vasudeva
Bad Taste in your Mouth  SSHOLE |
Posts: 4540 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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5/30/2007 at 16:36 |
> To whom it may concern,
>
> We refer to your website and in particular the link
> http://www.linkswarm.com/viewlinkcomments-36522-.html in relation
> to the band Rudely Interrupted (the band).
>
> We have been instructed to act for the band and have recently
> witnessed its CD launch which received much exposure and support
> from the Australian music industry. Further, the band has been
> broadcast on all major Australian news channels and radio
> stations.
>
> It has come to our client's attention that your website makes
> several references to the band members in an offensive, derogatory
> and degrading manner. Specifically, a post on your site made by
> "Lordkahuna" refers to band members on more than one occasion as
> "retards". You will appreciate how hurtful this is the members of
> the band and the band's families, many of whom are encouraging
> their intellectually disabled children to do something such as
> performing in a band for the first time. The band is flattered
> that a Canadian person is aware of their work but is extremely
> hurt by these references.
>
> From a legal perspective, the references are defamatory which
> provides the band members and their families with a legal claim
> against the Linkswarm site. However, we are not concerned with
> taking the matter any further currently than simply requesting
> you change the reference from "retards" to something that is not
> degrading or defamatory.
>
> We expect that you will appreciate the pain that this has caused
> the people concerned and anticipate your cooperation in this
> matter. Should nothing be done about it, however, we will seek
> instructions from our client to pursue the matter further.
>
> Yours sincerely
>
> Chris [Contact info removed]
Hi Chris.
LinkSwarm is hosted on a webserver located in America. I'm
reasonably confident this puts it within American jurisdiction,
global availability notwithstanding. Thus, it would presumably fall
under the protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution, which,
though I'm no lawyer, and am not familiar with centuries of
first-amendment litigation, I would like to think still enable an
American citizen to call someone a mean name on the Internet without
the obligation to pay reparations.
Your routine threat of legal action is all the more absurd
considering that the claimants are foreign citizens, and while
'retard' is certainly not a politically correct noun, it is
generally understood in lay speech to be an accurate descriptor of the
developmental state described by the claimants' website.
In that regard, I'm inclined to request that you go screw yourself.
Having said that, I find it hard to rest on principle. What would we
be fighting for -- the right to be jerks to some retardeds on
the Internet?
I'm not particularly interested in championing the right to be a
dick to some handicapped folk who are legitimately trying to do
something worthwhile and are quite possibly confused and/or upset by
the whole ordeal.
In that regard, you could have probably just made a friendly request
on their behalf, and dispensed with the lawsuit theatrics. It's my
hope that this represents some of your firm's pro bono work, and
that the band is spending their proceeds productively.
LORDKAHUNA has already changed the link title and the link
description, and I think this should suit your purposes. Check it
out and let me know if you disagree.
____________________ slippedhole> I am on to you and your evil intentions. I am the true protector of this website and am willing to do battle with you. |
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sikki_nixx
Don't be vague. Ask for cream.  SSHOLEPosts: 45 Registered: 4/5/2007 Offline
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5/30/2007 at 16:45 |
pffft... retard lawyers. |
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Braaap
Tender vittles  Posts: 39 Registered: 1/3/2007 Offline
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5/30/2007 at 17:06 |
pffft... retards. |
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Steel
If you want to keep your tongue, don't lick me in the Winter!  SSHOLEPosts: 512 Registered: 10/14/2004 Offline
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5/30/2007 at 17:29 |
Hello Chris,
"Retards" is just the term most of North America uses when making reference to an Australian. The fact that this band is comprised of outstanding members of the handy-capable community was merely a coincidence.
I hope I have cleared this up for all you fucking retards.
Go Fuck Self,
North America
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BigDinWaunakee
SENATOR BABYHEAD  Posts: 147 Registered: 1/24/2007 Offline
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5/30/2007 at 17:45 |
Well, at least they're trying to act American by threatening legal action.
PS.. If you don't give me free Alpha membership soon, I will sue you and everyone that ever posted to LS.
PSS When I get uncheap, I'll spring for the Alpha membership.
Thanks for a great read in your response letter.
____________________ Knight of Swollen Testes |
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LOki
Refusenik  SSHOLEPosts: 485 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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5/30/2007 at 18:24 |
Hi Retard.
LinkSwarm is hosted on a retarded webserver located in Retardica. I'm reasonably confident this puts it within retarded jurisdiction, global retardation notwithstanding. Thus, it would presumably fall under the retarded protections afforded by the U.S. Retards, which, though I'm no retard, and am not familiar with centuries of retarded litigation, I would like to think still enable a Retarded citizen to call some retard a mean name on the Retardnet without the retarded obligation to pay retarded reparations.
Your retarded threat of retard action is all the more retarded considering that the retards are retarded citizens, and while 'retard' is certainly not a politically correct noun, it is generally understood in retarded speech to be an retardedly accurate descriptor of the developmental state described by the retards' website.
In that regard, I'm retarded and request that you go screw your retarded self.
Having said that, I find it retardedly hard to rest on retarded principle. What would we be fighting for -- the retarded right to be retards to some retardeds on the Retardnet?
I'm not particularly interested in championing the retarded right to be a retard to some retarded folk who are legitimately trying to do something retarded and are quite possibly retarded and/or retarded by the whole retarded ordeal.
In that regard, you could have probably just made a retarded request on their retarded behalf, and dispensed with the retarded theatrics. It's my retarded hope that this represents some of your retarded firm's retarded pro bono work, and that the retarded band is spending their retarded proceeds productively.
LORDRETARD has already changed the retarded link title and the retarded link description, and I think this should suit your retarded purposes. Check it out and let me know if you're still retarded.
Fixt.
____________________
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middle_age_man
Mostly Harmless  SSHOLEPosts: 427 Registered: 1/11/2005 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 01:12 |
Before you know it they’ll be asking everyone to sign a pledge or something.
____________________ " Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy."
George Carlin |
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trickbear
SIR BABYHEAD  Posts: 95 Registered: 8/7/2005 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 01:21 |
Amazing. Period.
____________________ Synergy means behavior of whole systems unpredicted by the behavior of their parts taken separately; except on holidays and weekends. |
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mcgarpat
DARTH MENSES  Posts: 413 Registered: 7/10/2005 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 03:57 |
That cost someone 500 ozzie dollars, who is the tard?
____________________ Some people are like Slinkies... not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. |
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nocal
It's insane, this guy's taint  SSHOLEPosts: 821 Registered: 8/25/2004 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 04:42 |
Hello Chris,
"Retards" is just the term most of North America uses when making reference to an Australian. The fact that this band is comprised of outstanding members of the handy-capable community was merely a coincidence.
I hope I have cleared this up for all you fucking retards.
Go Fuck Self,
North America
LOL-tarded |
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The_GoBotSodomizer
SIR BABYHEAD  Posts: 66 Registered: 2/1/2005 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 05:32 |
Vas, next time you're in the Seattle area, I'mma kiss you on the mouf. |
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vasudeva
Bad Taste in your Mouth  SSHOLEPosts: 4540 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 11:26 |
More on this...
Hi
I'm not sure of your name but I appreciate what you've done for the band. You are right, I am giving them pro bono assistance
and yes the families were confused by the link and wanted a "hard hitting" letter. I cautioned against it.
I note that LordKahuna changed the link and then two of your posters made additional comments and the link is now rejected. I
presume you did that.
Thanks again for your help with this. I'll probably spend some time looking around your site from my home account, you've got
some really interesting stuff up there.
Cheers
Chris
It's a big world out there, you cockfaggots. Here's the internet, bringing people together.
____________________ slippedhole> I am on to you and your evil intentions. I am the true protector of this website and am willing to do battle with you. |
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Steel
If you want to keep your tongue, don't lick me in the Winter!  SSHOLEPosts: 512 Registered: 10/14/2004 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 12:59 |
I think my favorite part is The band is flattered that a Canadian person is aware of their work but is extremely hurt by these references.
I my little old mind I imagine the lead singer rockin out on LS, fucking lovin the site... (I think he's TANTRUM) then one day he's like...."oh ho ho... a retard band, made up of retards! This is going to be priceless!!!"
"Wait a fucking second!!! Thats me! GO*DF@C!@Arrrrg!"
"BITCH! GET CHRIS ON THE PHONE FOR I SHALL RUIN THE SHIT OF ALL WHO OPOSE ME!"
I don't know maybe he's not tantrum  |
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tantrum
I'm a big boy now!  SSHOLEPosts: 474 Registered: 11/23/2003 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 13:21 |
Can you please edit my use of the word "retard" with "mentally elaborate" on my afflictive and damaging comment? I must be one of the two posters the lawyer is referring to, and I fucking couldn't sleep last night for fear of the terrifying judicial avalanche poised above my hurtful word-making head. Who knew that words had the power to crush the souls of the unfortunate brained. This is a lesson I shan't soon forget.
Also please edit my use of the word "lawyer" in the previous paragraph to "mongo-cunt rape machine". |
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tantrum
I'm a big boy now!  SSHOLEPosts: 474 Registered: 11/23/2003 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 13:31 |
Steel: I think my favorite part is The band is flattered that a Canadian person is aware of their work but is extremely hurt by these references.
I my little old mind I imagine the lead singer rockin out on LS, fucking lovin the site... (I think he's TANTRUM) then one day he's like...."oh ho ho... a retard band, made up of retards! This is going to be priceless!!!"
"Wait a fucking second!!! Thats me! GO*DF@C!@Arrrrg!"
"BITCH! GET CHRIS ON THE PHONE FOR I SHALL RUIN THE SHIT OF ALL WHO OPOSE ME!"
I don't know maybe he's not tantrum
AHH HAHAHA. It's not me. But yes, that Candanian person remark is suspect and something I wish sprang from my fingers.
Real or imagined...aren't we all? |
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vasudeva
Bad Taste in your Mouth  SSHOLEPosts: 4540 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 13:36 |
Actually, I see this as a case where a lawyer wasn't compelled to be a complete dick at every turn.
If you've known any parents of retardeds, you can probably imagine who the buzzkill-driver is here; the over-weening mommydaddy who struggle to make sure their defective kid has as good a life as anyone else. Part of their toolkit includes image management; making the world seem accessible to the kid, and making the kid look human to everyone else.
To the extent that they want to control our language, I loathe their gameplan and presumption, but then, my strategy doesn't revolve around reacting to theirs; cruelty toward aware and aggrieved parties who are by definition incapable of 'just growing up' is something to be avoided, isn't it?
I'm against animal cruelty for the same reasons -- and not because PETA tells me to be.
____________________ slippedhole> I am on to you and your evil intentions. I am the true protector of this website and am willing to do battle with you. |
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Steel
If you want to keep your tongue, don't lick me in the Winter!  SSHOLEPosts: 512 Registered: 10/14/2004 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 13:53 |
Are we safe to assume that there are services out there, for public use (with enough $), not just government or news media (not sure if they would use it) where the parents can say...
I want to know when "Rudely Interrupted" and "retard*" are found near each other on the whole of the Interweb??
Though I like to think some lurker saw it and was offended by the post to actually contact the family, is it more likely that the "pro bono" lawyer has some kind of spider at work?? |
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mundhra
dread pirate neckbeard  SSHOLEPosts: 1671 Registered: 3/25/2002 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 14:04 |
vasudeva: It's a big world out there, you cockfaggots. Here's the internet, bringing people together.
this lemonade is slightly bitter DELICIOUS.
*pre-emptively edited 2007-05-31 10:14:39 GMT -5 by thought police, north america
____________________ Amero and New World Order: the libertarian version of the rapture. |
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mundhra
dread pirate neckbeard  SSHOLEPosts: 1671 Registered: 3/25/2002 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 14:12 |
Steel: I want to know when "Rudely Interrupted" and "retard*" are found near each other on the whole of the Interweb??
nothing would make me happier than if every single page on the internet contained the words 'retard band' hyperlinking to their website. the only reason people engage in idiotic pissing contests like this is because they almost always get away with it.
then again, this could be the less-than-compassionate mundtroll talking...
____________________ Amero and New World Order: the libertarian version of the rapture. |
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tantrum
I'm a big boy now!  SSHOLEPosts: 474 Registered: 11/23/2003 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 14:29 |
vasudeva: Actually, I see this as a case where a lawyer wasn't compelled to be a complete dick at every turn.
If you've known any parents of retardeds, you can probably imagine who the buzzkill-driver is here; the over-weening mommydaddy who struggle to make sure their defective kid has as good a life as anyone else. Part of their toolkit includes image management; making the world seem accessible to the kid, and making the kid look human to everyone else.
You're probably right. Thanks for helping me focus my hate in the right direction.
Please edit my use of the term "mongo-cunt raping machine", in reference to the lawyer, to "well-intentioned puppet of the bitterly cursed". |
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vasudeva
Bad Taste in your Mouth  SSHOLEPosts: 4540 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 15:11 |
mundhra: vasudeva: It's a big world out there, you cockfaggots. Here's the internet, bringing people together.
this lemonade is slightly bitter DELICIOUS.
*pre-emptively edited 2007-05-31 10:14:39 GMT -5 by thought police, north america
Eh. That's one take, and the delicious frosted side of me sympathizes with it. I'd love Linkswarm to be a shining juggernaut of first-amendment moral piracy, repelling all boarders and correcting all asshats. If I had a huge supply of cash, and/or legal assistance to know right up front which fights were worth fighting, I'd be totally into it. As it stands, I'm not interested in losing my shirt and/or site over it.
Also, in this particular case, I'd feel like a jackass doing it. If it were Wotak wanting me to rescind calling him a fuckless jerk, I'd be all mad max about it from the get-go. But somewhere out there's a group of people running around with the minds of children, all proud of theyselves for not sitting at home sucking on retard welfare and -- queer though it technically is, it is also technically true -- bringing hope to similarly doofus-headed types, and we just came along and shit on their all-but-stillborn pride. I can't feel good about that. I can't. I've tried, like three times.
It probably bears mentioning that we were literally in my mom's kitchen last weekend when I got the email, so I have on several occasions had the thought "Gee, my mom would be so proud of me, bravely hurting retards on the Internet" with a picture of my mom's face in the upper-right-hand corner. It's enough to dampen any man's war-boner.
mundhra:the only reason people engage in idiotic pissing contests like this is because they almost always get away with it.
True and unfortunate. Not sure what to do about it in general. We do get the chance to fight it more often than most, owing to our excessvely user-friendly nature. I've had the thought I should make a contact at the EFF or ACLU so we could get some advice in the future when, say, some dude wants to call the BBB cause someone said "niggerfaggot" out loud. Or, alternately, for a threat that actually makes some sense.
tantrum: Please edit my use of the term "mongo-cunt raping machine", in reference to the lawyer, to "well-intentioned puppet of the bitterly cursed".
____________________ slippedhole> I am on to you and your evil intentions. I am the true protector of this website and am willing to do battle with you. |
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tantrum
I'm a big boy now!  SSHOLEPosts: 474 Registered: 11/23/2003 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 15:29 |
vasudeva: cruelty toward aware and aggrieved parties who are by definition incapable of 'just growing up' is something to be avoided, isn't it?
I'm against animal cruelty for the same reasons -- and not because PETA tells me to be.
And the best possible direction this thread could go (besides frans showing up) is a discussion on cruelty.
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LORDKAHUNA
Don't make me fuk your moustache  SSHOLEPosts: 1669 Registered: 8/5/2003 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 15:33 |
It probably bears mentioning that we were literally in my mom's kitchen last weekend when I got the email, so I have on several occasions had the thought "Gee, my mom would be so proud of me, bravely hurting retards on the Internet" with a picture of my mom's face in the upper-right-hand corner. It's enough to dampen any man's war-boner.
Aw fuck, I bet your mom totally hates me now.
____________________ the rice I had yesterday came out practically verbatim |
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vasudeva
Bad Taste in your Mouth  SSHOLEPosts: 4540 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 15:45 |
LORDKAHUNA: Aw fuck, I bet your mom totally hates me now.
She already did hate you (I told her about your hairdo).
____________________ slippedhole> I am on to you and your evil intentions. I am the true protector of this website and am willing to do battle with you. |
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mundhra
dread pirate neckbeard  SSHOLEPosts: 1671 Registered: 3/25/2002 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 15:53 |
vasudeva: As it stands, I'm not interested in losing my shirt and/or site over it.
i agree. well, at least for one of those. :rightsaidfred:
it really comes down to choosing your battles. sure, i can call disabled kids retards. should i? eh. is the answer different if it's not 'tete-a-tete'? is the answer different if someone asks you to stop? is the answer different if someone tries to force you to stop?
i just went on a 20-page tangent in my head that i'm omitting here.
anyway, concerning EFF, it probably wouldn't be the stupidest thing ever.
* (not like, say, lk's hair)
On 2007-05-31 at 11:58:05, mundhra craps monkey baby
____________________ Amero and New World Order: the libertarian version of the rapture. |
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tantrum
I'm a big boy now!  SSHOLEPosts: 474 Registered: 11/23/2003 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 16:34 |
Also, in this particular case, I'd feel like a jackass doing it. If it were Wotak wanting me to rescind calling him a fuckless jerk, I'd be all mad max about it from the get-go. But somewhere out there's a group of people running around with the minds of children, all proud of theyselves for not sitting at home sucking on retard welfare and -- queer though it technically is, it is also technically true -- bringing hope to similarly doofus-headed types, and we just came along and shit on their all-but-stillborn pride. I can't feel good about that. I can't. I've tried, like three times.
You are acting on the assumption that the members of Rudely Interrupted were actually hurt or offended. Which in my mind hasn't been truly substantiated. AHHRRRRH! FUCK. I can't defend making fun of the mentally doltish either. Just knowing there's potential for them to actually be hurt is a true downer.
Honestly, it's the distasteful use of getting a lawyer involved that chaps my hide. It becomes forced morality through softcore threats of legal action. In this instance, they may have the high ground regarding the subject matter but not their tactics.
The heavy-handed approach is repellent, but hey, I heard somewhere that Australians are all descendants of criminals, so maybe it's to be expected. |
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mundhra
dread pirate neckbeard  SSHOLEPosts: 1671 Registered: 3/25/2002 Offline
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5/31/2007 at 17:04 |
^ agree on all points, especially the dirty rotten criminals one.
* although no one has freedom from being offended, not even the disabled. jus'ayin.
On 2007-05-31 at 12:07:06, mundhra craps monkey baby
____________________ Amero and New World Order: the libertarian version of the rapture. |
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