Feedback starting January 21, 1998
My comments are in [red brackets].
From: "Kaplan, Gabrielle C" <Gabrielle.Kaplan@PSS.Boeing.com>
Subject: Women who Run with the Bunnies
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 13:39:30 -0800
Mr. Barrett, I have been reading your story with sympathetic dismay at the dimwitted and illogical behavior of your former employer. And I've also been brewing some wholesome feminist outrage for the pair of simpering blobs of perfumed ooze that you worked with, the very same who got you canned. Any woman who claims that she isn't strong enough, or lacks the personality and gumption to handle what, in her opinion, is objectionable material - instead of sucking it up, clicking "Back" and moving on with her life - deserves to be swallowed in chunks by Boa constrictors like the fluffy rodent she is. Am I right?
GABY KAPLAN
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 13:51:24 +0100
From: "Morkholm Aslak" <morasl@hs.nki.no>
Subject: Hi Cameron!
Now your story has reached Norway, and some friends and I have just read it.
First: we felt ill when reading your story, and are as surprised how narrow-minded people can be as you are.
Second: we know that a man with your resources will reach as far as he likes anyway, and this will not stop you at all. Find an employer who values your skills, and knows how to judge you from who you are. -And has the personality to handle threats of "either he goes, or we goes" with: "Well here we don't like being threatened. We don't like customers who rush in here and make such demands. If your ultimatum stands, I advise you to make reality about it. Gooday". - Maybe a phrase for an upcoming novel?
Good luck to you sir! We like people who can stand up and fight!
Aslak Mørkholm
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 20:02:27 +0100
From: Michalsen <kjartanm@c2i.net>
Subject: Fiction
Hi !
I've just read some of your story , and I just want to say keep up the good work and good luck in finding a new place to work - A place where you can keep on writing and do your work .
It's not you there's somthing wrong with , it your old boss who don't know the difference between fiction and the real world . I just hope he NEVER plays games like doom or read books like Jurrasic Park... What would than happen to his mind ??
so , good luck - Kjartan !
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 00:39:47 -0800
From: Hal Hempe <halhempe@earthlink.net>
Subject: Because I read about you in my newspaper or heard about you on the radio
Greetings from Mira Loma( unincorporated Riverside((CA)) County), where..
Men are Men, sheep are scared, the local AM/PM Mini-Mart proudly sports a banner proclaiming "Over 2750 meth cooks served nightly!!!", and crime-stopping legislators will soon offer young officers of the law 50% off an ALREADY LOW, LOW home mortgage rate should they take up residence on our troubled streets.
The Press-Enterprise - Monday, January 19th carried an article entitled "Home-page content can cost you you job" by Bill Dedman of the New York Times News Service". And an AP photo of you and your..., hey, you wouldn't know where on Plateau Island Robyn hid the "Conversion to Full Automatic Fire" blueprints, would you? Typically I don't consent to web authors requests for info, but since I'm back tonight to get the exact wording of that saying scrawled on the latrine wall, I guess I owe you at least this much.
Thank you,
Hal
P.S. Splain to me Lewtz-E: How can one not get out of their mind a saying which they can not remember? Time 'ta find out. Thanks again.
[Wow. I am still deciphering this one.]
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 02:44:34 -0500
From: Mord <mord@rum.org>
Subject: comp.dcom.telcom is where i found out from
Heh, I actually read about what happened because of a posting of the NYTimes and CNN URL's in comp.dcom.telecom. I read your little thing on the 3 types of people, thought it was pretty amusing (the god freaks scare me the most.) While I do think it's bullshit that they fired you, I agree with your no lawsuit stance, i think the whole country would be better off with 1/1000th of the current lawsuits winding through our courts and a millionth of the current number of lawyers.
Anyway just thought I'd let you know where I saw about it.
From: wdg@hal-pc.org (Bill Garfield)
Subject: Re: Being Fired for Personal Web Site Content
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 03:17:15 GMT
One of the most important things we must all remember is that the private sector workplace is not a Democracy, but a Dictatorship. Period!
While we can argue until we're blue in the face about "your rights" in this matter, the simple fact of the matter is that your employer discovered something about you which they found sufficiently offensive or threatening or disruptive to workplace decorum as to warrant your termination. You can of course appeal and file a wrongful termination lawsuit, but I can just about assure you that you won't be getting your job back.
One problem we must be willing to address is the public outcry over the number of sexual perverts that are found working in our schools. The public perceives this as a serious threat, whether real or imagined and school administrators, whether in post-secondary or primary schools, in fear of their own jobs, are forced to take swift (and often harsh) action whenever an "incident" occurs that brings to light certain matters not previously known that could bring into question an educator's sexual orientation.
What we find acceptable between consenting adults behind closed doors we also find unacceptable when exposed to public viewing and scrutiny. By writing the sexually explicit articles and posting them in a public place you have opened a window into your background, or darker side. Bluntly stated, you have shot yourself in the foot.
[I wasn't working for a school. I was working for a marketing firm, teaching grown adults. Sheesh.]
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 18:17:57 -0800
From: Mike Van Pelt <mvp@netcom.com>
Subject: "The Recent Unpleasantness"
I heard about "the fuss" from my writers' group. I believe the message posted to the group was from the AP story. I came across your web page from your posting in comp.dcom.telecom.
I think you're taking the right approach. A lawsuit would most likely make more money for the lawyers than for you.
As I said to my writers' group, it sounds like your ex-employer is a real butthead. (Making an entry in my "Never work here" file...) Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible to make it illegal to be a butthead, at least, not without inflicting a far worse disease.
Good luck!
Mike Van Pelt
