Orchid Thief Discussion

From: Don Burns <burns at mobot.mobot.org> on 1999.01.30 at 04:17:42(2970) To All, Aroid-L is an internet mail list to which anyone on the internet can subscribe. Given that, anyone participating on the mail list should consider themselves as participants in a public forum. We are all here on this particular mail list courtesy of the Missouri Botanical Garden and the International Aroid Society. Because of these courtesies granted to us, we all must take care in any statements we send to the list to be certain that nothing is being stated that could potentially harm our hosts. We have a discussion thread in process dealing with a book and a particular individual who is a subject of that book. Several Aroid-L members have had particularly distressing experiences with the subject individual. One note received at the list processor this afternoon reflected that experience but did so in a way that could be used as fuel for litigation. Another received tonight was similar. After consulting with Steve Marak, our other list-owner, I have decided to not post these particular messages and have notified the senders of that decision. The decision to not post the messages was based soley upon our desire and obligation to protect our hosts. Everyone should know that in the several years that we have enjoyed this forum, we as moderators have had VERY few opportunities to decline messages, and this is certainly a credit to all list members. Neither of us wants to turn away list messages. While we could have simply not posted them and gone on without comment, we believe that given the present topic a note to all was appropriate. Thanks for your consideration. Don +More Don Burns Plantation, FL USA Zone 10b

From: Rand Nicholson <writserv at nbnet.nb.ca> on 1999.01.31 at 17:02:24(2975) Hi Don: (Snip) A well considered decision, in my opinion, Don. The Aroid-L Is one of the most interesting and cleanly done Lists of which it is my pleasure to partake and enjoy. I wish it to stay that way, also. We, in parts of Canada, have had our own versions of the "Orchid Thief" in other areas of illegal plant predation, both public and private. You note that: "Several Aroid-L members have had particularly distressing experiences with the subject individual." I would be interested in hearing what these people have to say, FMIO (For My Information Only), if they wish to e-mail me their experiences _privately_. Their privacy and confidentiality will be respected and any e-mail(s) on this subject will not be re-posted, quoted, or used in any way by myself, for any reason, without their direct permission and consent. I am _not_ interested in speculation, rumour, or "a-friend-of-a-friend-said ." kind of stories. Kind Regards, Rand +More Rand Nicholson New Brunswick, Canada The Great White Frozen North

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