[BrianWall-ChessList] Wow! a thoughtful letter from Grandmaster William Lombardy!

[Brian Wall]

I am not sure what to call you so Father Bill will do for now.

First, I have been reading about you my whole life. I was born in 1955 and I
think that is when you beat Spassky to become World Junior Champion.

Of course I have read everything about your contact with Bobby Fischer.

It gratifies me immensely that someone of your stature would enjoy any of my
incoherent ramblings, especially when thousands of other subscribe and
unsubscibe at will.

I have a Yahoo group where I write even more than my Taom list. Maybe you missed
some of those emails on this matter.

Basically I started out totally at fault, both in understanding the original
request and in tone as well. I have already publicly apologized. I bear Jason
no ill will since I am probably twice his age and because I started the whole
thing.

However, I must say since then I have received either a dozen emails or phone
calls from around the world from people happy to tell me of their difficulties
with the young man from Winnipeg, Canada.

I appreciate your wisom in this manner. I also believe censorship and banning
should only be used as a last resort, not a first one. I basically ban or
censor no one in my Yahoo group or ICC activities. I basically just don't
believe in it unless someone is persistently hostile with no plans to change.

It was a great honor to hear from you. This is one of the proudest moments in my
life.

----- Forwarded message from William Lombardy <wlombardy at hotmail.com> -----
    Date: Tue, 03 May 2005 14:13:20 -0400
    From: William Lombardy <wlombardy at hotmail.com>
Reply-To: William Lombardy <wlombardy at hotmail.com>
 Subject: [SPAM] RE: [BrianWall-ChessList] I am getting lots of support
      To: brianwallchess3 at taom.com

Dear Mr. Wall:
I thought I would at last take a moment to recognize you for so many emails
received. Most of the games are of interest and the news you have constantly
provided is often entertaining and informative. You may not be the strongest
player in the world, but you are in my mind a person who makes a genuine effort
at thought. Thank you.
I intended to send this note before I received the email below. But in my mind
the email itself requires some comment.
I noted with dismay the email sent to you, by means of which you were
permanently banned  from some group or other. There are unfortunately serious
problems related to that missive. People make mistakes and often enough persist
in the errors, as if wedded to the errors expressed. But, in spite of
this, adults are expected to make manful efforts towards resolving their
differences, especially in public where they should understand the danger of
giving bad example to young minds.
Firstly, I do not take sides in this instance, particularly because I am not
aware of the details of the debate. But how important can be the matter
concerning a Chess game, so that two grown persons become involved in feverish
acrimony? I would think each of you owes the other a simple apology. Only then
can you move on to more important issues.
Secondly, I do not know the language you yourself may have committed to your
communications on the issue. Is it possible that your tone may have been
disreputable? From what I actually saw. however, I can categorically state that
in the area of language in poor taste the Banner went well beyond the limits of
courtesy. I seem also to detect on the Banner's  part a subtle swipe at Sam
Sloan. If my observation is correct, the reference to Sam Sloan is in substance
shabby. But perhaps my interpretation is in error. In any case, Ad Hominem
remarks are not at all legitimate criticisms, whether derived from an owner in
charge of a Group, or from anyone else. Such an owner in charge should be
embarrassed to display himself in that manner. No one is perfect and people
lose their tempers. But to persist in
personal public anger on such an excesive level on a matter, that is on the
scale of 1-10 a one at best, is unworthy of the persister. That display is also
insulting to the readers, whom the temporarily angry persister wishes to reach
through his influence and knowledge. I was under the impression that
communications of that nature were themselves forbidden.
Thirdly, I am under the erroneous impression that we live in a country that
allows by Constitutional Right the exercize of Freedom of Expression. There is
nothing in the US Constitution that requires that People must agree with one
another. Implicit, however, is the notion that we should get along! To settle a
debate by Banning someone from expressing an imperfect opinion is not supposed
to be American. I recall from a visit to South Africa that that Republic
settled human rights issues by banning. I presume you catch my drift. In other
words, Banning free expression is entirely unamerican by Constitutional Law!
I expect that the two of you will cool off sufficiently to apologize for the
abrasive and abrupt remarks. Then both of you can move on to continuing the
activity you seem very much to enjoy, sharing news and views on Chess! But
forget not that someone must take the first step.
Thank you again for your contributions and for renewing your patience. Kudos for
your efforts to bring Chess to the uninitiated and to Jason Repa for taking the
time in running his Group.
Sincerely your in Chess and otherwise,

William Lombardy, MA, M Div.
International Grandmaster>From: Brian Wall <brianwallchess3 at taom.com> >To:
BrianWallChess at Yahoogroups.com, ChessDevelopment at Yahoogroups.com,
Chess_General_Development at Yahoogroups.com, Chess_Improvement at Yahoogroups.com,
Brian Wall Chesslist <BrianWall-Chesslist at lists.taom.com> >Subject:
[BrianWall-ChessList] I am getting lots of support >Date: Sun, 1 May 2005
16:14:57 -0600 > >and many reports of abuse about Jason Repa >(
Chess_General_Discussion at Yahoogroups.com ) > >I can't believe there is anyone
more obnoxious than I am. Jason must be very >entertaining in public. > >Thanx
everyone. > >My Dad used to say - YGS, meaning, Young Guy Stuff for cases like
this. > >Brian Wall > >----- Forwarded message from "Rev. TomCat"
<TomCat777 at comcast.net> ----- > Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 18:02:28 -0400 (Eastern
Standard Time) > From: "Rev. TomCat" <TomCat777 at comcast.net> >Reply-To: "Rev.
TomCat" <TomCat777 at comcast.net> > Subject: Re: [BrianWall-ChessList] I am not
sure what group I was just >bannedfrom > To: Brian Wall
<brianwallchess3 at taom.com> > >Obviously this person may play chess but has not
learned to respect those >who have devoted themselves to chess and helping
others. Such criticism >comes from the heart of a person who needs attention
and usually does not >give it unless they receive notice. I think it is
wonderful that you can >post the abuse as well as the praise. I for one thank
you for the games. >Love and Light, Rev. TomCat PS. this has to be a very young
person but they >will grow up someday and learn more about life than chess. > >
> >-------Original Message------- > > > >From: Brian Wall >
>Date: 05/01/05 02:42:46 > >To: BrianWallChess at Yahoogroups.com;
Chessdevelopment at Yahoogroups.com; >Chess_General_Development at Yahoogroups.com;
Chess_Improvement at Yahoogroups.com > Brian Wall Chesslist > >Subject:
[BrianWall-ChessList] I am not sure what group I was just >bannedfrom > > > >I
guess I will know pretty soon. > > > >Brian Wall > > > >----- Forwarded message
from Chess Genius <doubleexclam at gmail.com> ----- > > Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005
11:11:35 -0500 > > From: Chess Genius <doubleexclam at gmail.com> > >Reply-To:
Chess Genius <doubleexclam at gmail.com> > > Subject: Re: Newsgroup Postings > >
To: Brian Wall <brianwallchess3 at taom.com> > > > >It appears as though you're
the retard Brian. You're the dumbass that is > >confused about what color you
were playing
as your game score says one color > >and your comments say another. So that
member had a very legitimate > >question. The questions I was refering to were
the ones where you were asked > >if you ever post a game where your opponent is
not 400 points lower rated > >than you (I'm paraphrasing in a way that a mental
deficient like yourself > >may have a chance at grasping), and the other
postings where Sam Sloan makes > >you look like the know-nothing jackass punk
you are by proving that you > >don't have an iota of a clue about what you're
talking about, as usual. > > > > You're even too incredibly dumb to understand
that someone who is the >GROUP > >OWNER is also the one IN CHARGE of the group.
Did you by any chance get > >dropped on your head as a child? Or perhaps your
mother boozed it up too > >much while
pregnant with you. In any event, I don't need a creten like > >yourself poluting
my newsgroup any further. You are hereby PERMANENTLY > >BANNED. > > > >I'm quite
confident you are used to being thrown out and banned from places > >by now
Brian. > > > >Regards, > > > >Jason Repa > > > > > > > >----- End forwarded
message ----- > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >
>BrianWall-ChessList mailing list > >BrianWall-ChessList at lists.taom.com >
>http://www.taom.com/mailman/listinfo/BrianWall-Chesslist > > >----- End
forwarded message ----- > > ><< unnamed >> ><< unnamed >> ><< 1060.jpg >>
>_______________________________________________ >BrianWall-ChessList mailing
list >BrianWall-ChessList at lists.taom.com
>http://www.taom.com/mailman/listinfo/BrianWall-Chesslist


----- End forwarded message -----