In Reply to: READ: To shar^kie from friend Mark ! posted by HBF/PVL staff on Monday, 9. August 1999 at 02:52 Bali Time:
Dear Forum readers
I have been accused of making libelous comments. This is my reply.
Firstly I have removed the comments I made on my Bali web page regarding "Mark's Forum" because it appears its providing more fuel on the debate , supplying more advertising of his forum which in turn negates my original reason for posting the warning , NOT because
I have been accused of making slanderous comments.
With regards to libelous statements Mark admit's himself that it is a "cheap copy"
I claimed A "Cheap Copy Forum" called "Bali Lombok Forum" Has emerged based in England.
Mark states:
"First, if anyone thinks this forum is cheap, it is. That's right, it is."
AND
"So yes, I duplicated the front page of my forum somewhat based on theirs. And I'll even admit,I did that for purely selfish "take that" reasons. However, if anyone thinks this is a copy - go ahead, do it yourselves - see how easy it is (I mean, it should be dead easy yes? If it is simply a matter of clicking on "view", then "show source", then "copy"). But you can't copy the difficult stuff - the cgi
scripts that post the messages onto the "board". The stuff that stops idiots from posting non-related malicous repeat messages (take a look at any books in the library on cgi / Perl programming and see if
you think it's easy!).
My reply:
The word copy is made in relevance to what Mark admitted. So that above statement i made was correct and not libelous.
It has nothing to do with copy and pasting from a page source as any webmaster or person with a little knowledge of HTML knows that can't be done with cgi , however , anyone can go and download a forum
and its cgi scripts from the 100's available on the internet.
I have a 19 page cgi forum running for a company.
Mark state's :
Well I don't just have the power to ban / restrict access by IP. I've got loads of ways and I will tell you this Mr Hunter (aka Shar^kie), it was your specific PC that was banned, not all of alphalink's customers.It was banned after your girlfriend, "Koala", came onto this forum, criticizing it due to an email you received from a poster on this forum (Richard). The message was malicious and nothing to do with Bali / Lombok, plus contravened the stated FAQs / rules of this forum.
My Reply:
If this is the case Richard how did you ban my "specific computer" from posting since I have never posted any message on your forum and my so called girlfriend has her own computer. Koala posted a simple message stating her and others had been spammed with emails ( and some still are ) re the Bali Lombok Forum and she asked the forum adminstrator ( Mark ) to publicly state he doesnt condone such actions, in an attempt to stop the spamming. It was not malicious or off topic as it was entirely about the forum to which she was posting. Previous to this email, neither she , or I for that matter , had EVER been involved in this *forum wars*.
We just didn't want to be spammed and her one polite request for this to stop, was met with ip banning, posting deleted ,and more email (some abusive) from Richard. It was then I became sick of Mark's attitude to a genuine post and made my views clear of this on my own home page.
I never accused Mark of banning Australasia and Parts of Antartica. (Antarctica??????)
Mark state's :
As regard to Richard sending out emails to people on the other forum telling them about this one, I say "So what?!". If it is a genuine forum for the betterment of tourism etc. generally to an area (as opposed to a purely commercial venture), why would anyone have a problem with that? Oh I know people get very loyal (even frighteningly euphoric) towards their favorite tv program / football team etc., but other programs / teams being around ensures the quality of their favorite is maintained or improved. What harm competition in this sense, unless your own personal commerical aspirations are threatened?
What harm in choice when it is meant to be a non-commercial subject?
My Reply:
I tell you this Mr Austin, trolling the internet for email addresses to send "advertising" emails about your forum is SPAM
I guess Richard falls into your description of " loyal even frighteningly euphoric " towards your forum.
SPAMMING is against 90% of ISP's terms and conditions and it appears by your above statement that you do condone this form of Advertising.
I agree with competition or we would only have 1 internet site advertising accomodation offers to internet users. However I dont agree with spamming as a form of advertising any internet site as there are other ways to get noticed.
In regards to Loyalty to this forum, I receive NO monies ,special offers ( as I have from Richard offering me free nights accomodation if I posted my advice on Mr Austin's forum ) I am not a member of the "Bali Web Ring Team" so I fail to see what relevance Mark was making ?
I have my home page listed on the "Bali web ring" as I have a love for Bali and its people and have a PERSONAL,web page offering advice and links , mainly for first time visitors to Bali.
In finishing I thank you for the advertising of my home page Mark , I have noticed the hit ratio climbing today and I have recieved many emails already congratulating me on my home page. Now I see why you encourage this *forum war* to continue as it must be giving you a lot of free advertising.
Cheers shar^kie