Re: [Paddlewise] Kasia Pierzga

Steven Featherkile: Thanks so much for posting my office telephone number 
and inviting the planet to give me a call. Why don't you go ahead and look 
up my home number as well? And how about my address, perhaps you'd like to 
drop by and discuss rumors about my existence over tea? Now I understand why 
people use fake "alias" E-mail addresses. It's not just to hide their 
obsession for kiddie porn; it's to hide from cranky newsgroup participants. 
I especially resent having my name (yes, it's real, and I'm real, last I 
checked) turned into a subject heading.

You folks are WAY too paranoid! Someone reported having "run a search" for 
me to discover if I was a real person, but didn't find me anywhere. Could it 
be that I have a life, and instead of spending all my free time hanging out 
on the Internet I am instead out paddling and doing other fun stuff? Geez.

I initially arrived at Paddlewise a couple weeks ago hoping that I could 
find someone with experience paddling in Thailand and Burma who could share 
their experiences with me, as I am planning a trip there in the near future. 
I posted a request, then signed up for the newsgroup just to see what it was 
like. I'd been pretty much browsing and deleting messages until the thread 
on commando camping popped up and I decided to dive in. I've since 
discovered that this newsgroup does not really encourage a free exchange of 
ideas and opinions, that in fact you have to pretty carefully vet whatever 
you say or risk being flamed by someone who doesn't agree with you and can't 
stand the fact that your opinion is different from theirs. That's why I 
never responded to the last responses to my posting. It just bummed me out 
way too much that we couldn't have a civil, informed, lively conversation 
about this. I guess we should all just stick to discussions about stuff like 
which boat is easier to roll and what paddle leash to buy. That way we can 
pretend the other controversies don't exist.

Judging from the supportive E-mail I've received from numerous Paddlewisers 
(all of which I've received directly, outside of the Paddlewise newsgroup), 
I think there are a lot of other people lurking around who hesitate to talk 
about stuff that might be controversial. I can see why.

My original postings were not meant to provoke or inflame. I was just 
describing my experiences and stating my opinion. If you don't agree with 
me, that's okay, but I can't imagine someone being so closed-minded that 
they would not be curious about someone else's experience of life -- and 
guerrilla camping -- on this planet. Guess I'm just naive that way. I 
figured that after the Commando Camping thread had petered out, I'd just 
remove myself from the group and move on. I'm glad (I think?) that I hung 
around long enough to witness how a bunch of people I don't know would tie 
me (and Tamia) to a burning E-stake just for having the gumption to talk 
about That Which Cannot Be Talked About. How's that for pack mentality? Do 
you burn books, too? Perhaps Ralph's heretical book that includes mention of 
commando camping would be a good candidate. M. Lenon called attention to the 
fact that I'm a good writer, therefore I must be an experienced newsgroupie 
and must have had ulterior motives for my posting, and therefore I must be 
up to no good. Perhaps we should burn all the writers out there, as well.

As for my relationship with Tamia, I had never even heard of her before this 
discussion. Some advice for all of you conspiracy theorists out there: Turn 
off your computer and go outside and get some sunshine.


>From: "Steven Featherkile" <madwolf_at_earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: madwolf_at_earthlink.net
>To: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
>Subject: [Paddlewise] Kasia Pierzga
>Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 9:8:50 -0700
>
>Just did a search and found this link.
>http://www.xxx.xxx/xxxxxxx/xxxxxxx.htm
>Apparently, Ms. Pierzga does exist, and is alive and well in Washington
>State.  As to whether she writes under the name of Tamia Nelson, I can't
>say.
>Her business email addy is xxxxx_at_xxx.xxx
>She can probably be reached at 1800 xxx-xxxx, the phone number for the
>For those who wish, give her a call and ask.
>
>--- Steven Featherkile
>--- madwolf_at_earthlink.net
>--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.
>
>
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