A SlimVirgin Close Encounter, ...of the first kind Options

[TabulaRasa]

If you followed a link on O-Smear to get here, please be sure to read this topic for some more recent commentary on this whole situation. Thanks!

UPDATE: We'd also like to apologize for the fact that the topic referenced earlier was the wrong one, and was, indeed, a dead link until just recently. The topics are referenced by number, and the admin adding this note (who has since been severely punished) originally typed "8623" instead of "8263." (The link was dead until the new number came up and was taken by an RSS-fed media topic.) OOPS! Normally we're more careful than that... sorry! Anyway, the purpose of linking to the other topic was simply to help keep people up-to-date on what we're discussing, and the gist of that was that Wordbomb is not "Joey," at least not according to our IP data, analysis of posting patterns, writing style, attitude, known history on Wikipedia, and just-plain common sense. Sorry about that too, but it's our story and we're sticking to it.

Also, putting notes like this in threads that are linked to by other sites is hardly "unprecedented." Half the time we delete such threads completely, just to piss people off... we're just like that! In this case, we simply want to make it clear that while Wordbomb is generally well-tolerated here, and Gary Weiss is generally disliked, that doesn't mean we have any real desire to get in the middle of their little feud, or whatever it is. Most of us are only concerned with how it plays out on Wikipedia, not elsewhere. That's our "purview," you see. (The site is actually called "Wikipedia Review," not "The Gary and Judd Review"...)

Anyway, thanks! We hope you enjoy the site!

The Management, Apr. 17, 2007

Antisocialmedia.net has found the actual person who might be partly responsible for Linda Mack's slow descent into SlimVirginity. If the story weren't so unbelieveable I'd discount it, but trust me: you can't make this stuff up.

The first half of the post is mostly a rehash of things we've read here, but the second half is where Slim comes in and that's what you really need to read. If it's all true, then SlimVirgin mythology has just taken a huge step forward. It's at http://www.antisocialmedia.net

[Revision]

I don't mean to stir up more controversy with Slimvirgin, but has anyone considered they're chasing the wrong tail?

Those in the Intelligence community are well known to have different names, especially while in operation. The names floating around that are being attributed to Slimvirgin may not be her real name. They're well known to put up front biographies that will pass any scrutiny (especially by even news organizations -- it took CNN's Anderson Cooper to admit he interned for the CIA in college, for example).

No one knows her before her Cambridge days. That the sleuthing stopped there, and SV is operating as usual, is a very good sign whatever her name that was "outted" now, is no concern for her -- it's a dead end.

It's when they become unhinged is when you know you actually got your man/woman (remember the early fallout days of the Cambridge Five? The tipoff was when Phiby and Burgess flew the coop?).

I also wonder why folks claim it's MI5 (FBI), when it sounds more like MI6 (CIA)? It's the MI6 guys that does the foreign intelligence, where the MI5 does the domestic scoops. And the MI6 recruits the weirdos.

[Herschelkrustofsky]

Those in the Intelligence community are well known to have different names, especially while in operation. The names floating around that are being attributed to Slimvirgin may not be her real name. They're well known to put up front biographies that will pass any scrutiny (especially by even news organizations -- it took CNN's Anderson Cooper to admit he interned for the CIA in college, for example).

...I also wonder why folks claim it's MI5 (FBI), when it sounds more like MI6 (CIA)? It's the MI6 guys that does the foreign intelligence, where the MI5 does the domestic scoops. And the MI6 recruits the weirdos.

I would assume that Sarah McEwan was the fake name and "front biography" that you refer to, whereas the best evidence we have suggests the Linda Mack was the actual name. As far as the MI5 conclusion, we didn't draw it ourselves -- this comes from her former employer, Pierre Salinger, by way of Mr. Cooley. For a concise summary of all the evidence that has appeared on these pages, I recommend reading Chip Berlet, SlimVirgin, and Wikipedia.

But seriously, what piques my curiosity is how SV can turn on and off her British accent, to even fool natives.

We don't know that she could fool natives. As far as turning on and off a British accent, I've known a number of amateur thespians who did that to make an impression. Apparently Madonna does it. Nowadays, it might help you get a job doing voice-overs on American TV commercials or talent contests. Plus, one of Virginia Slim's parents was evidently British, so it would come naturally and not require a great deal of affectation.

[Revision]

I would assume that Sarah McEwan was the fake name and "front biography" that you refer to, whereas the best evidence we have suggests the Linda Mack was the actual name. As far as the MI5 conclusion, we didn't draw it ourselves -- this comes from her former employer, Pierre Salinger, by way of Mr. Cooley. For a concise summary of all the evidence that has appeared on these pages, I recommend reading Chip Berlet, SlimVirgin, and Wikipedia.

Yeah, I read the web page, and I still don't think any of the names offered is her real one. Remember the Valerie Plume incident? Now that is how they react when their cover is blown (much like MI6's Philby, and Burgess exiting Britain upon disclosure of their identities).

SV just moves to Canada, not even bothering to cover her tracks very well, even giving folks hints of her interests. She would've known eventually folks will pick up the breadcrumbs, as she left them there for anyone to pick up. Especially going anywhere near the Pan Am 103 topics.

I find it interesting that Linda Mack, the person asserted to be SV, never becomes engaged in this discussion in any of it's various manifestations. If she or a friend just googled "Linda Mack Canada" she would have ample reason to be concerned if she wasn't SV. As far as I know this never happens.

This seems to argue for a correct identification.

Just because someone doesn't attest that XYZ name isn't there's doesn't mean it is there's. Follow some Usenet stalkings, and you'll see very quickly how so many don't say a peep when they were incorrectly "outed".

[jorge]

Yeah, I read the web page, and I still don't think any of the names offered is her real one. Remember the Valerie Plume incident? Now that is how they react when their cover is blown (much like MI6's Philby, and Burgess exiting Britain upon disclosure of their identities).

SV just moves to Canada, not even bothering to cover her tracks very well, even giving folks hints of her interests. She would've known eventually folks will pick up the breadcrumbs, as she left them there for anyone to pick up. Especially going anywhere near the Pan Am 103 topics.

Just because someone doesn't attest that XYZ name isn't there's doesn't mean it is there's. Follow some Usenet stalkings, and you'll see very quickly how so many don't say a peep when they were incorrectly "outed".

You are making assumptions that intelligence operatives are somehow perfect human beings with no weaknesses. There has never really been something like Wikipedia before so people don't (or didn't) really think that anyone could work out who they were just by their topics of interest, especially using a made up name.

[Revision]

You are making assumptions that intelligence operatives are somehow perfect human beings with no weaknesses. There has never really been something like Wikipedia before so people don't (or didn't) really think that anyone could work out who they were just by their topics of interest, especially using a made up name.

It takes nothing to truly erase tracks.

It takes something to make more tracks -- heck, even lead the horse to water!

[jorge]

You are making assumptions that intelligence operatives are somehow perfect human beings with no weaknesses. There has never really been something like Wikipedia before so people don't (or didn't) really think that anyone could work out who they were just by their topics of interest, especially using a made up name.

It takes nothing to truly erase tracks.

It takes something to make more tracks -- heck, even lead the horse to water!

The thing is it's possible she didn't even give her email to Cambridge University, it could have been a friend of hers and she had no idea it was on there. Without the email on the Cambridge Alumni website noone would have ever worked out that SlimVirgin was Linda Mack.

[Revision]

The thing is it's possible she didn't even give her email to Cambridge University, it could have been a friend of hers and she had no idea it was on there. Without the email on the Cambridge Alumni website noone would have ever worked out that SlimVirgin was Linda Mack.

The question still remains is she Linda Mack? What evidence than an email addy and a web search says it is her?

That SV will be the first to volunteer for difficult blocks at Wikipedia, despite this "outing", I doubt just over confidence of being some agent (real or imagined) is enough to make such a "fragile" person so confident.

[Kato]

The thing is it's possible she didn't even give her email to Cambridge University, it could have been a friend of hers and she had no idea it was on there. Without the email on the Cambridge Alumni website noone would have ever worked out that SlimVirgin was Linda Mack.

The question still remains is she Linda Mack? What evidence than an email addy and a web search says it is her?

That SV will be the first to volunteer for difficult blocks at Wikipedia, despite this "outing", I doubt just over confidence of being some agent (real or imagined) is enough to make such a "fragile" person so confident.

You're not following the timeline of this. Since the Linda Mack revelation, SV has been in a consistent state of fragility. Off wiki and on. Including protracted negotiations with the staff of the Review regarding the mentioning of her real name. She now barely contributes to wikipedia. Much of it is already detailed on these pages for right or for wrong.

[Revision]

You're not following the timeline of this. Since the Linda Mack revelation, SV has been in a consistent state of fragility. Off wiki and on. Including protracted negotiations with the staff of the Review regarding the mentioning of her real name. She now barely contributes to wikipedia. Much of it is already detailed on these pages for right or for wrong.

Not fragile enough to quit her job, despite folks "knowing" her identity.

Staying at Wikipedia is more important than having a kook over for dinner? Not like were she's reportingly lives has that many residents. If what that CEO stated was true, she couldn't handle an email from a kook -- one on her doorstep is enough to make her change her residence and name again.

That didn't happen.

She may have been more scared that the snooping would've continued, though.

But the thing that I'm trying to state is -- if you guys are about facts and evidence, what's presented has more holes than Swiss cheese in it. There's nothing here as real evidence, other than some pieced together ideas.

Wouldn't want a court to begin even a traffic case with this much "evidence".

No, there is no doubt whatsoever that the editor SlimVirgin on Wikipedia is Linda Mack who studied philosophy at King's College, Cambridge in the late 1980s under Bernard Williams and who worked for Pierre Salinger and was subsequently fired by him. Her first ever edit to Wikipedia was to make derogatory edits to Pierre Salinger's biography just after he had died.

You're not getting it: "Linda Mack" may not be her real name.

Someone suspected of working for MI5 isn't going to be an agent overnight. There's at least orientation and some other training to be done (look what was said about Anderson Cooper's stint in the CIA in college). That she got involved into the Pan Am 103 families as she did, despite not having a family member perish, says if she was a MI5 (or MI6) agent, she was one before it happened to be crafty enough to weasle in.

It's the before part that can mean "Linda Mack" isn't her real name.

[GlassBeadGame]

You're not following the timeline of this. Since the Linda Mack revelation, SV has been in a consistent state of fragility. Off wiki and on. Including protracted negotiations with the staff of the Review regarding the mentioning of her real name. She now barely contributes to wikipedia. Much of it is already detailed on these pages for right or for wrong.

Not fragile enough to quit her job, despite folks "knowing" her identity.

Staying at Wikipedia is more important than having a kook over for dinner? Not like were she's reportingly lives has that many residents. If what that CEO stated was true, she couldn't handle an email from a kook -- one on her doorstep is enough to make her change her residence and name again.

That didn't happen.

She may have been more scared that the snooping would've continued, though.

But the thing that I'm trying to state is -- if you guys are about facts and evidence, what's presented has more holes than Swiss cheese in it. There's nothing here as real evidence, other than some pieced together ideas.

Wouldn't want a court to begin even a traffic case with this much "evidence".

No, there is no doubt whatsoever that the editor SlimVirgin on Wikipedia is Linda Mack who studied philosophy at King's College, Cambridge in the late 1980s under Bernard Williams and who worked for Pierre Salinger and was subsequently fired by him. Her first ever edit to Wikipedia was to make derogatory edits to Pierre Salinger's biography just after he had died.

You're not getting it: "Linda Mack" may not be her real name.

Someone suspected of working for MI5 isn't going to be an agent overnight. There's at least orientation and some other training to be done (look what was said about Anderson Cooper's stint in the CIA in college). That she got involved into the Pan Am 103 families as she did, despite not having a family member perish, says if she was a MI5 (or MI6) agent, she was one before it happened to be crafty enough to weasle in.

It's the before part that can mean "Linda Mack" isn't her real name.

We have discussed this at length previously. The best view is that Linda Mack/Sarah/SV is not an actual career agent with the attendant professionalism. She is more likely a low level operative who is on occasion utilized by agents. She has a history that involves a presumably accidental connection to 103 which motivated some journalistic activities in the middle east. She also possess a set of social skill that permits her to gain influence in the survivor's group as well as WP social networking environment. According to P.S. she was engaged in at least one intelligence operation in the capacity of a journalist who snitched on her principals. Her WP activities might have been as an low level operative in a failed experiment by an intelligence agency or it might just be the sad obsession of a person living in the past.

Don't make her out to be a more attractive character than what she is, or to rule her out because she lack super-spy skills.