Please stop these messages to library tech list

[Paul Deane]

Paul Deane
Answers, Inc.
answers at interaccess.com
To: Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at library.berkeley.edu>
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 1998 11:27 AM
Subject: Re: Wireless mouse


> Are these people for real?  I thought this was a joke at first (especially
>given the spelling of the e-mail address -aminals4u) and then I checked out
>the website.  It's serious!  I mean no disrespect to *any* animal lovers
>(or activists--there are certainly a lot of abuses occurring out there!)--I
>am an avid pet owner with many cats and even more fish, but this practice
>seems really ridiculous and at the very least, ill-conceived.
> My guess is that this is a filtering device of some sort looking for the
>word <mouse> (among others).  The fact that it disregarded the word
><wireless> and disregarded the fact that it was sniffing a technical list
>(where the word <mouse> would be used many times in a *totally* animal-free
>context is ample evidence (to me) that filters are certainly not infallible
>(my apologies to David Burt, et al.)--especially if they are improperly
>configured (as this one clearly is).  I don't know about you all, but
>personally, I'm gonna complain to these folks...<sheesh!>
>
>Jason
>
>At 07:12 AM 7/22/98 -0700, you wrote:
>>Dear Friend,
>>
>>As a part of our email alert service, we, the members of the American
>>Society for Small Animal Welfare, routinely monitor e-waves for postings
>>that point out potential abuses to animals.
>>
>>Our "e-wave sniffer" intercepted your message to
>><web4lib at library.berkeley.edu>.  In this message, the terms <use the
>>mouse> and <physically> and <worked> and <device> caught our attention.
>>We are sure you are not intending any harm to small animals, but we want
>>to make sure you are aware that animals taken from their natural
>>environment and used for human purposes suffer more greatly than most of
>>us are aware.
>>
>>If this message is in error, we apologize, and we hope you will
>>understand that this small inconvenience is worth the thousands of small
>>animal lives that can potentially be saved through this process.
>>If you are involved in, or know of anyone involved in, using <mouse> for
>>any purposes that could be considered harmful, we urge you to reconsider
>>what you are doing.  Did you know that 82% of small animal deaths are
>>unnecessary? Did you also know that small animals feel pain, fear,
>>emotional attachment, and separation anxiety just as humans do?  Did you
>>also know that many small animals have been found to have the same
>>musculature as that which produces smiles and frowns in human beings?
>>
>>Please, remember that there is not all that much that separates many of
>>us from our small animal friends.  Only you can help <mouse> if <mouse>
>>is in need.
>>
>>Again, if this message is in error, we apologize.  For more information
>>on efforts to treat animals humanely, please visit:
>>http://members.aol.com/Alto222/grotto.html
>>
>>Thank you.
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>______________________________________________________
>>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>
>>
>********************************************************
>Jason Clabaugh
>Head of Library Systems
>Xavier University of Louisiana
>New Orleans, LA 70125-1098
>Voice:    (504) 485-5290
>FAX:      (504) 485-7917
>E-mail:   jclabaug at xula.edu
>********************************************************
>
>