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Entrapment Tactics by Mr. Wollmann

"You have a worthless charter given that you chose to made your group unmoderated. I think you set it up to attempt to kill accounts and that it should be rmgrouped as a trap and public nuisiance." Rebecca Ore, respected n.a.n.a.u veteran

Edmond Wollmann sent a control message and a charter for a newsgroup called alt.astrology.metapsych. Unfortunately, despite being advised otherwise by Usenet veterans, Mr. Wollmann failed to make the newsgroup moderated. It was created in the alt hierarchy, which traditionally and rightfully enjoys a more anarchic spirit than "Big 8" newsgroups. However, it soon became clear that Wollmann had created a newsgroup for a single purpose: to use as a private chat room for potential clients. The charter for a.a.m. was unduly restrictive, using the language and rules that only moderated newsgroups should have. Anyone not confining themselves to the narrow strictures of Wollmann's charter quickly found themselves on the wrong end of a complaint. The charter went so far as to forbid dissenting views!!

Perhaps the most devious tactic occured when Wollmann would set followups in provocative Usenet posts to 'metapsych, and when an unwary poster responded and unwittingly ended up with his/her message in the unintended group; you guessed it: Wollmann would send a complaint of charter violation. He even admitted to this tactic at one point, urging other astrologers to adopt the same practice so that they could intimidate and entrap skeptics, "spinics", and others critical of astrology. Complaints were then sent, accounts were threatened, and Wollmann would push his sham charter to ensure *his* newsgroup was kept clear for his own purposes.

Mr. Wollmann has made it very clear in the past that he wants the USENET posters that he calls "spinics" to post to his pet newsgroup, alt.astrology.metapsych, so that he can send complaints about them. It is important to note that Wollmann also used this entrapment technique to have followups set to "poster" so responses were emailed to his own account, where he would then disingenuously complain to the hapless sender's ISP of harassment. He used it again to have email followups sent to another Earthlink member's account with a similar sign-on name, resulting in over 30 unwanted emails received by the member. This resulted in action by Earthlink for Mr. Wollmann's tactics.

The authors of this page and many experienced Admins feel that Usenet, especially the unmoderated alt hierarchy, is a public medium meant for free discussion, and that no one person can "own" a newsgroup. Newsgroups set up as moderated certainly operate differently, and also typically become much drier, less viable gathering places, censored, as they are, by one or more "overseers".

Concerned Usenet denizens created a more viable charter fror a.a.m; one that took into account the groups' status as an unmoderated alt group, and allowed for more freedom of discussion, and which also solved the "entrapment" tactic Wollmann used. The updated charter was discussed in alt. config, and officially placed in the ftp.isc.org database. More than one ISP has made a decision to recognize the more level-headed updated charter, while another decided, in Solomonic fashion, that with two competing charters, they would consider the group just as they would any group without a charter. This hasn't actually stopped Wollmann from sending complaints, however, he refuses to recognize the improved charter, prefering instead to send voluminous complaints based on the old, outdated one. Once you know how Ed Wollmann operates, andhow he wields his charter for selfish purposes, we trust you will give his complaints about 'metapsych charter violations only the credibility they are due.

See the updated and superceding alt.astrology.metapsych charter

  1. Mr. Wollmann appears to claim that alt.astrology.metapsych is his group Full post
  2. Mr. Wollmann asks others to post to 'metapsych so that complaints can be sent Full post
  3. Followups set to "poster" in a clearly provocative post Full post
  4. Mr. Wollmann sets followups to an innocent third party Full post

From: "Edmond H. Wollmann" <arcturian1@netscape.net>
Newsgroups: alt.astrology,news.admin.net-abuse.usenet
Subject: Kevin Burnette trying to drive posting in aam Re: Sun Sign,
Moon & Ascendant
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 10:15:42 -0700
Organization: Astrological Consulting/Altair Publications SAN 299-5603
Lines: 77
Message-ID: <378E173E.77B4@netscape.net>
References: <378d7b75.2052263@news.pipeline.com>
<378D56FA.921@netscape.net> <378D5999.38C5A0B8@pacbell.net>
<378d8bd3.6242703@news.pipeline.com> <378D6AEE.2545@netscape.net>
<378da152.1901931@news.pipeline.com> <378D869B.484A@netscape.net>
<378db272.6286471@news.pipeline.com> <7mk3m6$qds$12@samba.rahul.net>
Reply-To: arcturian1@netscape.net
NNTP-Posting-Host: 12.72.11.76
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1999 17:15:25 GMT)
X-Complaints-To: abuse@worldnet.att.net
NNTP-Posting-Date: 15 Jul 1999 17:15:25 GMT
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0C-NSCP (Win95; U)
Xref: newssvr04 alt.astrology:272935 news.admin.net-abuse.usenet:272793
Status: N

Why is this abuser running ads for aam?*** and against my group? This
control freak crap must come to an end.

Path:

wnb1! wnmaster2! wn3feed!worldnet.att.net! 128.223.220.26!arclight.uoregon.edu!logbridge.uoregon.edu! feeder.nmix.net! 198.59.166.11.MISMATCH!nmia!hustle-inn2.rahul.net!bug.rahul.net!samba.rahul.net!rahul.net!a2i!kjb
From:
kjb@catnip.org (Kevin Burnett)
Newsgroups:
alt.astrology
Subject:
Re: Sun Sign, Moon & Ascendant
Date:
15 Jul 1999 07:47:18 GMT
Organization:
a2i network
Lines:
30
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<7mk3m6$qds$12@samba.rahul.net>
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<378d7b75.2052263@news.pipeline.com>
<378D56FA.921@netscape.net> <378D5999.38C5A0B8@pacbell.net>
<378d8bd3.6242703@news.pipeline.com> <378D6AEE.2545@netscape.net>
<378da152.1901931@news.pipeline.com>
<378D869B.484A@netscape.net> <378db272.6286471@news.pipeline.com>
Reply-To:
kjb@catnip.org
NNTP-Posting-Host:
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X-Retard:
Victor Negron
X-Skepticult:
68-67456-068
X-SAN:
299-5603
X-HFW:
fucKKKing losers
X-CENKOC:
Richard the Stupid
X-Complaints-From:
Edmond Wollmann
User-Agent:
slrn/0.9.5.4 (UNIX)
Xref:
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Kevin Burnett wrote:
>
> On Thu, 15 Jul 1999 10:10:48 GMT, Rhianna <rhianna@pipeline.com> blathered:
> >On Wed, 14 Jul 1999 23:58:35 -0700, "Edmond H. Wollmann"
> ><arcturian1@netscape.net> wrote:
> >>If you really wish to discuss astrology, please continue to tell me
> >>about your own chart, where's your Mercury?
> >>--
> > What are you trying to do? Pinpoint the exact hospital where
> >I was born? *Hahaha...it's a joke* *Smile*
> >
> > My Mercury is in Aries
> >
> > My Mars is in Aries too
> >
> > I have a conjunction between Mercury and Mars
> > I was born on the cusp of Pisces, I have Aries tendancies.
> >
>
> Rhianna, if you want to engage in real talk about astrology, killfile
> Edmond Wollmann, and just about everyone who replies to him (including me).
>
> Better yet, look up the newsgroup alt.astrology.moderated

--
Edmond H. Wollmann P.M.A.F.A.
© 1999 Altair Publications, SAN 299-5603
Astrological Consulting http://www.astroconsulting.com/
Artworks http://www.astroconsulting.com/personal/
http://www.astroconsulting.com/FAQs/tableof.htm

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From: ewollmann@aol.com (EWollmann)
Subject: Re: PROPOSAL: alt.astrology.no-skeptics
Date: 19 Sep 1997 00:00:00 GMT
Message-ID: <19970919165701.MAA14966@ladder02.news.aol.com>
References: <5vu5m0$42j@nntp02.primenet.com>
X-Admin: news@aol.com
SnewsLanguage: English
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Newsgroups: alt.astrology

>From: dlynns@primenetx.com (Lynn)
>Date: 19 Sep 1997 08:28:00 -0700
>Message-id: <5vu5m0$42j@nntp02.primenet.com>

>"You people"?

Yes, astrologers in general are pretty gullible. You and others keep
arguing the the alt.astrology.metapsych charter isn't applying itself!
Thats like saying "I have lots of money but I never pay my bills, therefore
money is useless". You have to apply the charter-but at least there you
have one to apply.

> Shouting?

I have stated 100 times, when I have a server that doesn't have italics
capability I use caps-I am not shouting.

> I didn't shout at you.

Defensive-I didn't say you were. And even IF I was its irrelevent. You
need to remove your emotions from argument-this is what trips you up and
cynics know this.

> You're sounding a
>little hysterical,

This is your perception and has little to do with-or any accurate
information about my present state. Actually it tells us more of you than
me since you can't POSSIBLY know that with any real accuracy.

> speaking of falling for "cynic troll-bait". I'm
>not the enemy here, I happen to disagree.

I didn't say you were an enemy-you are simply not informed-and like cynics
in that way are not CAPABLE of arguing points you are ignorant of. Charters
(like Mr. Ellis said over and over had you actually read our interactions)
are far more effective in thwarting unwanted posts than are FAQs written
AFTER the fact.

> I disagree for one thing
>that "we people" are incapable of organization.

If you were you would have copied my logical arguments and recognized that
that killed the cynics arguments from square one and either used that or
ignored them. If you all were and really wanted relief from cynics you
would strengthen alt.astrology.metapsych by posting there and using the
charter to complain to the servers of those who violate it-PUBLIC
NEWSGROUPS DO NOT DEFEND THEMSELVES.
I was simply replying to CYNICS to demonstrate that they had no VALID
arguments and therefore were and could not be SKEPTICS- I am a skeptic-they
are cynics, and anyone who is truly skeptical will come here with HUMILITY
asking questions and probing for info to MAKE a decision about the truth of
astrology for themselves-NOT attacking with preconcieved notions and
bias-THAT is cynicism, not skepticism. Newbies simply need this pointed out
one way or another-make a page then listing the cynic regulars and their
agendas so the newbies or whoever not familiar with their tactics are
informed-thats all.

>You say killfiling ability can only come from a reader. Exactly my
>point. The charter of alt.astrology.metapsych does not appear to be
>having the effect you claim for it.

Oh Jesus (sigh) I repeat, money does not pay bills PEOPLE do and charters
do not stop out of integrity cynics PEOPLE WITH CHARTERS DO. Wake up! And
you say you are not gullible! Why is ANYTHING I DO OR SAY responsible for
what goes on there??? It is the PEOPLE that make the group what it is. All
I was responsible for was GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH
A NEW CHARTER. The rest is up to those who SAY they want to discuss
astrology in a somewhat open forum to allow new people to join in without
having NO DEFENSE against those who wish to thwart it.

>As for being a "whiner" who can't grab hold of your "branch", sorry, I
>tried resubscribing to alt.astrology.metapsych but saw the same
>flamewars starting over there.

Good thing when the civil war broke out the president didn't say "well we
tried a country of the people we give up! lets just forget it, theres no
way it will ever work!" Ever heard of diligent application?

Then go there and post non-flame wars. More whining.

> It couldn't be because you've moved,
>could it?

??What I do is irrelevent, what does this have to do with anything? I
haven't posted to either for quite awhile-when are you going to get it?
People make things happen, take responsibility for your reality and stop
blaming everything outside of you.

> Now you're trying to start a flamewar with me.

Nonsense, you are just whining and I am telling it like it is, if you wish
to change the reality of things get off what others do and take concise,
positive and constructive action.

> You're
>overwrought. I mean that with kindness.

You are speculating, being derisive and simply trying to defend your own
inaction-thats twice now you use an emotive ad hominem defective fallacy to
try to argue against facts you can't refute. I run 10 miles a week, work
out with freeweights twice a week (meaning I am NOT overwrought, I am the
most healthy and confident and balanced I have ever been in my life) and
have so many opportunites for work and other things right now I cannot work
hard enough. I am balanced and unconcerned with anything but informing
this group of their REALISTIC OPTIONS. Anyone who knows me personally knows
that this is just hype and bull.

> You're too into this.

More ad hominem speculation to demean. You are speculating and too
arrogant and confident of your "diagnoses." I posted the facts now deal
with them if you all want these groups to go anywhere.

> You
>need to breathe deeply or something.

No, I need to let you all wallow and whine if you wish, I am done with it.
But I could not sit there and watch people proposing a group AGAIN that has
already been done and blame the "group" or its creator because of their own
inaction and jealousy because of "who" started it. It is NOT MY GROUP, how
many times do you need to hear this? Go there and MAKE it a good group. At
least cross post to alt.astrology and when cynics post there use the
charter to comnplain to their servers-THATS THE BEST YOU ARE EVER GOING TO
DO!!! THE REST OF THIS DISCUSSION IS IRRELEVENT AND A WASTE OF TIME. Or
create a group that is moderated, volunteer to moderate it and END OF SUBJECT.

>I removed alt.skeptic from my post. If you had posted in order after
>me, it would have been gone. You chose to go back and post after the
>skeptics and didn't remove their header. How can you do something
>like that and claim that I am more gullible?

More nitpicking and whining. Because they needed to see that a charter was
already made with regard to what they were arguing with. It is now off,
where's the problem? I was not inviting comment from ANYONE I was simply
posting an informative post-it had been originally posted that way about
the "new group" and I was informing those who saw the initial post so
crossposted that the whole PROPOSAL WAS BULL. You are pretty defensive you
know? You insist on discussing what I am-well thats why I am getting off,
because I am not "doing" anything except trying to inform you of your
options-besides what I am is IRRELEVENT to what you can apply yourself to
or do-spend more time with those applications.

> (Which is probably true,
>but not in that example) :^)

>My pragmatic action has been to (with two exceptions) ignore them
>completely even when they post inane retorts to my posts. Or if I
>responded, to address my comments to the group in general.

Great, but I am going to tell you all for the last time-I watched these
people for 3 years as a lurker before I ever posted, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT
YOU DO THEY WILL BE HERE TRYING TO SPIN AND THWART. You need all the help
you can get and that means a good charter-which I have written and is
available via alt.astrology.metapsych. Use it if you wish, if you don't -oh
well, I gave it my best shot of presenting a way out of the major problem,
those who don't take it in my opinion have LITTLE ROOM TO WHINE. I have
nothing to lose or gain by the lot of you doing so.

>That is
>really the kind of organized action that most here have expressed an
>interest in taking. IMHO you are confusing "pragmatic", and
>"organized", with "legalistic". It's a matter of choice, not whining.

I give up-good day and good luck. I don't have all day again to argue the
same damn points that have been argued ad infinitum. Do whatever you wish.
--
"So what are you gonna do about it?, you can't live life and you can't
leave it. Advice on religion you can't take it, you can't seem to believe
it. The Peacock is afraid to parade, you're under the thumb of the maid.
You really can't give love in this condition-still you know that you need it.
Well some will try and knock you and some will try and clock you-ya know!?
It's really hard to talk sense to you! Troubled child! Breakin like the
waves at Malibu."
Joni Mitchell "Troubled Child"

Edmond H. Wollmann
http://home.aol.com/ewollmann

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From: Edmond Wollmann <arcturian1@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: anonym lies about his name, his life his Lazzwaldo account his.....
Date: 01 Jun 1998 00:00:00 GMT
Message-ID: <6l03ra$c98@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
References: <6kvvp6$7h6$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com> <35738C31.642@pacbell.net>
Followup-To: poster
Mime-Version: 1.0
Reply-To: Arcturian1@earthlink.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Organization: Astrological Consulting/Altair Publications SAN 299-5603
Newsgroups: alt.astrology,alt.astrology.metapsych,alt.astrology.mundane,talk.religion.newage

anonymô wrote:
SNIP!
Boy, do you need a wife and/or a life....
--
Edmond H. Wollmann P.M.A.F.A.
© 1998 Altair Publications, SAN 299-5603
Astrological Consulting http://www.astroconsulting.com/

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From: Edmond Wollmann <arcturian1@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: sherilyn vying for KOTY was Re: Transiting Pluto square natal Mars -- A Case in Point (was Re: Theenormous FAQ site)
Date: 25 Mar 1998 00:00:00 GMT
Message-ID: <3519B32F.43BA@earthlink.net>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
References: <350C2AF3.2948@pacbell.net> <350CC537.3630@mexia.com> <01bd514f$64d52b40$7ad4ffcc@Skep-Ti-Cult.org> <6f0dls$js3$1@usenet76.supernews.com> <cM9E8ZARlBF1Ew2k@sidaway.demon.co.uk> <3516A514.7ACD@mail.sdsu> <6f9257$53h$1@samba.rahul.net> <35188E40.1@earthlink.net> <6fbki0$lgu$1@samba.rahul.net> <3519777B.6858@edmond.hwo> <6fcagm$p8f$2@samba.rahul.net>
Followup-To: poster
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Organization: Astrological Consulting/Altair Publications SAN 299-5603
Mime-Version: 1.0
Reply-To: arcturian@earthlink.net
Newsgroups: alt.astrology,sci.skeptic,alt.usenet.kooks

Nolan wrote:

> In sci.skeptic Edmond Wollmann <wollmann@edmond.hwo> wrote:
> : Nolan wrote:

> :> In alt.usenet.kooks Edmond Wollmann <arcturian1@earthlink.net> wrote:
> :> : Nolan wrote:

> :> :> In alt.usenet.kooks Edmond Wollmann <wollmann@mail.sdsu> wrote:
> :> :> : Sherilyn wrote:

> :> :> :> Enough of your silly trolls. Virtually everyone you disagree with gets
> :> :> :> labelled a sock puppet,

> :> :> : :-)))))

> :> :> : "A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
> :> :> : another's." Jean Paul Richter

> :> :> This applies to you just as much as to anyone else.

> :> : Duh! Did you have to go to skepticult school to decipher that?

> :> No.

Thats what I thought.

--
Edmond H. Wollmann P.M.A.F.A. add the 1 to mail the Arcturian
© 1998 Altair Publications, SAN 299-5603
Astrological Consulting http://www.astroconsulting.com/astro.htm

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UPDATED NEWSGROUP CHARTER

For alt.astrology related newsgroup:

alt.astrology metapsych

Here, we have updated charter for a certain newsgroup on Usenet.

The charter sent with the original control message upon

creation was unworkable and overly restrictive, especially in light

of its status as a unmoderated alt.newsgroup. The previous rules

could only be policed by a moderator, and in the abscence of an official

moderator, soon became onerous and unenforceable. Because there

are many negative and censorious persons ("wannabe moderators")

who are bigoted against free speech, and who abuse and corrupt the

charter by insisting that others follow it (and making dramatic, false,

and harmful complaints to service providers), all while violating the

charter themselves, updating and modifying the language of this charter

was necessary.The resultant changes provide for a freer, more mature,

and balanced forum of discussion, and still restrict the topic,while

maintaining a more workable, enforceable, and less easily misused and

corrupted set of rules.Indeed, periodic updating of the charter is seen as

a healthy way to grow a vibrant, relevant, and usable newsgroup.

This updated charter supersedes the original and has the blessings of

usenet news and policy administrators and experts and is made official

by announcement in the appropriate control, bulletin, and config groups

and storage at ftp.uu.net, ftp.isc.org, and the website at:

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Bunker/9669/

http://www.microserve.com/~dave/aam_charter.html

http://www3.iconz.co.nz/bill/officialaamcharter.htm

http://members.aol.com/macabrus/officialaamcharter.html

http://www.lart.com/officialaamcharter.html

http://www.bcpl.net/~wnidiffe/bamt/aamcharter.html

http://www.databasix.com/officialcharters/alt/astrology/metapsych/charter.html

http://www.keesing-keay.gen.nz/officialaamcharter.htm

Usenet posters insistent on control issues concerning this topic are free

to create an alt.astrology.metapsych.moderated group and may post there.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

alt.astrology.metapsych

Created: November 24, 1996, 2:05 am, California, USA

Superseding Charter version 1.1 modified September 6, 1998, 2:10 a.m., California, USA

This unmoderated newsgroup was proposed and created for

discussion of the psychological/metaphysical/spiritual aspects of

astrology and its applications.

For your newsgroups file:

alt.astrology.metapsych Discussion of astrology

metaphysically/psychologically/skeptically/spiritually.

=========Charter for alt.astrology.metapsych=========

Charter: This group is for astrologers and students and critics of astrology or

practicing therapists and psychologists to discuss aspects of astrology

primarily-but not limited to psychological/metaphysical/spiritual

approaches of counsel and practice. This includes;

1) Personal analysis of horoscopes based on full data and information.

2) Psychological approaches and remediation methods in counsel.

3) Psychological fields of approach.

4) Metaphysical and/or spiritual approaches and their connections.

5) Humanistic, holistic or other modern or otherwise defined as new age

approaches.

6) The testability and validity of astrological and psychological systems

Since this group is proposed on the basis of ethical and respectable

service oriented counsel and astrological application and discussion,

the following classes of posts are not welcome;

1) Advertisements of any sort .

2) JPEG's, GIF's, Animations, ASCII art, or other still, or motion based images.

3) Posting of notice of complaints of off-topicness simply because of disagreement.

4) Those containing URL's to commercial websites.

5) Posts containing more than five discussion groups in their to: headers

6) Posts following up to more than five crosspostings in their followup to: headers

7) Posts containing follow-ups set only to sender.

8) Posts containing follow-ups set only outside of this newsgroup.

9) Canned screeds or boilerplate copy cannot be posted more than once every six months.

There are no restrictions regarding methods, systems, criticisms, or philosophies

regarding application techniques. All astrological applications are

welcome and/or services employing such as a part of their service.

Skeptical posts and posts containing discussion of testing and validity of

astrological, psychological, and metaphysical methods are welcome.

Only by discarding the unworkable and revising theories to contain what "works" can science

succeed. As astrology is an art/science it must adhere to the rigors of the scientific method.

Innovative techniques and the integration of related cross disciplines

to the subject matter are also welcome. Flame wars and disagreements are a natural

consequence of this type of combination of unmoderated, free-speech protected

electronic medium, and it is acknowleged that no newsgroup will ever be completely flame-free.

Flame wars which spill over into private email, however, are discouraged and alt.astrology.metapsych

posters are asked to use maturity and good judgement in these matters.