[Boston-editorial] Rapoport, Re: what should we do about this?

[John Grebe]

Hi:  notice I prefer my comments not posted to the Discuss list. This is Editorial.

Fascinating. The IMC is not obligated to remove a thing. This individual apparently 
posted all his articles of his own choice and volition and had every opportunity to 
understand that the articles on the web site would remain there. 

Were any of Rapoport's pieces ever put into the center column?

Did the same individual post all the pieces under this name "Jonathan Dale 
Rapoport"? Is there a schizophrenic person involved here?

Why is "Rapoport's" alleged journalism filled with "?" question marks sprinkled 
throughout the articles, as though he hasn't bothered to check facts before publishing 
them?

Notice his writings refer to Israel, the ADL, Vanunu.

Notice the following at http://boston.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/17237

THIS ARTICLE IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF WRITER JONATHAN 
DALE RAPOPORT, A WRITER BASED IN THE EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER 
STATE OF THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN.
STERLING LORD LITERISTIC REPRESENTS JONATHAN DALE RAPOPORT 
IN NEW YORK CITY.

IT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED TO COPY, REDESTRIBUTE, PUBLISH OR 
PLAGARIZE THIS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

ANY INDIVIDUAL, GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATION WHO 
ENGAGES IN THE AFFORMENTIONED CRIMES WITH THIS 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WILL BE INVESTIGATED BY PALLORIUM 
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES IN NEW YORK CITY.

http://www.pallorium.com/

UPON COMPLETION OF THE INVESTIGATION THE OFFENDING PARTY OR 
PARTIES WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW 
AND SUBJECTED TO CIVIL LITIGATION.

DURING CIVIL LITIGATION NO OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT OFFERS 
WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Questions:  How might the ADL be involved? Legal threats? Could someone's 
request be a mandated attempt under threat of legal action that they don't even want 
to obey?

Don't be scared by any of this bullshit. Follow the policies of Boston IMC. Let the 
chips fall where they may. If legal action results, we could request help from the 
NLG.

My recommendation:  do away with the bullshit anonymity that Boston IMC allows 
for frightened (and less than reasonable) people to hide behind. Demand a real name 
be put on the line. Plenty of us do that to stake our own credibility on the importance 
of independent media. Anyone who's not ready for that has the freedom of speech to 
start their own blog. If Boston IMC doesn't move to require authors' names back up 
their claims, then we can expect more and more of this "hall of mirrors" type of 
distraction from genuine radical journalism work. If IMC's are not devoted to 
authentic radical journalism, then they have no value at all. Let it begin with the 
Boston IMC.

Kind regards
John

Boston IMC <imc-boston-office at indymedia.org> wrote on 8 Mar 2005 at 17:46:
Subject: [IMC-Boston-Discuss] what should we do about this

> Hey,
> 
> weird thing.  this guy wants all his articles removed,
> says we can verify that its him just by calling him. 
> but that doesnt verify anything does it?  maybe this
> deal he set up does.  hmm
> 
> anyway, 
> 
> do we remove articles?  or are they needed for
> archiving.  it's an interesting question.  I don't
> think the new york times ever would, or any other
> media org.  
> 
> I weigh in on the side of, no we don't.  unless there
> is some extremely compelling reason.  like I will be
> arrested and thrown in jail.  or something to that
> effect.  I will email him for his reasons.
> 
> -Pete
> 
> --- Jonathan Rapoport <jrapoport at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > From: "Jonathan Rapoport" <jrapoport at hotmail.com>
> > To: imc-boston-office at indymedia.org
> > Subject: Request for Removal of My Published
> > Articles
> > Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:23:01 +0100
> > 
> > Dear Sir or Madame:
> > 
> > Please remove all articles and comments published by
> > me on your online 
> > publication.
> > 
> > I request that they be permanently removed and not
> > merely hidden.
> > 
> > If you need to verify that is in fact me, Jonathan
> > Rapoport, requesting 
> > their removal, you may telephone me on my telephone
> > exchange, provisioned to 
> > me by SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
> > 
> > You can verify that this is in fact a telephone
> > exchange provisioned to me 
> > through any directory assistance service or any
> > number of online reverse 
> > phone directories.
> > 
> > That telephone number is:
> > 
> > 510-549-9114
> > 
> > The articles can be found at:
> > 
> >
> http://boston.indymedia.org/mod/search/dosearch/index.php?dosearch=1&medium=text&searchtext=&author=Jonathan+Dale+Rapoport&form_section=&lang=en_US&month_start=&day_start=&year_start=&month_end=02&day_end=19&year_end=2005&submit=Search
> > 
> > Thank you for your time and consideration with this
> > matter.
> > 
> > Sincerely,
> > Jonathan Dale Rapoport
> > 
> >
> _________________________________________________________________
> > FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get
> > it now! 
> >
> http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/
> > 
> > 
> 
> ----
> Boston Independent Media Center
> PO Box 441414
> Somerville MA 02144
> 617-623-8462 
> 
> http://boston.indymedia.org
> imc-boston-office at indymedia.org