Subject: DIRTY DOZEN LIST 007 - An Open Letter To: Eric Newhouse From: Gerhard Barth Date: January 10, 1987 I was greatly annoyed to see "someone named Gerhard Barth" singled out in your latest Dirty Dozen list 007. Your accusations that I "modified" the list, "added two files" and put my name on the list so that people would think that I helped write it are not true and grossly unfair. Here are the facts: 1. When David Neff started the Dirty Dozen List he indicated that Sysops might want to edit his List into Bulletins for posting on their Boards as they saw fit. This is exactly what I (and many other Sysops) did. 2. I always shortened the rather long file into a Bulletin suitable for online reading on my Board. This Bulletin was never uploaded or otherwise circulated by me. The unedited Dirty Dozen was listed in the D/L directories and available for downloading without any modification. 3. On September 9, 1986 a Sysop forwarded a message from a caller who got burned by NOTROJ.COM. Although I was not at all convinced that NOTROJ was bad (I ran it on my system a few times without any problems), I decided to add a special warning to my Alert Bulletin. Contrary to your statement, NOTROJ was NOT listed in your Dirty Dozen List at that time. 4. Shortly thereafter another caller reported that he got burned with SUG.COM, a true worm which wipes out directories, as was also reported later by PC Week. This is the second file I added to the special warning in my Bulletin - and NOT to your DD List. Again, your statement that this file was already listed in DD is wrong, it isn't even listed in 007. 5. My Alert Bulletin always gives full credit to David Neff and you. I added my name only because I didn't want anyone to assume that the above changes and additions represented your views. 6. I would hope that Dave Neff's original intent for DD (to supply information on bad programs to Sysops) will remain intact and that Sysops can continue to use it responsibly on their Board as I did without being subject to unfair accusations. I'm surprised that you didn't consider it appropriate to get in touch with me before making such derogatory and misleading statements. Obviously, you know how to reach me, having called Tamiami before. Gerhard Barth, Sysop Tamiami BBS