From our hosting company: “We have received an email similar to the one you are describing which we are currently evaluating.” Yes, the Progressive Democrats are trying to shut us down.
That’s what they “did” to The Patriot Initiative (TPI). And they were successful in shutting Josh Moore and TPI down for a couple of days. We have the info on that and will be starting a series explaining what happened. Along with a similar story-set concerning the Wright WWII Museum in Wolfeboro.
As for the Grok, we’ve received word that since we have been holding a number of Progressives accountable for their own words, their actions, and votes in the NH Legislature, they are now making a concerted effort to get us shut down.
By twisting the words of our common language it will be made clear when I continue this series how that twisting can occur. And how Jan Schmidt is making her and her daughter “victims of harassment”.
I believe a group of Progressive Democrats/Socialists are calling us a “hate site” full of “hate speech” and “harassing” them – and that should be the reason to shut down our site.
I have asked for the email that my hosting company confirmed they have received. We were warned by friends that this would be happening so I sent in an email to Support:
From: “Skip” <Skip@GraniteGrok.com>
To: Support
Sent: 9/2/2019 6:27:49 PM
Subject: GraniteGrok – complaint lodged against us for Political reasons only
I am writing because we have been tipped off that a NH State Rep, Jan Schmidt, or someone in her stead may have contacted Nexcess in trying to shut us down for “hate speech” and “harassment” because of political differences even as we are the biggest political blogsite in NH. We are Conservative – she is Socialist. There is a very wide chasm between us in which there is no compromise possible.
She believes, and is acting on, the Leftist redefinition that “hate speech” is effectively any speech that criticizes any speech on the Left – and must be silenced by any means possible. We already believe that she was the impetus behind the shutdown of The Patriot Initiative (thepatriotinitiative.com) for holding a forum that ran counter to her beliefs. It was reinstated two days later when it became clear that the claim of hate speech / white nationalist (and the other regular claims by the Left of being misogynist, homophobic, xenophobic, knuckle-dragging Neanderthals, Deplorables – you get the picture and it has been going on, for us, for years) was false. We are also seeing those on the Left now actively attempting to shutdown other Conservative voices here in NH on various platforms – for no other reason than to silence those opposing them with the upcoming elections. This is a recent and most dangerous movement and situation.
Please also note that I am in the process of writing an NH Joint House and Senate Ethics Complaint against her for lying about us having caused the female NH State Representatives in Merrimack, NH to seek police protection; further legal action may also be taken as we are being advised by legal counsel. We simply have been commenting on their actions, their words, and their votes for years (which seemingly is the new definition of ‘hate speech’ here in NH). We ended up contacting the MPD via a NH RSA 91:A Right to Know demand (a Freedom of Information Act, as it is known in other States and at the Federal level) in order to clear ourselves.
They confirmed what we had thought – no request was ever made and no monies were expended by the MPD for this purpose. This is the kind of tactic now being used against us.
I don’t know what your policies are on this nor do I know how deeply you understand the political tactics that are being employed. Thus, I am writing in advance of such a complaint in order to NOT be shut down on First Amendment rights.
Thus, knowing that this is in process RIGHT NOW, I am also requesting that a full backup be prepared to send to me if need be.
Kindest regards,
– Skip
GraniteGrok.com
The backup has been completed and will be sent to me; years of work will be safe. In addition, all of the Groksters have been sent a suggestion to locally save their newer posts. Thus, if we get shutdown, we’ll popup somewhere else.
We will use all of our social media accounts (the usual ones + some of the newer ones now being favored by and run by First Amendment supporters) to keep you informed IF in the case service is halted.
HOWEVER! This is what I just received a little bit ago from our hosting company (emphasis mine) as the initial response was that it would be kicked upstairs to “Leadership” for analysis:
From: Support
To: skip@granitegrok.com
Sent: 9/5/2019 11:01:39 AM
Subject: GraniteGrok – complaint lodged against us for Political reasons only
Hi Skip,
My name is Scott and I’m in Support Leadership. Thank you for reaching out to us and for bringing your concerns to our attention. It does look like we should be able to get you the backups you requested.
As for the situation you’re writing about, I would encourage you to read our Acceptable Use and Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) policies as these will guide our response to abuse and DMCA complaints
https://www.nexcess.net/policies/acceptable-use-policy/
https://www.nexcess.net/policies/dmca/
We have received an email similar to the one you are describing which we are currently evaluating. No action is required at this time. We’ll reach out if we do require any information or a response from you.
If you have specific questions or concerns, please let us know and we’d be happy to address them for you.
Best,
Scott
As to that last sentence – I have done just that but that all will be in a later post.
To their policies – the DMCA doesn’t apply at all as it deals with copyrighted material and that isn’t what is germane to what I consider to be a real attack against our First Amendment Rights of Free Speech. Remember, there is NO legal definition of “hate speech”.
The only clause in their Acceptable Use Policy that PROBABLY applies is this:
5. Threats and Harassment. The Nexcess network can be utilized for any type of individual, organizational or business use. This does not include threats to or harassment of individuals, organizations or businesses, unless it falls within the bounds of protected free speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Nexcess seeks to serve only as the medium of exchange for information and refrains from decisions on freedom of speech.
I felt much better knowing that my hosting company actually believes in the First Amendment!!!!
To Be Continued – and we have screenshots to back this stuff up.