There is a petition that is generating around the WP community. I was sent it and also emailed it out to many. Do to the fact that lots just deleted it and others with forward it to friends that may also just delete it resulting in alot of names being lost. I'm willing to handle this petition personally. If you would like your name on this petition, please email me at Pageme63@aol.com and I will add your name to the list. When I get the required 100 or more I will email it to the address given.

Thanks Page

Petition

TO WORLDPLAY FANS:

TO EVERYONE WHO LOVES CARD AND BOARD GAMES AND HATES WHAT IS HAPPENING TO WORLDPLAY:

THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF SMALL-SCALE PETITIONS TO AOL AND EA.

THIS PETITION IS THE FIRST TO BE NATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED, AND TO GO WHERE IT HAS THE BEST CHANCE: TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, WHICH GOVERNS HOW BUSINESS TREATS CUSTOMERS.

SIGN IT AND YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD.

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TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
ADDRESS HERE.

THE UNDERSIGNED ARE MEMBERS OF AMERICA ON-LINE, WHICH CHARGES ONE OF THE HIGHEST MONTHLY FEES AMONG ALL INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS.

IT ALSO PROVIDES WORLDPLAY, WHICH HAS BEEN BY MOST STANDARDS ONE OF THE BEST CARD AND BOARD GAME SITES ON THE INTERNET.

WE UNDERSCORE HAS BEEN. DESPITE A $2 RAISE IN MONTHLY FEES.....FROM $21.95 TO $23.95....AOL IS ALLOWING THIS SERVICE TO DIE. WORLDPLAY IS LITERALLY UNPLAYABLE. FEW GAMES CAN BE FINISHED WITHOUT A BOOT....A DISCONNECTION FROM THE NET. HUNDREDS OF TIMES A DAY INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS ARE DISCONNECTED ...LITERALLY BOOTED OFF THE SCREEN. IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE DISEASE HAS SPREAD. WORLDPLAY ITSELF IS DOWN MORE THAN IT IS UP. NOT A DAY GOES BY WITHOUT AN OUTAGE. SEVERAL DAYS CAN ELAPSE BEFORE IT STAGGERS BACK.

THIS IN OUR VIEW IS A DIMINUTION OF SERVICE. AND IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. WORLDPLAY IS WHAT WE CAME TO AOL FOR. SOME OF US LEFT ISP'S WE LIKED IN ORDER TO ENTER WORLDPLAY. WORLDPLAY HAD BEEN OPEN TO THE WORLD. IN 2002 AOL RESTRICTED IT TO AOL MEMBERS ONLY. THIS IN ITSELF IS A DIMINUTION OF THE VALUE OF THE SITE....REMOVING THOUSANDS OF PLAYERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE EXCITEMENT AND THE CHALLENGE.

NOT CONTENT WITH THUS RESTRICTING US, AOL IS NOW ALLOWING THE PHYSICAL SITE TO DETERIORATE. WHAT DOES AOL SAY TO ALL THIS?

A. A LETTER PURPORTING TO COME FROM A MISS FOSTER, AT AOL, CLAIMS THAT AOL WILL BE "SUNSETTING" WORLDPLAY THIS SUMMER. IN SHORT, KILLING IT.

B. WORD FROM A TECHNICAL PERSON AT AOL CLAIMS THAT "MISS FOSTER" IS A SCAM. THAT AOL HAS NO INTENTION OF DROPPING WORLDPLAY. THAT IT IS IN FACT IN THE PROCESS OF UPGRADING IT, IMPROVING IT, DEBUGGING IT.

C. AOL CLAIMS THAT EA, ENTERTAINMENT ARTS, AN ENTITY THAT RUNS THE SITE FOR AOL, IS THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
{The above (A,B, &C) is all documented and will be furnished upon request}

WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF PERHAPS THE LARGEST AND WEALTHIEST ISP IN THE WORLD....AND THE MOST POLITICALLY TROUBLED. WE ASK ONLY WHAT WE PAY FOR: A VITAL, ATTRACTIVE, FUNCTIONING PLACE TO MEET OTHERS WIT