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Sixgun_Symphony · **www.askjohnlott.org -** 08-07-03

There's a web site at www.askjohnlott.org that purports to be a site hosted by, and questions answered by John Lott of "More Guns, Less Crime".

A casual viewing of this site shows that it's an obviously fake site.

Checking the whois database, I found that this site was registered by a group in Washington, DC called the Center for Truth.

Further checking shows that the site appears to be hosted by PSINet in Washington, DC. Their toll-free number is (888) 390-9300

It might be fun to see how quickly the site is shut down if PSINet gets enough complaints.

Sixgun_Symphony · 08-07-03

I sent a copy of your post to John Lott via his real web sight.

Sixgun_Symphony · 08-07-03

Here is his response ...

Dear [Sixgun_Symphony]:

Thanks for letting me know about this. I have known about it for a
while (see my web site at www.johnrlott.com, I just put up a posting on the site today), but I have [not] been successful in getting the site closed down or even finding out for sure who is behind it.

There is no such thing as a "Center for Truth." Just like the site, the group is a fake. Unfortunately, I don't think that everyone is going to realize that this site is a fake and that they will think that the statements are actually mine. The worst thing is the e-mail answers that are being sent out under my name. I can only hope that enough people are informed about this.

Thanks again.

Regards,

John

He then sent a follow up with:

If you run across anyone who takes this site (or the e-mails from it)
seriously, please let me know. Examples of people who have been
mislead could be important in getting this taken down.

Anyway, let's see if we can help him out. Jim, good eye!!

Corporate Pig · 08-08-03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sixgun_Symphony

There's a web site at www.askjohnlott.org that purports to be a site hosted by, and questions answered by John Lott of "More Guns, Less Crime".

A casual viewing of this site shows that it's an obviously fake site.

Checking the whois database, I found that this site was registered by a group in Washington, DC called the Center for Truth.

Wow... your amazing Sixgun.. to managed to find out all that.

All I did was to scroll to the bottom of the Web site, to read the disclaimer...

Quote:

This site is not run by John Lott, he has no affiliation with it.
It is run by Mary Rosh. John Lott used Mary Rosh to support his books in internet forums,
and put false claims in her mouth. Now Mary Rosh has created this site,
to show John Lott that parody is a two-way street.
You can find out more about her at WhoIsMaryRosh.com.

boy... I guess you feel stupid now.

Corporate Pig · 08-08-03

Thought I should do a seperate post, to start what you finished...

If you bothered to actually read the Web site found at:
http://www.askjohnlott.org/bio.html

You would have stumbeled across this page...

Quote:

Ask John Lott: is a resident scholar at the American Encherprise Institute. Before joining AEI, he wasn't a senior research scholar at Yale University's School of Law. He has also held positions at the University of Illinois, Berkeley University, Greendale, the Stern Business School, and Brown University.

Additionally he was the Chief Economist at the United States Paragraphing Commission in 1988 and 1989.

He has published more than eighty articles in academic journals including the Journal of Loss and Economics and the Journal of Legal Ramifications, and is a frequent contributor to major newspapers.

John Lott created and used "Mary Rosh" as a fake persona to defend his own works in Internet discussion forums. "Rosh" became a highly reputable source, showing that John Lott's views and standpoints speak beyond his reputation. Extensive details can be found at the website Who Is Mary Rosh?

I guess you feel really stupid now...
given that the Web Site states is purpose and creator.

Sixgun_Symphony · 08-09-03

That disclaimer is new to the website.

The rest of the claims? It could be that John Lott is the pro-gun counterpart to the disgraced anti-gun historian Michael Bellesiles.

Still, I don't think I trust the owner of this website. The disclaimer is new, obviously to avoid lawsuits. Previously there was no effort at such "parody", nor was there such a stated purpose.
I still don't see any mention of exactly who its creator is.