Return-path: <bennett@www.media3.net>
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 18:56:10 -0500 (EST)
From: Ronald.J.Kimball@Dartmouth.EDU (Ronald J. Kimball)
Subject: Feedback on Policies and Public Relations
To: pr@solidoak.com, policies@solidoak.com, feedback@solidoak.com
Cc: info@peacefire.org

I just read a rather disturbing article in Wired magazine
(http://www.wired.com/news/story/901.html), the New York Times
(http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/1228peacefire.html), the Los Angeles
Times (http://peacefire.org/archives/latimes.on.cybersitter.txt) about Solid
Oak's actions regarding the Peacefire anti-censorship group.

I wish to express my opinion that the actions of your company in this matter
are arrogant and inappropriate.

First, I bring to your attention this quote, taken from the Wired article, from
the president of Solid Oak Software, regarding Bennett Haselton, the 18
year-old founder of Peacefire:

   "According to our sources, he has engaged in
   illegal criminal copyright violations to further his
   juvenile teenaged political agenda, and reduce the
   effectiveness of our product," said Brian Milburn,
   president of Solid Oak Software. 

I find this quote to be extremely offensive to teenagers, particularly those
with an interest in politics and Constitutional rights.  I would point out to
you that the term 'juvenile' need not refer only to children.  According to
Webster's Dictionary, juvenile can mean "reflecting psychological or
intellectual immaturity", a definition which applies more to the behavior of
your company, and of Mr. Milburn in particular, than to the behavior of Bennett
Haselton.  According to the LA Times, Mr. Milburn regularly engages in flame
wars over e-mail with his critics, and often threatens to run home and tell his
lawyer.  (By the way, if Bennett Haselton is old enough to vote, he's certainly
old enough to have a political agenda.)

Further, blocking out all of Media3's sites simply because Solid Oak is
unwilling to deal with Peacefire on a reasonable level is immature foolishness
at its worst.  Apparently, Solid Oak cares more about its own childish agenda
than serving the needs of its customers.  Another quote from the Wired article
demonstrates this:

   "We realize this is an extreme measure and regret
   that our customers will no longer have access to
   any sites serviced by Media3. I am not sure if any
   of our current customers are Media3 subscribers,
   but as they will no longer be able to access their
   email and such, we will offer any affected
   customers complete refunds," Milburn said in the
   email. 


Finally, I would like to suggest an addendum to your Blocking Policies, which I
have copied from your web site:
December 10, 1996 
Solid Oak Software Publishes CYBERsitter Blocking Policies 
We are often asked what our criteria is for adding web sites to CYBERsitter's
filter file. Basically, any site that contains content that parents might find
objectionable for their pre-teen children is a candidate for addition to our
filter file. 

I suggest you add the text: "Any site that contains, or is served by the same
Internet Service Provider as a site that contains, content that Solid Oak
Software finds objectionable is a candidate for addition to our filter file."

Appalled,
Ronald J. Kimball