An Interesting Distance Ed Email

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Earon Kavanagh, Jul 6, 2002.

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  1. Hi folks,
    I just received a most interestin email from "Anonymous", related to distance ed, this forum, and I suppose, CCWU. I thought it might be interesting for readers and administrators here to look over. So is this where it goes sometimes?.

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Anonymous [mailto:[email protected]]
    Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 7:41 PM
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: California Pacific University News!


    Do us all a favor and stay the f--- off of degreeinfo.com. The freaks over
    on the new mill board may like your s--- but we don't!

    You are a loser with an unaccredited degree that is worthless JUST LIKE YOU.
    Nobody gives a crap about CCWU or for that matter your stupid posts. If you
    haven't already noticed, you are not particularly welcome.

    Go f--- yourself and keep your S--- off of the boards fat ass!

    (Profanity edited out by moderator)
     
  2. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    Hi Earon

    That email is completely inappropriate. Obviously nobody should ever be addressed in that way. Considering where it came from I would assume it is either the AED spammer or some other lunatic who wants to make degreeinfo look bad. In any event, it is just plain wrong.
     
  3. Re: Re: An Interesting Distance Ed Email

    Well, Dave
    Here's two more. It IS gonna end up making degreeinfo.com look real bad, so maybe the administrators should reign in the cultish fanatics (whomever they are). I told him/her (or them) to go ahead and out me. I'm already out and proud (but not in the usual sense). Besides, I have a legitimate carpenter's ticket as well and could always go back to that when I need to (a man for all seasons, kind of like longshoreman philosopher Eric Hoffer). My carpenter's journeyman ticket comes from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Alberta Apprenticeship Program ( he/she/they can out me there as well). He/she/they can also contact EBS where I'm taking a couple of MBA courses and out me there too; maybe they'll stop me from taking any more. And maybe it'll all get written up and get it published for the world to see, or not. This could be very bad stuff.
    Earon


    -----Original Message-----
    From: Anonymous [mailto:[email protected]]
    Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 10:11 PM
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: Outted to the world


    Earon, several of us are working quickly to out you and your friends. Your
    stupid board on distancedegree.net will fail. EVERYONE knows it is a
    millboard FAT ASS!

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Anonymous [mailto:[email protected]]
    Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 10:16 PM
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: Remember this link?


    https://www.ashgate.com/shopping/title.asp?key1=&key2=&orig=results&isbn=0%2
    07546%203067%206

    University of London has been advised of your diplima mill degree and given
    the links to your f---ing posts.

    (profanity edited by moderator)
     
  4. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: An Interesting Distance Ed Email

    Well Earon, it would be a little difficult to reign in anyone who uses an anonymous remailer. As Dave pointed out, this is most likely the a.e.d. spammer with yet another juvenile attempt to make us look bad. If you can't see that and are actually taking the bait, then you're either acting in anger without thinking, or maybe you do want us to look bad.

    When I started reading this thread, my first reaction was anger, that no one should receive threats like that. Then I read your last post, and realized you're making a veiled threat of your own. I think most if not all of the moderators will agree with me when I say that I don't respond well to threats.

    If you want to embark on your own personal war against this board based on some e-mails sent through an anonymous re-mailer, then have at it. Just realize that it will make you no better than the anonymous spammer who started this.


    Bruce
     
  5. Re: Re: Re: Re: An Interesting Distance Ed Email

    Bruce,
    I'm considering all of the options, and will do what I need to do. Information has come to me that individuals known here were recently considering an attempt to"out" someone I know and trust. No names were supplied and I didn't ask for any ... I cannot prove what I just said and won't try. BUT...you might be able to see my point.

    Outing (harrassment) has occurred within the auspices of this forum. Levicoff, for one. I'm already out. I have an M.S. from CCWU and a B.S. from CPU, and this is widely known. Some of my work is on the net for all to see. So ... if you do know who is behind this (and we can pretend here) just let them know.

    It may be the a.e.d. spammer, and it may be someone else. I don't know, because they hide behind little names. If you sometimes look bad maybe take a look at how you treat people.
    If a spammer is out to get you thru me there may be reasons for it. Take a look, for example, why very few individuals with unaccredited degrees ever hang around here.
    Earon
     
  6. Gus Sainz

    Gus Sainz New Member

    I posted this information on another forum where Earon also disclosed the contents of his email, but it is probably more important that I do so here.

    I too, received a similarly worded message. Although the wording was extremely similar, my message advised me to leave the other forum, and included some additional ethnic slurs. The message I received, however, was via the private message function of the other forum, and therefore might be traceable (at least to a real email address).

    I believe both messages are the work of the same (extremely disturbed) individual.
     
  7. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: An Interesting Distance Ed Email

    I have my opinion about who it is, and I've already expressed it. Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to, I can't wave a magic wand and make anonymous spammers stop or disappear.

    As for "outing", that's as bad a description as I've ever seen. The way I understand it, "outing" is the practice of revealing something about a person that the person would rather not be known (sexual preference being the most common).

    When someone with an unaccredited degree (mill or otherwise) lists it on their public resume, how is it "outing" to point out that the degree is unaccredited? It would only be "outing" if the person was attempting to pass off the degree as legitimately accredited, in which case I have no sympathy for them, for they are committing (IMO) fraud. If someone tries to sell a sow's ear as a silk purse and gets caught, they should accept the consequences of their actions. If all unaccredited degree holders were as upfront as you, this wouldn't even be an issue.

    Earon, I just offer my opinion and point out the obvious. If that offends you or anyone else, there isn't much I can do about it.

    I don't know, but I would speculate that a tendency to have thin skin is the main reason. While I'm very much on record as not being a fan if unaccredited schools, I have no problem with people who hold unaccredited degrees. It's when they attempt to coerce people into going the unaccredited route with wild rationalizations that it bugs me (and for the record, you have never done so to my knowledge). As a matter of fact, I've maintained a civil discourse with Quinn Tyler Jackson, and even offered a tiny bit of technical assistance to him concering police procedure for a novel he's working on. Then again, you and Quinn are both very upfront concerning the unaccredited status of your degrees, and I have no problem with either of you.


    Bruce
     
  8. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    This is clearly our friend on aed trying to cause cat fights between the two forums. The term 'divide and conquer' comes to mind on this latest escapade. Let's keep the forum civil and, Earon, my adivice is to not feed the troll by posting these messages - you are, by default, doing exactly what 'it' wants.

    Cheers,

    George
     
  9. irat

    irat New Member

    sorry

    It is terrible that this goes on.
    It seems the only way to have sane discourse on the net is through referees.
    I'm sorry you have to put up with this, and it saddens me.
    Somehow, we can't let the turkeys get us down.
    All the best!
     
  10. pbocij

    pbocij member

    Re: Re: Re: An Interesting Distance Ed Email

    Guys, what's all the fuss about an anonymous poster? As you can see, his messages are clearly signed - his name is FAT ASS :)
     
  11. George, Bruce,
    I followed the aed spamming quite diligently when it was going on (I've been doing discourse analysis research of cyber-interaction on and off since 1996). There seemed to be a pattern. One spammer seemed to be masquerading as a number of people, but there also seemed to be others as well as I remember. Does that ring a bell?

    I'm not sure if I'm feeding a troll (I just may be doing so) but a standard policy of mine is to remain "out front" on where I am at with things. Then I wait and see what occurs as a result of that and then make other moves as required. I know that in some cases its best to lay low, but I don't think this is one of them for the moment. There is a problem and I think it needs to be outed (brought into an open venue). I have yet only seen this problem attach itself to the distance ed discourses (I usually avoid newsgroups and groups where a lack of spoken intelligence reigns). My only agenda at the moment is to raise the issue and ask what the *** is going on, and wait for information and insight.
    Thanks,
    Earon
     
  12. So here's the latest, as of this morning. It's being run thru a Russia address. I think I'm getting the picture. The person is deranged.
    Earon
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    -----Original Message-----
    From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
    Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2002 7:16 AM
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: Nobody Cares


    Take note that nobody cares on our board. Now hobble your fat ass back to
    the alt.edu area and stay the f*** off our board.

    FAT ASS!!!!!!!!!
    ____________________________________________________________________________
    _____
    Îòïðàâëåíî àíîíèìíîé ïî÷òîâîé ñëóæáîé www.mafiamail.ru ïðîåêòà
    www.mafia.ru
    Mail has been sent via www.mafiamail.ru anonymous e-mail service at
    www.mafia.ru
    ____________________________________________________________________________
    _____
     
  13. My impression is that this is some maladjusted teenaged kid.

    I would respectfully suggest you just ignore these emails (unless you want to give the kid the satisfaction of having succeeded in irritating you).
     
  14. wfready

    wfready New Member

    I think its someone on degreeinfo...

    There are quite a few people on this forum now and I do not think for a second that there isn't atleast ONE guy/gal who takes the accredited/unaccredited thing WAY out of porportion. He/she has made it his/her mission in life to purge society of unaccredited degree holders.

    I don't think it's some AED spammer out there to give degreeinfo a bad name. Just the way he/she said, "Take note that nobody cares on OUR board". I sense pride there. He/she is a member of Degreeinfo and he honestly THINKS he is doing the board a good favor. HOLY CRAP, I AM GOOD! :D. Should I change my major to criminal pyschology?

    BR,

    Bill

    PS. OUTING? what are they in the mob or something? sounds threatening..
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 6, 2002
  15. Howard

    Howard New Member

    It saddens me that anyone would see the need to replicate that type of language on this board. IMHO, when you start throwing dirt everyone involved gets dirty, so why bother.
     
  16. wfready

    wfready New Member

    OH HOWARD!

    Its HOLY crap. Its doesn't get you dirty when I throw it at you. Don't be sad! :D

    (wow, I hope you were talking about the obscenities in the email that Earon pasted and not my CRAP then I'd really feel like CRAP. ;) )

    BR,

    Bill
     
  17. dlkereluk

    dlkereluk New Member

    There was a bit of a discussion the other day on aed about the "Russian mafia" and this subject...it might be wise to do a googlegroups search on aed for a bit of a backgrounder...it can prove to be very interesting.
    I certainly don't condone any insults or activity such as you've been dealing with Earon, and I'm quite sure that most (if not all) of the people in this forum (degreeinfo.com) are of the same opinion.

    Darren.
     
  18. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Earon,

    It is unfortunate you go that kind of message. This is one of the reasons people left aed and a moderated board was developed. Nonetheless, the nuts may not be posting but they are still viewing and capable of e-mailing when they get set off. Working in the fields I have I am quite aware of the fact (as I am sure Howard is) that mental illness is prevalent and they operate computers too. By this I do not mean to disparage those with mental illness whose thought process are distorted.

    As for you and CPU/CCWU. On aed I seem to remember that it was stated that you had indeed done good work for your degrees and were caught in an unfortunate situation. I hope the whole CPU/CCWU thing works out. The CPU administration made some gross errors (eg native accreditation) and the CCWU women whose crude and nasty remark about Dr. Bear have not helped things. Nonetheless, CPU was kind of a fabled institution and many of its grads are quite accomplished. Please post what you find about the Malawi CCWU issue. Are you aware of any acceptance of CCWU degrees or credential evaluations which were postive. I realize you may want to keep the CCWU grads anonymous but real life stories would be helpful.

    North
     
  19. Thanks, Gert
    I've been thinking of that as well.
    I can tell you that this is definitely a most interesting learning experience. I have gotten two book chapters published on internet interactions (edited by some international scholars) and this is certainly providing me with a new insight. Maybe there's a silver lining (e.g., power and control and the shadow side of human interaction online).
    Earon
     
  20. Well, north, I think it is too early to go there yet. As you might remember, with CPU, there were many stories of the degrees being accepted. However, CPU was still vulnerable, based on a number of factors. As we both know, in America accreditation is a type of insurance which could effectively protect an institution from (politically driven) fluctuations in state policy.

    I would rather CCWU attain some of that insurance feature thru accreditation, or at least UNESCO inclusion in the short term (as part of improved recognition on more than one front). I understand CCWU is actively working on these things, and we must wait and see for now. Meanwhile CCWU must endure a period of 'running the guantlet'. As I have said before, I only recommend traditional universities (such as the UK model) so I cannot be of help to those seeking advice on attending CCWU. But I would certainly like CCWU to achieve its proper footing.
    Earon
     

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