Mary Streeter—private owner of what most people mistakingly think is the official public Amherst Town Meeting listserve—warned me on May 29 after I asked His Lordship to schedule an election to replace Selectboard partner in crime Anne Awad.
“Discussions of a person(s) will not be tolerated on this listserv. This is the only warning that will be given before removal from this group.”
And yeah, I was sorely tempted to “reply all’ with a smart ass comment thus guaranteeing my banishment from the herd. But I controlled the urge (my martial arts training) and did nothing.
Until yesterday morning, when I tried to send the listserve the Springfield Republican article about the residency fiasco embroiling Ms. Awad and husband Robie Hubley
My Yahoo account returned the following:
We are unable to deliver the message from amherstac@yahoo.com
to amhersttownmeeting@yahoogroups.com.
So then I tried sending via my AOL account (figuring she’s not the very tech savvy and may not have banned both addresses) but soon received the same error code.
Looks like I’ve been given yet another “time out”. Although last time Mother Mary said it was a limited ban. This time nothing. Expelled, perhaps, forever. Banned in Amherst--the town that cherishes freedom of speech.
Funny how an exceedingly minuscule group of malcontents complain about the Amherst July 4’Th Parade banning anti-war propaganda. But here we have a deliberative, legislative body where the only thing silent is the “h” in Amherst and I’m kicked off without warning.
Well, I did get a warning…sort of. But then banning me anyway is sort of like a cop firing a warning shot--into the back of a perp’s head.
13 comments:
Maybe, if you use language like this "the select board member who purchased a house in South Hadley and put their Amherst domicile condo up for sale" you could be put back on the listserv.
How can the Amherst Town Meeting Listserv possibly be considered private if it is used to communicate official news or business to or between members... then it is no longer private.
The listserv does not have to be hosted by Amherst Town government systems to be considered public. After all, we use phones both publicly and privately. The issue is how the listserv is used, not where it is hosted or how it formerly was used.
It sounds like the warning "Discussions of a person(s) will not be tolerated on this listserv. This is the only warning that will be given before removal from this group." was not a warning but a declaration of termination.
If the listserv is used to communicate official business and news, and you are a member of TM, I don't think you can be removed. But I don't think that argument will fall of cooperative ears.
Can you post the offending email without violating any trust?
Hey o'reilly,
You know me, I did post it a couple days ago but here it is again (sort of addressed to His Lordship):
amhersttownmeeting@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, 29 May 2008 10:18 pm
Subject: Re: [AmhTownMtg] 20B and procedure
So, ugh, it sounds like Town Meeting will drone on beyond June 10'th. And on THAT DAY, according to a legal FDIC mortgage, Ms. Awad and Mr. Hubley (although by a Homestead decree signed April 10 he has ALREADY vacated the town of Amherst) become "primary residents" of South Hadley.
Could you please do your job and schedule an election to replace Ms. Awad--preferably when it will not cost taxpayers a ton of money. Thanks.
Larry Kelley
Precinct 5
Legal and Spiritual resident of Amherst
THAT letter got you kicked off the listserve? Wow!
There have been many letters on that listserve that refer to specific people, so what does that say?
They didn't kick you off for referring to specific people, they kicked you off for arguing that Awad and Hubley do not comply with the residency requirement to serve in public office in Amherst.
The message is: You are welcome to participate, unless you disagree in a way we find inappropriate.
I suppose that in Amherst, decent is indecent.
descent is indecent
Are you brain damaged or something?
the word is dissent.
dis·sent (d-snt)
intr.v. dis·sent·ed, dis·sent·ing, dis·sents
1. To differ in opinion or feeling; disagree.
2. To withhold assent or approval.
n.
1. Difference of opinion or feeling; disagreement.
2. The refusal to conform to the authority or doctrine of an established church; nonconformity.
3. Law A justice's refusal to concur with the opinion of a majority, as on a higher court. Also called dissenting opinion.
As opposed to...
de·scent Listen to the pronunciation of descent
Pronunciation:
\di-ˈsent\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French descente, from Anglo-French descendre
Date:
14th century
1 a: derivation from an ancestor : birth, lineage (of French descent) b: transmission or devolution of an estate by inheritance usually in the descending line c: the fact or process of originating from an ancestral stock d: the shaping or development in nature and character by transmission from a source : derivation2: the act or process of descending3: a step downward in a scale of gradation; specifically : one generation in an ancestral line or genealogical scale
wow, so is it really just you two lonely fellas fightin' the lukewarm fight in smalltownville U.S.of A.?
Gosh, thank heavens the town of Amherst has such a brave, strong minded individual such as yourself. If not for fellows like you the rest of the world might almost be able to GET ON WITH THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
Oh my, good thing you have your alleged martial arts training(taebo or rex-kwando?) to keep you from doing something rash! A knee-jerk "reply all" tongue lashing?!!? You Beast!!!!
It's really pitiful enough that all of the haxx0r lamos on the interweb cry and thrash and threaten and pout about getting banned from some random blog or another; but aren't you a grown man?
It's relatively normal for a 14 year old boy with hormones raging to say a rude thing or two that upsets others enough to ban them.
But sheesh man, how old are you?
If the adults don't want you to play with them on their blog, its USUALLY BECAUSE NOBODY IS PLAYING ON THE BLOG. Small town politics or otherwise, don't you have any actual issues you want to bring up about the town itself?
Fill some pot holes!
Get some safety signs put up somewhere where children like to play!
Or maybe take up something less intrusive like,stamp collecting!
Either way, hang it up if all you're gonna do is screw around with everybody just to get some attention.
p.s. o'reilly-congratulations! You'd be a shoe-in for the "Bully's Little Buddy Award", that is...if...anybody..actually cared about the bully's little buddy
Thanks anonymous, I was having trouble spelling that word. It's a good thing you knew what I meant. Otherwise, you would have been confused.
It could be brain damage but I don't think so. Is you calling me brain-damaged just as much bullying as any bullying you accuse Larry of? (Yep)
When are you going to come out from behind "anonymous" and take responsibility for your brash insults. I'm not going to call you a coward but I am going to note you want associate your name with your opinion.
Who could have imagined that me posting comments in Larry's blog would be the source of an impediment for you to get on with your life? I gave it some thought and I decided its your personal problem. If you can't help yourself, and you must return here, and it remains an impediment, bring it up again and I'll reconsider my decision.
I'm not going to call you a coward but I am going to note you want (sic) [won't] associate your name with your opinion.
Yeah, Anon sure took up an awful lot of time for somebody who wants to GET ON WITH THE REST OF HIS (miserable) LIFE
Ouch! A coward! A bully!
My (miserable) Life!
What a surprise fellas, a double team attack!
Oh well, that's all I wanted to do was pull some completely predictable responses from you guys.
Don't worry I won't be playing your own game with you anymore.
It's too frustrating to bother with such noble, truth upholding gentlemen such as yourselves.
Thank you King Larry, for granting me an exit back to my own miserable existence.
Ciao gentlemen xxoo
bye. it was fun returning insults to an anonymous blogger who can't get on with his life because of what's posted here.
Now if only Ms. Awad and Mr. Hubley would also GO! The town could get back to its normal (political) life.
I was doing a little head scratching when I saw your captions below Larry, and I couldn't help seeing Andy Churchill, Michael Hussin and Jere-I hit the lottery-Hochman. Ah, well, maybe I've just been at this a little too long sometimes. Their words, false promises and ... you name it ... it's all taking a toll on m'eyes and head! I don't want to get personal with them, but I don't see them looking at the voters in a better light. Fair's fair!
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