Hi kids, As most of you know, I'm currently with Actrix and have been very pleased with their service. To the extent that my neighbour and a couple others are now with Actrix. Anyway, in another group in a galaxy far, far away I've been debunking allegations by trolls and generally giving as good as I get, with a couple of exceptions: I don't post anonymously and have given out my RL details as I believe it's important to stand by what you say and secondly, I haven't accused anyone of anything that they didn't do. (Some may remember certain posts by these trolls about me in nz.tech and maybe here, can't remember). I *have* expressed my opinion of people however. There's this one guy who used to post from his ISP but changed to an anon remailer a few years ago when he got *really* nasty. Myself and a few other regs have always known who he was and recently I got sick of the allegations about me (allegations that would most certainly be actionable) and "outed" him. He's complained to Actrix and they've given me my "first and only" warning as they say their abuse team have "researched" me and have found "a high level of volatility, abusive language and a confrontational approach towards other posters on some groups". Wow! How many actrix users stand to lose their connection if someone compains about them? It seems that I'm in contravention of their T&C. Namely: ------------------------------------------- * Uploading or transferring any illegal or offensive material (including material that is injurious to others either through loss of dignity or physical harm); * To be a responsible citizen of the Internet. In particular, you agree to respect the privacy of other Internet users, and that any messages you post to Internet forums (eg. newsgroups, IRC etc.) will be posted only to those groups which are within the topic of discussion. You will refrain from spamming or any form of bulk, unsolicited mail; ------------------------------------------- Well <expletive deleted>, all I can say is watch out Actrix users! I think that this applies to any of their customers regardless of whether they use a different NNTP service (awaiting clarification). So, anyone posting from Actrix who writes a post that causes "loss of dignity" can have their account suspended or cancelled. "Loss of dignity"? How subjective can you get? I tell ya, if I lose my account, myself and several friends are going to be complaining about *any* post originating from Actrix that could possibly be construed as causing a loss of dignity. As for what Actrix will do for me, their side of the contract: "We may: Refuse your subscription to any of our products and services without giving a reason for such refusal; Suspend or terminate your subscription to any of our products and services, at our discretion." Hmm, that's fair. I've always paid my bill on time, even though it has places for amounts owing for 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. What do people think of this? (Let he who is without sin cast the first stone... etc.) Also, I've informed "Actrix Abuse Officer" (any other correspondence from them and it's signed) of my intention to post here so I could be without an ISP soon. Anyone have recommenations of one with less draconian policies? As I say, I've been very happy with Actrix. However, I really don't want to be held at ransom by any fool who can write to them claiming a loss of dignity. Thoughts on a good ISP if I get kicked? I hate to be censored like this. Let the trolls win? I don't think so. Thanks folks.
I think you had me in your bozo bin for a while, which of course caused me immense lose of dignity and personal trauma. I'll be filing a complaint forthwith! As I recall that issue was about Actrix not minding some of their customers spamming. they do seem to have some strange ideas in some areas. Loss of dignity in a newsgroup posting? The mind boggles! Good luck
Think you'll find those T&C pretty standard across pretty much all providers... all are going to want to be able to cover their asses. Guess it depends on what dastardly things you've been up to. <devils advocate>I don't think they'd bother sending you something if they didn't feel it was warranted.</devils advocate> Picking a few at random: Orcon: Engaging in harassment, whether through language, frequency, or size of messages. iHug:
On Aug 20, 8:00 pm, wrote: Something pasted wrong :-/ iHug: In a way which is offensive, abusive or is likely to be a nuisance to someone else. XNet: b) Post, store, send, transmit, or disseminate any information or material which could be deemed to be objec- tionable, offensive, indecent, pornographic, harassing, threatening, embarrassing, distressing, vulgar, hate- ful, racially or ethnically offensive, or otherwise inappropriate, regardless of whether this material or its dissemination is unlawful. Paradise: not use the Internet services to publish or distribute any information, software or other material which is unlawful or which a reasonable person would consider offensive, abusive or defamatory (flaming);
[snip] Trolls can only win if one engages in a fight with them. Nevertheless people continue to feed the trolls. With freedom of speech comes resposibility. While PC speech is often not helpful in making progress, it should be clear that inciting people to do gross anti social behaviour is not acceptable either. The troll feeding soons turns into a all out bloody minded battle, then all out war. One sins a contract with ones ISP, thus one has agreed to it. Do not like it then exit. From the ISP's point of view; Do we need this customer who gives us so much grief?
You might as well. It seems that way. I know this guy, he's called me on the phone. He blusters about lawyers and lawsuits but really, when you look for any harm, there is none. At least done by me. I merely told the group that this guy posting anonymously was the same one who had been harassing the group for a couple of years up until '04 when he went 'anon' and ratcheted it up a few notches. Quite a few people knew who he was anyway. Indeed! Almost an oxymoron. Thanks. Appreciated.
I hate that. Yeah, I know that they all have these clauses but you'd think that they'd use a bit of common sense when enforcing them. They claim to have "researched" me. If so then they would have seen the posts calling me all sorts of scum and filth, using my real name. You'd think that they'd have discretionary powers right? They must have believed this clown when he threatened lawyers.
I'd take the letter to a CAB and ask them for advice on replying to this in writing. ie I would not accept their in-competent research...and ask for an apology... I dont know if it will get you far but...at least your objection to their warning is noted...not sure if they later dis-connect you if you could take them to the small claims court to recover any paid in advance fees etc....that might be the practical limitation of recovery....I would expect Actrix would have to justify its actions and then probably loose...provided you carefully document all this now....I also thin you are entitled to see the research that they claim to have done, I'd ask for that... regards Thing
I would suggest you make copies of these incidents...burn them to CDr....I'd write back enclosing these examples and state that you are the abused party and that you expect an apology. If it was me, I would... regards Thing
They can only act on the behaviour they see from you though, as you are the customer they are responsible for. If you're "giving as good as I get" and the posts about you are as bad as you say... then I'm guessing some of your posts could be construed as nasty (though i'm too lazy to search fwiw) <devilsadv>Perhaps that was the discretion, to warn you rather than outright disconnect.. </devilsadv>
What do people think of this? (Let he who is without sin cast the first stone... etc.) Also, I've informed "Actrix Abuse Officer" (any other correspondence from them and it's signed) of my intention to post here so I could be without an ISP soon. Anyone have recommenations of one with less draconian policies? As I say, I've been very happy with Actrix. However, I really don't want to be held at ransom by any fool who can write to them claiming a loss of dignity. Thoughts on a good ISP if I get kicked? I hate to be censored like this. Let the trolls win? I don't think so.[/QUOTE] As an actrix user I think this is outrageous and that you need to protest. Their 'research' appears to be wrong ... at least from the groups I read where you post. If you need a reference as to your general civility and lack of stupidity, I would be very happy to provide one
What we need is a Independent ISP Advocate/Ombudsman, like the Banks and Insurance companies have, so people get a fair hearing of so called clamed wrong doings, Plus one law for all, and not just you got up the nose of a help desk operator when you asked about Usenet... I thought that the Ombudsman thing was on the cards..?
Hi Shaun...FWIW I'll second that. Let us know if Actrix mess you around. Much as I'd hate to I'd get the half dozen other Actrix'ers I've sent their way to change ISPs. Funnily enough they listen to what I say. Finding an ISP as good could be a bit tricky (Xnet possibly) but judging by what you originally posted Actrix seem to be doing a cop-out big time here. Regards Miguel
<tons snipped> They don't mind their customers sending political spam at all. When I complained to them about a group wanting waterfront races in Wellington sending me unsolicited mail they told me something like "it's not exactly viagra spam...." They aren't consistent in enforcement are they?
Thanks heaps Miguel, I really appreciate the support. I'd hate to put you out though, this is my mess.. Cheers,
Thanks Thing, I have done that to a degree. They've written back to me quoting some of the things that I've said. True, they're fairly harsh in a non-contextual pair of quotation marks. However, when the general tone of the 'conversation' is taken into account it's not hard to see that I'm not the one instigating the abuse. In fact this whole thing started as a troll from a few years back stopped posting from his own ISP and then, after a break, reappeared using a remailer. (He was getting sloppy using his own ISP, he has an IT-related franchise that he could lose if he was exposed). However, he's been getting particularly nasty of late and, a few weeks ago I told him to pull his head in, (*I'm* the one trying to stop the fighting) as he wasn't as anon as he thought. I then called him by *part* of his name. I'd previously Googled using just that part and it in no way connected to him. The next morning I got woken by my flatmate, she was really upset, said there was a guy from Aussie who'd called and threatened me, said that he was going to do me for character assasination etc. This was the guy I knew was posting anon. He rang back 30 minutes later and claimed that a friend had seen the post and contacted him. It's all a crock of s#%t, he used to post under his own name. (and Google has the posts to prove it) He claimed on the phone that he'd never been near the group and that I was damaging his family by dragging him into this. His lawyer was "on the job". He posted to the group, a "cease and desist" post about mentioning his name in the group, which I laughed at, as he'd just mentioned his own name in the group. He's scared that even being connected to the group could cause him harm. It possibly could, the group is alt.drugs.hard, I found my way there last century via a cross post from a chronic pain support group and liked the place. There are (or were) a lot of knowledgable, caring folks there who can actually answer people's questions honestly without all the spin etc. The thing is, haters see the name of this group and think it's a good target for their bile. I know the good work that's done through the group I once got an email from a posters father (as did a couple other regs) thanksing me for saving his son's life, he was now in rehab instead of commiting suicide as he'd planned. The father (in his 60s) was going through the son's computer and found the posts to the group and emails. He said he felt humbled and wanted to thank a few of us and apologise for the attitude that he'd held all his life to people associated with drugs. He knew that if it wasn't for a few of us caring about his son that he'd be dead. (I was upset when I lost that email in a HDD crash. I know, backup backup backup) The point is, I think Actrix have the same attitude to anyone connected in any way to drugs. Even though I'm not a user of illegal drugs myself I've seen the value of that newsgroup in the past and have since tried to protect it from haters who get ttriggered by the very name of the group. Oh, the groups FAQ/homepage has been dropped by several free hosting sites in the past so I'm currently hosting it on my paid-for Actrix webspace. They don't like that either and want me to "reconsider my stand on it" even though they admit that it isn't in breach of their T&C. This smacks of prejudice to me (pun intended). In fact, I think that's what the whole thing is about. Cheers,
It would seem not, no. See one of my posts above, the group in question is alt.drugs.hard. Maybe they condone politics and lobbying but not drugs or sex? What happened to freedom of speech?
Hmmm. Their research is actually right to a degree, the stuff they quoted me in another email this morning. However, the group is alt.drugs.hard, not alt.ladies.knitting and, taken out of context, some of what I've posted is indeed rather unsavoury. However, it's far milder than what I'm getting aimed at me. Thanks heaps Bruce. I'd hate to drag anyone else into this though, I just wanted opinions and to let folks know what's happening. Cheers,
Interesting that you've posted this thread, and managed to get a lot of support with no actual knowledge by the "supporters" of the contents of what you had been posting... and seemingly no admission of you about just what you'd been posting. Following Mickey Mouse's lead and popping "group:alt.drugs.hard author:~misfit~" into a groups search on Google makes for some fairly unpleasant reading and puts some perspective on things. :-/ Don't quite seem to be as innocent as you're coming across as.
