, as you know, even if one is some fantastic speed reader. On a related question, have you ever heard the phrase "Cancer Industry"? /s/ Paul Mitchell
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Supreme Law School: E-mail