Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 09:54:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: Destiny < destiny@crl.com>
To: rants@wired.com
Subject: RANT about AOL...

Not only does keyword: sex lock users into visiting AOL's entertainment area -- and a one minute mandatory "art" download. AOL also coded a keyword "fart" into their system. For the last six months it's played a sound file announcing "That's inappropriate. We're a family service."

AOL's hypocrisy is astounding. Though staffers patrol chat rooms for inappropriate language, internet rights groups published a leaked transcript of their on-line training. www.motley-focus.com/~timber/dirtyword.html shows the staffers gleefully using the words for which they'll later cancel accounts. According to AOL's Terms of Service, they also search for actions which "in AOL, Inc.'s sole opinion, restricts or inhibits other Members from...enjoying America Online". But in the black-is-white Newspeak of corporate public relations, decency thugs become the "Community Action Team". Read Steve Case's letter to members, where he announces "we are totally committed to do whatever it takes to protect our reputation of leadership in this emerging industry." Then visit keyword Fart.

David Cassel