Dear Websleuth Members,
Last week a poster called Katie526 claimed she was e-mailing and talking with Cindy Anthony.
On Websleuths, when a poster makes a claim of this nature, I like to check it out. Websleuths is different that other sites in that we don't allow people to come in and tell whatever story they want. When we can, we verify.
Katie gave me Cindy A's number and permission to call. I did.
I left Cindy a message explaining that she had my word that I would not ask one question about the case. I just wanted to see if this poster was legit.
Cindy called me back. She was extremely gracious and surprisingly open.
She said she didn't remember Katie but that didn't mean anything since she talked and e-mailed so many people. I agreed to send her Katie's post via email and she would tell me if Katie was being truthful.
There was more to this conversation as you will soon learn.
When I emailed Cindy Katie's posts I told her I wanted to quote and post our conversation on Websleuths. If she had any objection to let me know.
A few days later I emailed her again asking about Katie.
She wrote back and said she had indeed spoken and e-mailed with Katie526. Cindy did not mention the rest of the email.
I have thought about whether to post the transcript of my notes or not. I came to the conclusion that since she did not object or say anything about objecting I was going to post.
Below comes from my notes of the conversation. It may not be exact but it is close.
Cindy calls and I explain why I am calling. Cindy tells me she is on Websleuths now and wants to know where Katie's posts are. I get on the forum and start to look.
There is a lull in the conversation. Keep in mind I never asked, never prompted, in any way the following conversation:
(lull) Then Cindy says, "We are going to be filing with our attorney any negative media webstuff, trying to get websites closed down. So I am just going to let you know. I have not investigated yours but we are trying to get a lot of websites closed down.
Cindy continues as I sit stunned; People can have their opinions but I mean it's the language and stuff that they are saying. You know, certain words you don't see put out there. So people are starting to look at a lot of these websites. Like I said as far as I know that no one has looked at yours yet. But I'm just letting you know....
TRICIA says, "That's fine. Website owners are protected by a Federal Law believe me I have been through this before
CINDY: 'K
TRICIA:So I am not worried about that.
At this point I try and change the subject back to Katie's posts. Trying to locate them. Cindy jumps in again...
CINDY: But you guys don't endorse or allow people to use certain inflammatory words and stuff do you?
TRICIA: Like what?
CINDY: Well I mean do you you know, allow people to go on there and use extreme foul language.
TRICIA (I'm shocked at the mere thought of this ) OH NO NO NO NO. Absolutely Not!!!
CINDY: OK OK That's what I am saying
TRICIA: In fact we're very strict about that.
CINDY: OK You guys do more....(didn't catch what she said here. Sorry)
CINDY: Like I said I haven't been on yours so...
TRICIA: If somebody uses the word "*advertiser censored*" or "*advertiser censored*" it's GONE. Now that doesn't mean we catch it all the time. We get thousands of posts a day.
CINDY: I'm talking worse than that .
TRICIA: No No No We absolutely do not..we try, I can't guarantee but we try and have people on the forum all of the time.
TRICIA: Unless somebody alerts us we don't know. Yes that is against our Terms of Service. Absolutely.
CINDY: OK Alright cuz that's the type of stuff that we want... people are allowed to talk about whatever they want to talk about you know you guys have some you know...
TRICIA I agree. No Absolutely No we do not allow that.
Then I went on to say rather than try and find Katie's post I would email them to her.
We exchanged "Goodbye" and that was it.
Again, I want to stress, Cindy started talking when there was a lull in the conversation while I was looking up posts.
So, her attorney and I guess his "people" are scouring the web looking for sites that allow bad language about the Anthony's. Really foul language it sounds like what they are looking for.
Good Luck to them.
The Anthony's are taking on free speech on the Internet. Ok.
I do agree with Cindy. It is horrible. That's why we don't allow it. I can't imagine reading the stuff she has to read day in and day out but to take on Website? It is going to be one tough battle.
And yes, Website owners are protected by a federal law. Can't remember it but we are. Unless something has happened that I don't know about.
There it is my friends. A Websleuths major exclusive.
My computer is gone. Toast. Bit the dust. Bought the farm...and so on. I will not be back on a computer until tomorrow morning.
Mods if you need help or clarification on anything call me.
Tricia
PS. This is my third laptop in less than two years that has crashed. I will not be able to get another one for a loooong time. So I might be around as much as I use to.
For a while any way.