Topic for Discussion from Don Walk
Anne Pemberton
I recently received the following note from Dinean "Don"
Walk, former member of this list, who would like to re-open the
discussion on rejection, hostility, and the effect of bullies.
Comments posted to the list, or sent to me individually, will
be forwarded to Don's address on Compuserve. If you would like
to reply to Don directly, you can write to him at:
74240...@compuserve.com
Anne Pemberton
From: Don <74240...@compuserve.com>
Subject: discrimination & hostility
Please send me the message text of that which
deals with rejection and hostility or bullies.
There was a recent article in Reader's Digest
entitled "How to Bully-proof your child".
Evidently, lots of school kids are persecuted by bullies.
There was also something about how fat people run into
discrimination and find it very hard to make friends.
I'd like to post something about a possible alliance
between some of us and the fat people's support group.
--
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* Anne L. Pemberton apem...@ncps.vak12ed.edu *
* Nottoway High School apem...@vdoe386.vak12ed.edu *
* Nottoway VA nott...@ruby.vcu.edu *
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* "One of the most spectacular privileges of intellectuals is *
* that they are free to demonstrate scandalous stupidity with- *
* out ever jeopardizing their reputations" --- Eric Hoffer *
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Jim Sinclair
>Hello All,
> I recently received the following note from Dinean "Don"
>Walk, former member of this list, who would like to re-open the
>discussion on rejection, hostility, and the effect of bullies.
>Comments posted to the list, or sent to me individually, will
>be forwarded to Don's address on Compuserve. If you would like
>to reply to Don directly, you can write to him at:
> 74240...@compuserve.com
I thought the reason this was made a closed list was to keep this maniac
and others like him off it. Now the list is being ported to who-knows-
where so the address of everyone who posts on the list can become
available to people who haven't been screened, and we've even got someone
acting as a forwarding agent for someone whose posting privileges were
canceled because he was screened out--with more than adequate reason.
Anyone contemplating any contact with Dinand Walk should be aware that he
has a very long and sordid history of threatening and abusive behavior,
including severe telephone and email harassment, inappropriate contacts
with juveniles, attempts to manipulate people using suicide threats,
encouraging other people--particularly vulnerable and suggestible people--
to engage in dangerous or overtly suicidal behavior, and a degree of verbal
abuse and threats that has left more than one autistic person seriously
traumatized emotionally. Dinand may or may not be autistic; if he is, then
he has a capacity for deceitful and manipulative behavior that far exceeds
anything I have ever heard of an autistic person being capable of. Whether
autistic or not, he definitely is habitually abusive and in some ways fits
a "stalker" profile. His usual modus operendi is to use "support" rhetoric
to lure people into relationships with him, as he's doing in the above-
referenced message. Once he's got people hooked into thinking they have
to be supportive of him, he initiates one-to-one personal communication
that quickly becomes inappropriate, while emphasizing the victim's
supposed obligation to protect his (Dinand's) privacy or confidentiality
by not telling anyone about the harassment or abuse. I urge extreme
caution in contacting this deranged individual! People should be
especially careful about letting him get their home addresses or phone
numbers; he has been known to engage in round-the-clock marathons of
abusive telephone calls, until victims were forced to get unlisted numbers.
And don't be fooled if he says he's ready to clean up his act now; many of
us have heard that story from him before.
Anyone wishing verification of these facts is welcome to contact me by
email for names of other people who can confirm Dinand's history.
JS
Bob Zenhausern
activity on this list that resulted in the revocation of his priveleges.
We must, however, consider the reason for this behavior: he is disabled.
Whether you call it autism or psychopathy, he has a disability and the
purpose of this list is to help those with disabilities like his. To
make him a pariah and cut him off from all communication is a step back
into the dark ages. At the same time, we need to protect the members of
this list from his disability. Ray Kopp and I decided that the way to
protect everyone's rights is to make the list moderated just for him.
He has no direct contact with the list, but can hear what we say and
make his responses through the kind offices of Anne Pemberton. I prefer
this to beating the devil out of him or keeping him in solitary confinement.
Bob Zenhausern, Ph.D. Internet: d...@sjuvm.stjohns.edu
St. John's University Bitnet: d...@sjuvm.bitnet
SB 15 Marillac Phone: 718-990-6447
Jamaica, NY 11439 Fax: 718-990-6705
Jim Sinclair
>There is no doubt that Don Walk can be abusive and has a history of
>activity on this list that resulted in the revocation of his priveleges.
>We must, however, consider the reason for this behavior: he is disabled.
>Whether you call it autism or psychopathy, he has a disability and the
>purpose of this list is to help those with disabilities like his.
There are tremendous differences between autism and psychopathy! This
is supposed to be a list dealing with autism and developmental disabilities,
not a list for helping psychopaths. There's no question that he needs
help, but is this kind of forum the place for him to get it? Are you
and Ray trained to deal with habitually abusive people? Are you further
trained to handle the very sensitive issues of putting abusers and abuse
victims in contact with each other? I no longer feel comfortable
participating in discussions on this list because you have consistently
been insensitive to my concerns about abusive behavior. Did other
members subscribe to the list prepared to encounter abusive people?
>At the same time, we need to protect the members of
>this list from his disability. Ray Kopp and I decided that the way to
>protect everyone's rights is to make the list moderated just for him.
>He has no direct contact with the list, but can hear what we say and
>make his responses through the kind offices of Anne Pemberton.
How was it protecting other people to post an invitation to contact him,
with no warning of the likely consequences of such contact? When you say
he can "hear what we say," does that mean he can see the return addresses
of people who post on the list? He's already used return addresses to
harass people by private email after seeing their public postings. How
will you prevent him from doing it again?
JS
Lisa S Lewis
>
>How was it protecting other people to post an invitation to contact him,
>with no warning of the likely consequences of such contact? When you say
>he can "hear what we say," does that mean he can see the return addresses
>of people who post on the list? He's already used return addresses to
>harass people by private email after seeing their public postings. How
>will you prevent him from doing it again?
>
I have to agree here. I was disturbed by Anne's invitation to serve as a
contact for Mr. Walk. If list owners truly believe that he is a person from
whom the rest of the list should be shielded, then let's not open ourselves
up to him. And if anyone on this list really wants to contact him, they can
find his address by looking back at list archives...lord knows there are
enough old posts there.
I joined this list for information and understanding about a topic that
affects me and my family personally. Without even knowing Mr. Walk's back-
ground, I found his posts disturbing and upsetting. (Have you all forgotten
his electronic suicide note?) Now that I do know what he is capable of, I'd
just as soon forget about him altogether.
By all means, let him get help. But NOT here. I have enough problems of my own!
Sheesh.
Lisa
Bob Zenhausern
as spokeswoman for Don Walk. She did not take it on herself to make
this move and should be applauded for her willingness to put up with
the sometime intrusive messages from Don. Perhaps she did not think
it necessary to include a warning about Don's history, but others on
this list have been very explicit in their condemnation of Don and that
oversight has been corrected.
I am amazed that individuals can have so little feeling for someone who has
a very debilitating disability, one that makes social interaction so
difficult to maintain. A moderated presence on this List can provide him
with the human contact he needs and still protect others from the effects
of his disability.
GO...@ukanvm.bitnet
>I am amazed that individuals can have so little feeling for someone who has
>a very debilitating disability, one that makes social interaction so
>difficult to maintain.
I am amazed that individuals who represent themselves as being knowledgeable
about autism can have so little understanding of the difference between
a disability and just plain viciousness. All of us who are autistic have
difficulties with social interaction. Most of us don't take pleasure in
inflicting distress on others.
Would you reconsider this foolhardy decision if you received input from
people with experience working with victims and perpetrators of this type
of behavior?
JS
Lisa S Lewis
>
>I am amazed that individuals can have so little feeling for someone who has
>a very debilitating disability, one that makes social interaction so
>with the human contact he needs and still protect others from the effects
>of his disability.
>
I have a full time job, a home to maintain, and two children, one of whom is
autistic. While my "feelings" are my own business, in practical terms I
simply do not have time to deal with an individual who seems intent on causing
disruption and harm to others.
Why on earth should I want to support someone who could, at some future time,
inflict pain on my own little boy?
That doesn't mean I have no feelings. If Mr. Walk is sick, I hope he gets
help. I just don't want it to be on this list. I am hoping that we can main-
tain this list for the purpose of sharing information, insight and support.
If any of you are less insensitive than I obviously am, send private mail to
Don Walk and offer him your personal support. But can't we *please* get back
to discussing autism?
For example, how many of you knew that this was "National Autism Awareness
Week?" Not too many, huh? I guess that means that the various organizations
devoted to getting the word out there aren't doing too good a job.
Lisa
Daniel Mont
>as spokeswoman for Don Walk. She did not take it on herself to make
>this move and should be applauded for her willingness to put up with
>the sometime intrusive messages from Don. Perhaps she did not think
>it necessary to include a warning about Don's history, but others on
>this list have been very explicit in their condemnation of Don and that
>oversight has been corrected.
>
>a very debilitating disability, one that makes social interaction so
>difficult to maintain. A moderated presence on this List can provide him
>with the human contact he needs and still protect others from the effects
>of his disability.
>
>St. John's University Bitnet: d...@sjuvm.bitnet
>SB 15 Marillac Phone: 718-990-6447
>Jamaica, NY 11439 Fax: 718-990-6705
I agree IF the addresses of people on the list are kept hidden from
Don and IF future requests by Don for correspondents are accompanied
with a warning. Harassment is terrible for everyone. It may be
a particularly acute problem for some of the people who subscribe
to this list. This network is too valuable to be undermined or
sidetracked by harassment issues. We've lost Jim's input because
of this. I'd hate to lose others, as well.
lex...@sfu.ca
> Anne Pemberton acted at the request of Ray Kopp and myself in serving
> as spokeswoman for Don Walk. She did not take it on herself to make
> this move and should be applauded for her willingness to put up with
> the sometime intrusive messages from Don. Perhaps she did not think
> it necessary to include a warning about Don's history, but others on
> this list have been very explicit in their condemnation of Don and that
> oversight has been corrected.
>
> I am amazed that individuals can have so little feeling for someone who has
> a very debilitating disability, one that makes social interaction so
> difficult to maintain. A moderated presence on this List can provide him
> with the human contact he needs and still protect others from the effects
> of his disability.
> >
Hello everyone,
I agree with you Bob and Ray Kopp. We should have more
compassion for people who are disabled, whether by Mental Retardation,
Autism, Mental Illness, Blindness, Deafness, physical disabilities,
and the list goes on.
Don Walk may be psychopathic, but he is still a human being like
you and me, so he should be treated as one, and not a social outcast,
as I am sure he is enough of a social outcast in his everyday life
with people, so others don't have to additionally reject him.
My few words,
Lyle
Lyle Lexier
108-3896 Laurel Street
Burnaby, B.C.
Canada, V5G 4C7
(604) 437-4238