Freeper targeted in "hate mail" riddle

BLACKMAILED

A FEMALE Freeper has revealed how she was "blackmailed" by another woman after she copied essays and tried to pass them off as her own work.

Popular poster Victoria Delsoul admitted she was guilty of plagiarizing a series of articles but said that she had since received menacing poison pen emails from a former Freeper threatening to expose her cheating.

Opening her heart this week, Victoria said: "I'm guilty, I did those things. A wonderful friend of mine helped me to edit them. I was lazy, I wanted recognition. I found the articles which pretty much said what I wanted to say, but those articles expressed those ideas in a much clear and profound way.

"I've been blackmailed. I have sent the "anonymous" email to Jim Robinson and I have apologized. I'm very sorry. I let my ego get carry away. Please forgive me."

Victoria's tormentor, who told her "I sure hope hell is hot enough for you" is thought to have held a longtime grudge against Victoria, blaming her for getting another female poster banned last year.

To his credit, Robinson refused to ban her for faking the articles - one of which even won the silver medal in the forum's "Essay of the Week"competition - and instead told Victoria: "Tell her [the blackmailer] to go to hell."

Victoria's essay, "American Intelligentsia", which snagged second place in the FR writing contest, was an almost word-for-word replica of information to be found on high-brow philosophy website Fresian.com.

Here are the emails the alleged blackmailer sent to Victoria earlier this month:

Email 1 -

Fri, 06 Jun 2003

From: "Victoria Exposed"

To: "Victoria Delsoul"

It's all out there and can be seen by anyone who looks. I'm more than happy to save them the trouble and just show it to them. I've got hundreds and hundreds of freepmail addresses. Then, there is Liberty Post and Liberty Forum to post this stuff at. Once I do, others will jump in and come up with even more stuff. The party is over "Victoria" and this had better be your last day on Free Republic.

Clean out your Free Republic profile page and just disappear. If your profile is still at FR and you make one more post that is dated after the time of this e-mail, I will expose you to everyone, starting with each and every person whose words you stole and claimed as your own and ending with the "friends" you have deceived. I sure hope hell is hot enough for you.

Email 2 -

Sat, 07 Jun 2003

From: "Victoria Exposed"

To: "Victoria Delsoul"

Did you think I was joking? I was not joking. I'm glad it worked out this way. I would like for everyone to see who you are.