response 47 of 335:

Oct 24 18:49 UTC 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   Phil Thomas
24 October 2001                                         pthomas@arbornet.org


PHIL THOMAS JOINS HOWARD TICKET

NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, DC - Phil Thomas, known online as "pthomas," has
announced his intent to run for the Cyberspace Communications Board of
Directors as an ally of James Howard. He noted the existence of a
management culture disrespectful of individual rights on the Cyberspace
Communications Board. 

"I am shocked and appalled by some policies that they have implemented,"
said Thomas. He particularly noted the vaguely totalitarian policy of
requiring prospective members to provide identification, often containing
sensitive personal information, to "Grexian bureaucrats."

"Another absolutely absurd policy they've given their stamp of approval to
is the publicly-readable status of their 'scribble log,'" Thomas said. 
"This not only exposes Cyberspace Communications to crippling litigation,
but it eviscerates the user's right to control of his intellectual
property." He declared that, if elected, he would "tirelessly work to
repal" these and other "absurd, unreasonable, and just plain wrong"
policies.

ABOUT PHIL THOMAS - Phil Thomas lives in Northwest Washington, DC. He is
Executive Vice President of the Arbornet Board of Directors and is
pursuing undergraduate degrees in international politics and political
science.

response 49 of 335:

Oct 24 19:06 UTC 2001

As I recall the Board was the first to institute the policy.

response 51 of 335:

Oct 24 19:18 UTC 2001

Since Grex is incorporated in the state of Michigan, is it not required
that board officers at least have to be residents of Michigan?  If this
is so, then allowing out of state residents to serve on the board would
seem to limit the pool of board members eligible to serve as officers.

response 53 of 335:

Oct 24 19:29 UTC 2001

51: The MCL has no such requirement. You can be sure that one among the
numerous attorneys on M-Net would have discovered it when we started
having out-of-state directors.

response 55 of 335:

Oct 24 19:31 UTC 2001

Besides, there doesn't seem to be much concern here when it comes to the
Berne Convention.

response 57 of 335:

Oct 24 19:39 UTC 2001

Did your campaign manager suggest you use the "pompous asshole" tactic?

Admit to being a troll and nothing more significant than that.

I'm going to become a paying member tonight so I can vote against you.

response 59 of 335:

Oct 24 19:41 UTC 2001

I love the flip-flop Jamie has done on the DMCA.  A year or so ago
he was into civil disobedience against it, when he posted the DeCSS
code on M-net; now he cites it as his authority when he uses his
back-door root powers to suppress an item in M-net's General conference
which portrays him in an unflattering light.

Let me repeat that for long-time Grexers, just in case you didn't 
get it the first time.

Jamie used his back-door root powers to quash an item in the M-net
conference.  This wasn't ancient history; it was last month.

response 61 of 335:

Oct 24 19:42 UTC 2001

(er, "...an item in the M-net General conference.")

response 63 of 335:

Oct 24 20:15 UTC 2001

Again... you are an asshole.

This brings up the topic of speakerphones.  I have now called you an asshole
twice.  See how easy it is to be abrasive in this kind of disconnected
environment.

In person, I *probably* would have only said it once.  


But my expression would have been enough to cover the remainder of my attacks.
Much more efficient.

response 65 of 335:

Oct 24 20:47 UTC 2001

Hey... I spend my time and energy to point out your personal 
shortcomings so that you can become a better person.

Now, to pause the flame war...

I don't believe you are serious about your candidacy, so I don't see 
why you get angry when I have some fun with you.  The 
miscellaneous "shitdick" comments scream your tongue-in-cheek attitude 
toward being elected.

A candidate should be prepared for mudslinging in this day and age, but 
you provide your own mud.  

Calling me an asshole shows a lack of public relations etiquette not to 
mention a hot-headed attitude that makes you unlikely to be able to 
handle pressure.

I can call you an asshole in a public forum becuase I'm not a candidate.

Asshole.

response 67 of 335:

Oct 24 20:52 UTC 2001

Heheheh.  How quickly grex flares to Jamie.