Feedback starting January 12, 1998
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 15:50:47 -0600
From: "Michael E. Williams" <mwilliams@hsv-alab.mitre.org>
Subject: Nice Site
Heard of your plite on Judy Jarvis show today. All I can give you is a little support in the way of words, but they would only be the clichés that you have already heard. It seems to me that you have a great future by the way you have sought to make public this type of injustice. Keep it up... Hope to see you with the Pultizer some time!
From: Sgkideo <Sgkideo@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 21:59:12 EST
Subject: Comments
I just read the article in the NYT, and thought I'd check out your site.
Nice clean design and excellent speed of navigation. I find it hard to believe you still have not found employment in your field, relocating to either coast would pretty much guarentee imediate employment at considerably more the $8/hour. If you are interested in New York, obtain a copy of the Village Voice (They run ads for many Web design shops), or the Sunday NYT Classifieds.
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 18:39:42 -0600
From: dhaugen@barnesville.polaristel.net (diane haugen)
Subject: nice article!
Cameron,
I thought the NYT's article was really nice -- not bitter, but low-key, raising the issue that companies are doing these kinds of things.
Personally, I can see their not wanting their name on some sites, but if their name isn't there, I don't see that they have any business in controlling their employee's content when the work is done on the employee's own time at at the employee's own expense.
I'm afraid I am a great proponent of working for one's self. There's an awful lot of ups and downs in this, but I have absolutely no tolerance for office politics and seeing other people paid more for doing poorer quality work than do.
Perhaps there will always be people who need the security of going to the same place every day and knowing there will be a paycheck on Friday, but I do believe more and more of the work force is learning that they are sacrificing their happiness for that kind of security.
My father's generation worked for the same company till they retired or died. In my generation, many are still working for companies, but not the same one's they went to work with after they graduated. Many of my friends of many years are trapped in that paycheck mode and don't even want to think about working for themselves even though they really have no job security and are being required to work 60 and 80 hours a week for 40 hours pay, with no overtime. The big question is whether the young people of your generation will have the stamina to tell the corporate think folk to take a hike.
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 12:08:04 -0500
From: Harold Sokolsky <sok@cyberenet.net>
Reply-To: sok@cyberenet.net
Subject: Great
Nice site. You lost your job, but not your sense of humor. And look at all the publicity. Good luck. Hal
From: "Fishman, Jennifer S" <FishmanJ@companywithheld.com>
To: "'cameron@michweb.net'" <cameron@michweb.net>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 09:00:33 -0500
Hi Cameron,
I am a 26 year old Graphic Designer (student) working at a repressed Corporate Insurance Company. I got an e-mail this morning with your NY Times article in it. I wasn't sure what it had to do with me, but I guess since I design and maintain websites, the company is always looking into internet security issues, corporate policies, and codes of conduct. As it is, I can't even get into sites such as School of Visual Arts (because of inappropriate images, etc.).
I totally disagree with your former employer, and have a feeling a lot of companies will be e-mailing you & you will find a great job from this publicity!
One more thing...isn't it ironinc? I received the NY Times e-mail from one of my higher-ups - who only a month ago called me into his office to look at some 'inspiring web sites' for an upcoming project. He 'accidently' typed in a pornographic web site, and sat there watching it upload in faux bewilderment, while I became increasingly furious. He was not quick to click out out if the site, and I walked out in disgust.
Haven't spoken to him since. ( I can't look at the School of Visual Arts page but, he can access porn?)
Good Luck in your job search! Can't wait to graduate and get out of the corporate world.
From: Mike Chayne <MCHAYNE@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 03:50:29 EST
Subject: Who needs sleep?
I hate you Cameron! I'm gonna be up all night!
I just read Snowsex and it's fucking brilliant!
Now I have to read more AND e-mail my friends!
From: Mike Chayne <MCHAYNE@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 03:45:53 EST
Subject: Wake me when it's over!
I read the NY Times piece at lunch today and was shocked! What's wrong with these people?!
While it's very late and I have to go to work tomorrow (where I will do my best to write nasty things on their time!), I look forward to reading your stuff tomorrow.
In the meantime, I have a little story that you might find amusing.
I have a page myself that started with me writing weekly synopsises describing MTV's The Real World. I went out of my way to insult everyone and everything I possible could. I spared no one!
Halfway through the series (Episode 12&13), a boyfriend of one of the cast members read my stuff and believed what I said over what his girlfiend said!
Can you imagine?!
Next thing you know, I'm getting e-mails from these two insecure lunatics and eventually a phone call!
We live in a screwed up world Cameron! Let's hope we find a way through!
When I update my page later this week, I'll be sure to give you a link somewhere!
(unless my writing scares you!)
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 00:42:33 -0500
From: Dan H <dthouls@bellatlantic.net>
To: cameron@michweb.net
Subject: Your disclaimer
It's late on Monday night and I have you to thank for this current bout of insomnia! I just read the NY Times article on your situation and broke out in fits of laughter at the end, during the excerpts from your fiction disclaimer. You should really get on their (NYTimes) case about not featuring your URL more prominently; I had to decode it from the extremely blurry screen shot of the browser. Anyway, I hope all this publicity lands you a lucrative position somewhere, if only to spite the unenlightened with whom you have tangled. I'll be reading some of your stuff another night, one when I need less sleep.
Good Luck, Dan Houlihan, in NJ.
From: Joshua <Macitude@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 19:26:12 EST
To: cameron@michweb.net
Subject: Love your work...
I stumbled across your page. I'd heard about it and wanted to know what it was all about. I must say, you're a great writer. It's wrong that you got fired for that. The world has gotten so P.C. that no one can even breathe any more without a law suit.
Here's to all the luck you can get from me. I hope you win my friend.
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 17:38:03 -0500
From: Matt House <xwindoze@ibm.net>
Reply-To: xwindoze@ibm.net
To: Cameron Barrett <cameron@michweb.net>
Subject: Re: Cameron Barrett in the NY Times
I'm guessing your former employer is slapping his header and crying, "Doh!" even though he wasn't mentioned in the article. The New York Times is the best newspaper around, and you should quite take it to heart that they felt your cause was a worthy one. Did that article go into the print edition, as well? If it did, then you've got a lot of people reading that article. Enough that you may not be working the night shift much longer.
From: "Leah Hill" <leah000@hotmail.com>
To: cameron@michweb.net
Subject: 1/12/98
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 13:38:48 PST
Hi! My boss showed me the article about you in the NYTimes. I've got a personal website too with my short stories and interestingly enough when my prospective boss saw my sight she decided to hire me. I have a story entitled "Fortune Teller Fish" and she's got a fortune teller fish in her office -- the rest is history. Anyway, I'm doing the websites for AHSR (Association for Health Services Research) and for the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression (maybe they could help you out???). So I was very interested to read your tale. Good Luck! And feel free to check out my stories or write back . . .
From: Dct simon <Dctsimon@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 15:08:23 EST
Subject: A vote for solidarity
Just heard about what happened to you... Very discouraging.
Since I work for a company, much like you did, that specializes in online, I would be shocked for them to take any professional action over any web material I posted!!
You have inadvertently created a very large warning sign for anyone who thought that their creativity could be shared without consequence.
Subject: You're probably getting a million of these messages but...
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 98 11:43:53 -0500
From: Jason Gerry <jason@conceptx.com>
I just wanted to wish you luck in your battle, which is exactly what you're facing. It's a shame that the world is filled with people who aren't comfortable with anything out of the ordinary, but in most circles, that's the way the world works.
How do I feel about it? I think it stinks. Yet, I also empathize a bit with the situation of your former employer. I own a small company... A very small company! If any of my employees or contractors (or clients, for that matter) decided to sue me, for any reason, I almost certainly would have to shut my doors. I couldn't afford the legal costs incurred by any serious lawsuit. So how do I deal with that? Well, I'll be honest.
I prefer not to hire women to work for me, generally because they are going to be the most likely source of legal trouble. That's a sad testament, but that's the way it is. My primary goal is to stay in business.
Finally, I applaud you for 'putting yourself out there,' which is what you do every time you publish a piece of work. I've done it myself, mostly in print, some on the web... However you do it, though, you share a piece of yourself, and in that pursuit many people discover places within themselves that can't be found any other way. They grow, they change, and most importantly, they learn about themselves. So how can what you did be wrong?
Sometimes, a bitter end makes you question your noble means.
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 03:32:02 -0800
To: Cameron Barrett
From: Dave Winer
Subject: Re: NY Times Article on Cameron Barrett
Go get em Cam. You're a brave man.
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 07:26:00 +0000
From: pcarlin <pcarlin@angel.net>
Reply-To: pcarlin@angel.net
Subject: NYT
Mr. Barrett,
I read about you today in the NYT. I cannot believe your former employer can legally get away with what they did to you. Can you provide me with the advertising agency's business address. I'd like to share a piece of my mind with them.
[Actually, I cannot. I'm not out to hurt my former employer in any way. If you want to tell my employer something, dig around long enough on my site and you'll find out who I used to work for. However, I ask you to please not flame my former employer. It's rude and un-called for.]
