Re: How to stop these bluddy spammers...

In article <fs19uo$t84$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Chris McDonald <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

OK, all silliness aside, I'm still unclear as to how me posting what I'd
prefer to not read, *could* have any legal consequences.

Well, for example, since I am posting from my work account, if
I were to post that I automatically filter out some particular
person's postings, then that could induce a perception of
probable bias against that person should that person interact with
my organization. As my organization is part of a government,
the existance of probable bias against a particular person could be
grounds for legal action, or at least sufficient evidence for
"discovery" to be authorized to find out whether I had any role
in the interaction that person had with some government
section.

Suppose for example that I had indicated that I filter out postings
from a particular person, and then at some point that person had
applied for a government scientific or engineering research grant
and was turned down. There was a time when the overall organization
I work for was responsible for administering those grants (that
was before our particular branch was created); if the person
thought we were still responsible for administering those grants
then they might sue claiming I had interfered with the grant process.
And even now that our organization does not administer those grants,
it is not uncommon for employees of our branch to be asked to
sit on grant review panels as "outside examiners"; the identities
of the reviewers are not (AFAIK) revealed, so a person who suspected
bias on my part would have to sue to find out who was on the
review panel. And if it turned out that someone I work with was
on the panel, then the person would have grounds for further
action aimed at discovering evidence or manufacturering suspicion
that I had influenced my coworker reviewer, either at the time
of the review or at some earlier time ("look how <adjective> this
poster is!").

--
"We worked every day, Sunday included, until at least ten
o'clock at night. I remember it was an event when we quit work
on Christmas night at eight o'clock to attend a family reunion."
-- Walter Davidson (of Harley-Davidson)
.