Spocko Speaks! But he doesn't sing and dance

Thank you.

To the generous people who donated money to keep the lights and power on and prepare for a potential future financial assault from a company that “buys their lawyers by the ton.” Your donations are just so kind. And like the widow and the mite, for some it may have been a more significant donation than others, so I acknowledge the generosity of ANY size.

To the man who described himself as:

“just an average joe with a little free time, but i figure if you get enough
average joe's, maybe we can help. please let me know what i can do.”

Well, it will involve a few letters and or phone calls. I’ve sent a list as one of advertisers to all of you Spocko’s Brain Irregulars. Let me know what you hear.

To the woman who described herself as:

"i am no one, just a single mom in the east bay getting up and going to work each day, scratching by. but whatever little role i can play to stop the hate mongering at ksfo i will!"

This was my reply:

You ARE someone. Your voice matters. You count. The forces that want to divide and attack us and each other have been playing this game for years. It is a profitable entertainment. To them you are just a number. To me you are citizen who respects others.

I'll add you to the list.
I'm honored by your help.

And now I’ll add:

You can play a role. Part of that is understanding that the people on the other end of the phone or email are people JUST LIKE YOU. That is why I stress being polite. They don’t usually know what the heck this is about. They need time to listen, decide and choose for themselves and the last thing I want is for the people at the advertisers to feel assaulted. They are just receptionists, ad reps, pr folks, media buyers and marketing types doing their job as best they can. If we politely educate them, they will remember how WE interacted with them, vs. how others attack them.

I don’t know you, but for all I know you work at one of the local advertisers who have been getting calls from people about this issue. Maybe Joe will call you. Hopefully he was polite. The insightful Miss Manners reminds us, “Don’t return rudeness with rudeness.” They were rude, we don’t have to be.

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There is a reason that I chose the name Spocko. He’s a man who spans two worlds (that and he looks good in a fedora). For three hours yesterday on KSFO they called me a coward, a liar and a thief. Those who listened heard how they attempted to explain away, attack, mock and cry victim.

Well, they are right on one thing. I am a coward. I’ve listened to what they said. I have no doubt that after these 15 minutes are up people with longer memories and deeper pockets will go after the man, who is flawed, with modest resources (but luckily with a few strong friends). I fear that I will disappoint everyone when they find out that yes I DO sit in front of my keyboard drinking Tranya (but NOT wearing Homer Simpson underwear! NTodd has STILL not provided me a PAIR!). There was a show about the radio industry on PBS recently that showed how some powerful people used the legal system for years to beat up and destroy one man. When people ask what I am afraid of, well, there you have it. And to the man who said,

they attempted to demean you by talking about the fact that you use a character from star trek as a nom de plume

now they have done it

there are a world of trekkies out there who will descend upon them with the wrath of khan

live long and prosper

Vulcan hand salute right back at you.

More later, as they say, "Before fame, chop wood, carry laundry. After fame, chop wood, carry laundry."

LLAP
Spocko