Let me tell you a fairy tale, if I may.
There was once a man named Robin Hood and he had a band of Merry Men, and yes there was also a Sherriff of Nottingham, and a contingent of motley Hench men.
One day Robin Hood and his Merry Men did something very bad and hurtful to Nottingham and cost Nottingham tens of millions of dollars. Damage in hand, Nottingham approached the Court of the land and received a cease and desist order and the right to subpoena, not just the data from the Merry Men’s computers, but also the very great internet servers of Yahoo and Google, which lay far beyond the borders of Sherwood Forest, but regardless, Nottingham got what he needed.
There was one computer that Nottingham was very interested in getting his hands on, and that was that that belonged to Friar Tuck, Robin Hood’s chief of communications. The good Friar had been a thorn in the side of Nottingham for years. Tuck had devised a simple communication tool for the Merry Men to keep in touch. The Good Friar simply took the individual emails that had been sent to him from each of the Merry Men and incorporated them into one giant email which he named “The Friar Tuck Letter” and then sent it out to all of the Merry Men who lived at each of the four corners of Sherwood Forest. This way the Merry Men would know what each was doing, and how each was coping with Nottingham’s cruel and unyielding rule. While this unusual communication tool was not sanctioned by Robin, Robin was happy with the arrangement all the same; Tuck was doing good work.
After the subpoenas of the Yahoo and Google servers I was gravely afraid, for this is where I served Robin Hood. By utilizing the Financial Message-Board services of these companies I was able to inform the population, beyond the borders of Sherwood Forest, of the Merry Men’s plight. Fortunately for me, when a Judge of the Land serves a cease and desist order it gives you a time frame to, literally, cease and desist. And this is what I did – but it scared me all the same. Because, damages – quantifiable damages with very real dollar values attached to them could have been awarded to Nottingham and I may have been held accountable for some of those dollars. So, from that point on I decided it would be safest for me to hold my tongue and keep my opinions to myself – and even though Friar Tuck insisted I participate, I resisted. Unlike, Tuck I had a family to think about. A few weeks later, after the cease and desist order went out; twenty or so of the Merry Men were rounded up and dragged into Court before a Judge. Following closely on their heels was a toad of a newspaper reporter (a nasty thing kept in the bottom drawer of Nottingham’s dirty underwear closet) who cast lies and other aspersions about the personal lives of these Merry Men to the greater public of Sherwood Forest and beyond.
About a year later the politics of our little war swung positively in our direction. Nottingham was put on the spot, and Robin Hood and his Merry Men were vindicated at last. But, with this vindication came a great time of stress for us all, and Friar Tuck and some of the Merry Men, me included, sought exile in Europe. While in Europe, Friar Tuck appointed a younger man, Will Scarlet, to work as his scribe during his absence.
As the months dragged by I noticed a disturbing trend in the work of the young scribe. Also too, alarming communications were coming from Robin Hood himself. Incredibly, as our time of stress grew it appeared that our very own Robin Hood was beginning to sound more and more like the evil Nottingham. Soon, arguments broke out amongst Robin Hood’s closest lieutenants. Robin did not hesitate; he replaced the dissenters.
I discussed my concerns with Friar Tuck. He would not listen – try as he might — he could not believe that Robin was singing the same tune as Nottingham. Rather, the Good Friar believed that Robin was acting in the best interest of all.
And the pressure mounted!
The days shortened and our battle drew to a close. In my mind a horrible and unacceptable compromise was about to be struck. There were only three days left until a decision was to be made…
…and in horror I watched as the apprentice Scribe, Scarlet, stacked the daily two hundred or so emails, unashamedly, in such a manner that placed pro-Nottingham and other compromise-like-emails to the top of the list – I became incensed. I discussed my concerns with Friar Tuck but still he refused to shut-down Will Scarlet and retake control of his press.
So, with only two days to go I sat down and wrote a 5 line email to Scarlet – it was clear, succinct and to the point. My years ascribing a particular view point to the masses on the mighty servers of Yahoo and Google were put to good use!
The next morning, when “The Friar Tuck Letter” arrived, and where there were normally 200 or 300 emails attached, only a single email was posted – my email — and the cryptic words of Will Scarlett underscored it, “I can’t do this anymore, I’m leaving” he wrote.
Friar Tuck was furious with me. The Merry Men were confused – what had happened? What was going on? Where was Tucks’ famous letter? And who wrote this scathing and unpatriotic email to Will Scarlett? Because, I should add, Scarlett, had had a least one shred of decency left before he abandoned Tucks “Letter”; he removed my name from my email. And now with only one day left – the Merry Men felt lost and abandoned. And I was to blame. Not only that — where was Will Scarlett? No one had seen him since he had received my missive. Tuck sent one of the fallen lieutenants to find him. But Scarlett was gone.
During this time I believed that I may have hurt Scarlet — and I did – but not mortally, thankfully. His ego, pride and character were damaged. With just a few lines my email cut him to the core of his being – as was my intent; for you see – Will Scarlet looked on me as a friend. A week or so later he emerged safe but embarrassed. Because, as it turned out, I was right – I had unearthed a corruption — but then that is a tale for another time.
As an end note to this little Fairy Tale I should add that, those of you who wonder why I encourage hugs and coffee, instead of adding more fire to fire. It is because of Will Scarlet’s disappearance that week. I thought perhaps he may have hurt himself. As odd as it may seem, stress, and by stress I mean back-breaking soul-crushing stress, can drag any man into the deepest and darkest recesses of despair. A simple and cruel (and designed to be cruel), even if accurate, email could be the tipping point between life and death. I try to be more careful these days. I ascribe to the old adage of attracting “more flies with honey” and to this date it is a mantra I keep. But, sometimes, just sometimes, vinegar liberally applied, can be used to get attention – but be careful!
The morals of this story:
• Computer communications are never safe. Even here at “The Paepae” we are quite transparent.
• Words can be used as weapons. Words can damage. And if that damage can be turned into a quantifiable dollar value, and then assessed as such – it can be awarded in a proper Court of Law – to a plaintiff — regardless of whether that plaintiff is a good guy or a bad guy!
• Like it or not, the Law is not a balance between right and wrong, but rather, what is legal and illegal – and many times the Law is used as a political tool by the Nottingham’s of this world to manipulate and subdue good people of a Sherwood Forest somewhere near you.
• Words are too precious to be weapons. Hurt no one, embrace.
Good night sweet children – be ever vigilant – and mind your P’s and Q’s.
Nice post, Chowbok, thank you.
Yes, this is the threat, isn’t it? How far will an “injured party” go to create strife or try to silence an outspoken critic? Such things are a gamble… and it comes down to how important the issue at stake is, and what your own sense of ‘safety’ is. (And I completely buy your ‘good guy/bad guy’ distinction. The law can be blind.)
Sometimes, I think, the cost of NOT speaking out is higher.
Tying it back to Ms Winterbottom’s experience with the Immigration Service, I’ve said elsewhere:
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On the deeper issue of ‘vinegar vs honey’, caustic public pronouncements vs hugs and coffee: I admit it, I tend towards an acerbic communication approach, confronting charlatans and hypocrites with their own double-speak, exaggeration, hyperbole and lies… THEIR ACTIONS … and trying to seek a sort of accountability.
I was once accused of running an online “vendetta” against a couple of spruikers. (I thought: A vendetta? Crikey, a simpleton might call it that, I just call it having an attention span.)
Both of those operators had worked closely with another character who I’d previously crossed swords with publicly, so some people bought the smear and psychoanalysed me as being on a ‘bitter’ campaign to ‘bash’ ‘competitors’.
Nevertheless, reflecting on your story and your five line message’s impact on ‘Will Scarlett’, I recognise my public comments were likely a source of stress to the human beings involved. (One of them admitted as much to me.)
How would I feel if one of them harmed himself under the pressure? Well, that’s a good question. (For that’s what your story asks.)
As we discussed earlier in the Paradox of Animosity thread, one has to be wary of becoming LIKE your ‘enemy’… even if you see yourself as knight in shining armour!
I do NOT disregard the value of a life. I just find it hard to stomach what I see as cold-blooded predatory behaviour — especially by people using an ‘I am holy, an expert, and I really want to see you get rich’ con.
The bile that rises when I witness such scam artists in action does indeed, at times, motivate me to speak harshly. Like you, I try to keep a civil tone of voice, but sometimes a spade is best described as a frickin’ spade.
You say: “Words are too precious to be weapons.”
Hmmm. Not sure. I will think about that.
Thanks again for your fine story. It is a multi-layered gift to us here at The Paepae. Real food for thought. – P
If something is True then an author has nothing to fear. No Court (in any Land) can touch the truth. Though, it will not stop the Nottingham’s of this world from attempting to tarnish his biographer using the Court of the Land as his tool.
Most Will Scarlett’s and Nottingham’s of this world are, as it turns out, at their core, selfish fellows. Too selfish and too stubborn to understand how their own actions can impact and injure others.
I’m not suggesting that the Scarlett’s and Nottingham’s of this world shouldn’t be exposed for their public behavior and the public havoc that they may have created, rather, what I suggest is that the author rise so high above their despicableness that he (the author) becomes untouchable.
The author’s tools are his words. Chosen carefully they can create the dynamic of an idea far greater than the nitty-gritty of the subject matter. The author, himself, then rises so far above his work that he can no longer be held in question. By this I offer an excerpt from a document that if signed, amounted to high treason for the men who signed it.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
And sign it they did. How could they not?
By the way, I love the photo.
“If something is True then an author has nothing to fear.”
Good heavens, I wouldn’t go that far!
The COST of having the argument can be ruinous. The stresses and strains (let alone the financial costs) can be far more than most people can ever bear. Then there’s the ‘go bankrupt and collapse the company’ approach a weasel you might be engaged with could use to avoid their liability — so that your ‘victory’ or ‘vindication’ may be no more than pyrrhic, no more than ‘ashes in thy mouth’.
That’s part of the gamble or calculation I referred to … part of the ‘How important is this, really?’ question that must be answered in each case.
As for the author ‘rising so high above’, yes. Noble.
Sadly, like you I guess, I have seen the most noble critics smeared and abused by their ‘targets’. A lie repeated often enough can gain currency, notwithstanding my ‘Choose your enemies carefully’ thoughts.
A thick skin is required. ‘History is written by the victors,’ someone said. – P
Hmmm… This idea of argument and vendetta has got me thinking. The Comment spot cannot do my thoughts justice. I’ll need to write something a little “bigger” in reply.
The paragraph I quoted is actually the second paragraph from the United States Declaration of Independence (July 4th, 1776). This document, in essence, was an act of war. But, look closely at the words – they do not look war-like at all. And yet, victory, with such rational and non-violent ideals was achieved.
When Martin Luther King, Jr. stood before the multitude on August 28, 1963 white America expected the worst. Riot and Revolution – and yet when he spoke – instead of mustering an army he simply spoke of a Dream. Today, in 2009, has Martin Luther King, Jr. achieved his victory?
When Christ died on the Cross at the hands of the Roman Empire, is not that same Roman Empire today now known as the Holy Roman Empire?
I believe that Victory takes time and perseverance. And for victory to be complete the author must be prepared for sacrifice – his words and deeds may very well surpass him. The author must not be afraid –immortality will be his inheritance.
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