Dump AOL

[cuchulainn]

AOL is a horrible product. It's the Cheez-Whiz of internet providers. Just because a lot of people use it doesn't mean there aren't better and/or cheaper things out there.

Dump it regardless of its politics.

 

[Tady45]

Hi my name is Larry, I am an AOL aholic...Yes I know it's the worst and I will be making a change, but to what? I had Earthlink, but do not like the fact that its owned by a super rich Scientolgist no less!! Yes, that's right for all of you unaware of that little fact! I don't need my bucks going to a stinking cult. Net Zero runs a bunch of ads etc. Digital is not yet available in my area.. So in the mean time, $24 bucks a month, getting bumped off half the time, and waiting forever to connect, is my cross to bear....


Larry

 

[Jmurman]

Originally posted by Wildalaska
I was just looking at my web statistics for the past month and was real happy about our traffic, but was troubled by the fact that over 50% of visitors were using AOL...

Now Im sure it upsets the powers that be at AOL Time Warner that their users are looking at evil gun web sites, but the fact remains that it is absolutely amazing to me that gun owners throw money into the coffers of a media conglomerate that actively seeks to disarm citizens (and looks at you with contempt besides)..

Now I myself I am sure have opinions that are far to the left of many of the opinions I see on this Board, but I have never used AOL..how many of you do??? I find it hysterical that some guys who vociferously spout off about their "rights" are doing so using AOL....

There is no reason whatsoever to use AOL...there is an ISP in every town in the US...if you dont know how to set up a Browser there are people here to help you. Consider..if there are 500,000 guns owners who use AOL and all of them dump em...thats a nice hit...

Lets start the boycott here...what if acess to this Board was cut off for AOL users for example..

ANY SUGGESTIONS....???

I switched to a cable internet provider, but after anbout 6 months of very fast speed and $60 per month, gave it up for $17 and Att.net. Its a dial up, but I'me saving money that I can use for ammo!

 

[YankeeRebel]

Remember that a few years ago AOL bought CompuServe which then had an execellent gun site. I could not believe the number of good posts on that site. Guess what, AOL removed the gun site and would not bring it back no matter what their customer said.

I dropped AOL because no matter how much I tightened down the filter I could not stop the mail from porn sites enticing me to log onto their site. No thanks. I don't need porn sites.

At work my job brings me in close contact with our security staff. One of our security staff said that one of our employees is getting obscene mailings from an AOL site. They have contacted AOL and asked them to do what they can to stop the incidents. The last time I asked our employee is still receiving those same mailings from the AOL address.

All of this says to stay away from anything to do with AOL.

 

[gorf]

My employer uses AOL, even though he has a ISDN link with another provider. He likes it becuase it is so easy to use. I told him I don't like it because it is so hard to use...that was so he would not ask me questions when he has problems. I rate AOL at the bottom of the heap, just above Prodigy.

 

[Schuey2002]

I use it because it is free. If you want to send me some money to go and use someone else,then feel free to mail me some..
I know that they are a bunch of Clinton-lovin' Socialists, I won't dispute that.

I enjoy stringing AOL along. It's fun !!

I threaten to cancel,and they give me more and more free service. Once, they say, "You have to pay to continue your AOL account", then I'll drop them like a dead weight.

 

[gorf]

I wouldn't use them even if was free, but that's just me.

 

[MountainPeak]

Many people like to talk the talk, but refuse to walk the walk if it is inconvenient or might cost them a few bucks. If I know a company is actively supporting anti-gun/2nd Amendment causes I do not support them. I personally think the word hypocrite applies if you don't put your money where your mouth is!

 

[ChickenHawk]

IMHO this is silly at best.

I don't use AOL and agree that as a service it's crap. I've used a broadband connection through my local cable provider for years and I love the service.

Oops! When I write my check every month it goes to Time Warner! Now what do I do?

ChickenHawk

 

[Russ]

I got roped into using Compuserve, AOL's evil twin a few years ago when they were handing out money to join. Got my son a computer. Now my 3 year commitement is up and I'm thinking of Juno or NetZero because of cost. Why pay $22 when I can pay $10?

You can boycott AOL, etc but it won't mean beans to them. We're talking Time Warner here. You are just a flea to them and they don't care.

 

[Jmurman]

Originally posted by Russ
I got roped into using Compuserve, AOL's evil twin a few years ago when they were handing out money to join. Got my son a computer. Now my 3 year commitement is up and I'm thinking of Juno or NetZero because of cost. Why pay $22 when I can pay $10?

You can boycott AOL, etc but it won't mean beans to them. We're talking Time Warner here. You are just a flea to them and they don't care.

You can say that again. We had some AOL Execs come to our dealership a year or so ago. What a pompus bunch of a**holes. They went on and on about how big and bad they are, how much business they were going to drive to our website....blah..blah...blah. I almost puked.

 

[OKC .45 ACP]

AOHell

Don't have it anymore. I'm on Earthlink, but I am switching to Cable modem in two days! Can't wait!

Oh, and btw, Dude, I just got a Dell!
2.8 Ghz, 120 GB drive, DVD/CD Rom burner

This thing is awesome!

Bob

 

[TheOtherOne]

AOL fired three employees back in 2000 for having unloaded guns in their vehicles. See the article included below.

And for anyone that is interested... unfortunately AOL's anti-gun policy prevailed, as the three that were fired did not win their lawsuit. They are in the process of appealing.


http://www.keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=827

AOL Fires Gun Owners

by Sarah Thompson, M.D.
Director, Utah Gun Owners Alliance
http://www.UTGOA.org



America Online, http://www.aol.com, has been known to gun owners for some time for their support of anti-gun organizations and policies. They’ve donated large sums of money to liberal, anti-gun Democrat organizations to support people like Dianne Feinstein, Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy.

More recently, they’ve canceled accounts for firearms related web sites on the grounds that such material is no different from “pornographyâ€. Never mind that guns are entirely legal items owned by tens of millions of Americans. Never mind that AOL doesn’t seem to think that disgustingly offensive rock music is a problem.

Now, in another step towards the final elimination of gun owners from “civilized societyâ€, AOL has fired three exemplary workers for having firearms in their cars in order to go shooting at a range on their own time!

The three employees are Luke Hansen, Jason Melling and Paul Carlson. All three worked as “partner technical consultants†at AOL’s Ogden, Utah facility, doing higher level technical support. The Ogden facility employs about 850 people, according to AOL’s web site, and “handles a range of technical, billing, third-party and sales callsâ€. According to Mr. Hansen, they had worked at AOL for two to four years, and all had good employee records and good reviews from their supervisors. Unfortunately (at least from AOL’s point of view), the three young men also enjoy shooting.

On September 14, 2000, Luke, Jason and Paul met after work in the AOL parking lot to go shooting at the gun range near Eden, Utah. In order to carpool to the range, Jason and Paul transferred their firearms from their own cars to Luke’s truck, a matter of carrying them a few yards. Jason transferred a .30-06 hunting rifle and a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun. Both firearms were unloaded and in cases. Paul transferred a .45 long Colt “cowboy style†pistol and a 7.63 X .39 KBI. The Colt was in a holster, and both firearms were unloaded. The handguns had trigger locks in place. Luke’s firearms were in his truck and he never touched Jason or Paul’s firearms. At no time did they brandish or handle the firearms in a threatening or unsafe manner. Luke and Paul hold valid Utah concealed weapons permits, and Jason is in the process of obtaining one, so all three are familiar with safe handling and Utah laws.

Although all three of them worked during the subsequent three days, nothing about the firearms was mentioned. However, on Monday, Sept. 18, all three were fired for “violating AOL’s employee policy†which states that firearms are forbidden on company property, including the parking lot. According to Luke, although no one complained, an overzealous security guard saw the firearms on a video surveillance tape and reported the alleged violations.

AOL does have its firearms policy posted inside the front and back doors of the building, stating that firearms are not permitted in the building or in the parking lot, and all three employees were aware of this policy. However, they were also aware that AOL’s policy violates Utah state law. AOL states that it is a “secure facilityâ€, although under Utah law secure facilities can be designated only by the legislature, and include places such as courts, airports, mental health facilities, and prisons. By definition, a place open to the public cannot be a “secure facilityâ€, and AOL’s parking lot is open to the public. (Actually, it’s a group of marked stalls in a public parking lot.) In addition, a secure facility is required to provide locked safe storage for anyone lawfully carrying a firearm, and accept responsibility for stored firearms, something that AOL clearly was not equipped to do.

On a previous occasion about two months ago, the three men had also transferred firearms after work, and had been reported to management. At that time, Luke Hansen met with AOL’s General Manager, Sarah McElwee. At that time, he explained to Ms. McElwee that while AOL might be able to restrict firearms in the building, it could not restrict firearms in a public parking lot, and that AOL did not meet the criteria for a “secure facilityâ€. Mr. Hansen says he thought the matter was resolved at the time, although no written changes were made to AOL’s policy. Ironically, Ms. McElwee’s husband is known for the very fine firearms he makes!

As a result of the firing, Paul is still looking for work. Jason, who has a wife and just bought a new home, has found a new job. So has Luke, who is expecting his first child in February.

It appears that AOL management, and especially Ric Waiters, the AOL manager who fired the three, want to force the issue of illegal, politically correct, gun bans. Fortunately for gun owners everywhere, Luke Hansen, Jason Melling and Paul Carlson are not going to take this lying down! They’re not willing to see their rights, or the rights of any other Utah gun owners destroyed by America Online. So they’ve decided to take on America Online, the 800 lb gorilla of anti-gun corporations.

As Luke wrote in a recent email: “If AOL is allowed to continue with illegal company policies like this, then ALL companies in Utah can adopt similar policies. Your employer can whittle away at your gun rights, and get away with it. The 3 of us have chosen to take a stand, because this is something that we feel very deeply about. We believe that this is truly an issue that affects ALL Utah gun owners and ALL Utah CCW carriers. These aren't just our rights that were violated, they are your rights too.â€

The real issue here is whether gun owners are going to be demonized and excluded from participation in ordinary life, whether we’re going to become the last persecuted minority. Remember that most Americans in the “old South†didn’t assault African-Americans; they simply told them they couldn’t work in “white†businesses, attend “white†schools and churches, eat in “white restaurants†or live in “white†neighborhoods. Likewise, the Nazis first told Jews that they couldn’t work in German businesses, attend German schools, or otherwise participate in German society. Once the Jews had been isolated, so that ordinary Germans no longer interacted with them, it was much easier for the Nazis to convince people that Jews were an “inferior race†and a “public health menaceâ€â€¦ and that they should be murdered for “the public goodâ€.

If we allow ourselves to be isolated and demonized in the minds of our fellow Americans, then we too will one day find ourselves forbidden to interact with non gun owners. We too will find ourselves unable to find work, to send our children to school, to attend the religious services of our choice, or to eat in restaurants, shop in stores, or attend movies and sporting events. (In addition to this AOL case, there is a ballot initiative circulating to prohibit gun owners from entering schools and religious facilities in Utah.) Eventually we will find ourselves rounded up into concentration camps or stalked by “public servants†seeking to imprison or kill us.

So it’s critically important that we resist each and every attempt to isolate and persecute gun owners NOW – before it’s too late!

Last week, Hansen, Carlson and Melling filed suit against AOL for wrongful termination. They are being represented by James “Mitch†Vilos, a local attorney, firearms dealer, and author of the book Utah Gun Law: Good, Bad and Ugly, available at www.firearmslaw.com. Mitch is also the founder of the Utah Gun Owners Legal Defense (U-GOLD) fund.

AOL has so far refused to comment. Mace Molen, the Director of Human Resources has a message on his phone saying he’s “on vacation†until November 3.

Mr. Vilos believes the three have an excellent chance of winning their lawsuit. Like many freedom-loving states, Utah is a “right to work†or “at will†state, meaning that an employee can be fired at any time. However, Mr. Vilos points out that an employee may NOT be fired if doing so violates public policy. For example an employer may not fire an employee for being Catholic or Asian, because that would violate state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

How does this apply to the AOL case? According to Mr. Vilos, public policy is determined by the state constitution and state statutes.

The Utah Constitution clearly states, in Article I, Section 6: “The individual right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, others, property, or the state, as well as for other lawful purposes shall not be infringed; but nothing herein shall prevent the Legislature from defining the lawful use of arms.†Clearly, Utahns have an indisputable individual right to keep and bear arms.

As noted above, AOL is violating Utah law by declaring its parking lot and building to be a secure facility, since the parking lot is open to the public and AOL does not provide the mandated safe storage.

It is not entirely clear whether or not an employer can restrict firearms in the workplace if the workplace is not open to the public, because Utah statute does not specifically address this issue. However, since a special statute was passed to permit churches to restrict firearms, it would seem that in the absence of such a statute applying to employers, they may not do so. And the Office of Legislative General counsel previously ruled that Governor Leavitt’s ban on firearms for state employees was illegal (although Leavitt still refuses to stop the ban, and our ultra-liberal attorney general isn’t interested).

Public policy in Utah supports the individual possession of firearms, as well as the right to carry firearms for lawful purposes including self-defense, hunting and target shooting. It therefore stands to reason that public policy would support three men who go to a range for the purpose of maintaining and improving their firearms skills. And because Utah has problems with traffic congestion and pollution, public policy supports the use of carpooling. Thus it seems that public policy supports the right of lawful gun owners to keep unloaded firearms in their cars and to carpool in order to use a shooting range on their own time. And as a matter of public policy, employers generally are not permitted to regulate their employees’ legal activities outside of work hours.

Therefore, Luke Hansen, Paul Carlson and Jason Melling are suing AOL for wrongful termination in violation of public policy and asking for declaratory relief. They are also asking for a jury trial, so their case can be judged by ordinary Utahns. And they’re asking for reimbursement of attorney’s fees since this is a matter of clarifying public policy.

By taking such a principled and courageous stand, these three men and their attorney are fighting for the rights of all gun owners against a virulent and well-funded anti-gun behemoth. They deserve the thanks and support of all gun owners.

 

[clem]

Dump them, your system will work better. Also, after you dump them go through your system real well. AOL leaves a lot of fecees in files and such.

 

[TheOtherOne]

For those that decide to cancel their AOL account, you will need to call 1-888-265-8008.

If you call to cancel you should be aware that you will be asked why you are cancelling. Tell the rep it's because the company they work for infringes on their 2nd amendment rights. It may not get pass the person you are speaking with, but everyone counts.

Also, they'll probably offer you free time to try and get you to change your mind and stay.

You may also choose to mail your request to cancel to:
America Online
P.O. Box 1600
Ogden, UT 84402

Or you may fax your request at 801-622-7969.

If you choose to write or fax, please include the nature of your request and primary billing contact's full name, phone number, address, and handwritten signature. Additionally, for account security purposes, please provide ONE of the following:

_ _ -- the primary Billing Contact's AOL screenname
_ _ _ _ or
_ _ -- the last four digits of the current payment method used for this account (for your security, only the last four digits please)
_ _ _ _ or
_ _ -- the answer to your Privacy Question (if you have already established a Privacy Question and Answer).

 

[GinSlinger]

If You're Thinking About Dropping AOL...

Would recomend using a spyware program such as Lavasoft's Ad-Aware after removing AOL, Compuserve, etc. Heck, I run it every week and find little spy programs. The first time I ran it I found something like 20 programs. Certainly speeded my DSL back up. Good Luck,

GinSlinger

 

[45R]

AO Hell is the devil of IPS. I dumped them a long time ago.
Were else can you go to a chat room and instantly get spammed. Those free discs that they send me make good targets at the range.