--> Out of Pod Experience

What's your verdict on sarcasm in EVE people?

another thwarted terrorist attack \o/ working as intended

blame Canada

kinda messed up but really you shouldn't be joking about stuff like that. hell just a few min ago i read a post on the World of Tanks forums where some guy offered to buy someone gold if they capture and kill the US president, clearly a joke but not something to joke about and doing it in text is even worse

He could try starting a kickstarter to buy that gold . Or troll the white house petition site with a petition to 'HIM' to do it to 'HIMself'.

As far as I can see from the quotes provided about that case, there wasn't enough information in what he said for it to really constitute a real threat. What he said is protected by freedom of speech. It's not like he had a notebook with detailed plans of execution and a specific target. If it had been in EvE he could have been talking about ganking E-Uni corp members in game. Or better yet noob corp members all the noob corps are schools of a sort.

I'm glad I'm on the other side of the Atlantic.

Poor kid, this isn't even funny.

What psycho judge and jury, makes me want to go justice on their asses.

You couldn't find a more credible source than the wannabe metalhead pacing in front of a gaming library?

Good to be far away from USA in Austria where people just keep their daughters / kidnapped women in cellars for number of years and have grandkids with them.

But at least they don't make threats on intertubez so everybody just chill da frakk down.

Maybe if a few case like that happens, the ******** amount of trashtalk online will go down at some point.

Sarcasm dead? I hope not, that's an English pastime.

Point 3: the woman who denounced him really needs to get some common sense and stop spreading her stupid around.

I dunno, something about the stories that are coming out of the USA are constantly reminding my of George Orwell's nineteen eight four I mean seriously this person who tracked the kids IP was praised instead of jailed for Hacking......isnt Hacking a cyber-crime?

I thought sarcasm was just part of being a troll?

I dunno, something about the stories that are coming out of the USA are constantly reminding my of George Orwell's nineteen eight four I mean seriously this person who tracked the kids IP was praised instead of jailed for Hacking......isnt Hacking a cyber-crime?

I thought sarcasm was just part of being a troll?

As much as the trend scares me, it's not a US thing. The UK in particular has really started to crack down on things they consider hate speech.

Side note: Looking up IPs is far from illegal or hacking (there are in fact public registrars like http://whois.net/ ). It's more likely that he was found via social networking or some online persona, which again, is pretty mundane.

how exactly did she find his ip, does anyone know?

I'm subscribed to his channel because some of his reviews on the gaming world are hilarious. His video was the first I'd heard of it...

If you want credability...here.

The funny thing about this is the poster one or two above you who has a George Orwell quote in his sig yet seems to be an advocate for Orwellian practices.

The funny thing about this is the poster one or two above you who has a George Orwell quote in his sig yet seems to be an advocate for Orwellian practices.

I shall raise my tea to that...pip pip!

As much as the trend scares me, it's not a US thing. The UK in particular has really started to crack down on things they consider hate speech.

Side note: Looking up IPs is far from illegal or hacking (there are in fact public registrars like http://whois.net/ ). It's more likely that he was found via social networking or some online persona, which again, is pretty mundane.

A different article said it was a Facebook game, that makes it really easy to track the players.

should he get punished for what he said...... yes but man not 8 years in jail lol thats just insane

but this is a country where a judge is going to jail becuase he had a deal with a jail owner so he send pretty much ever minor to jail for years for minor law violations just so they could profit of it (jails being a for profit business in the USA)

should he get punished for what he said...... yes but man not 8 years in jail lol thats just insane

but this is a country where a judge is going to jail becuase he had a deal with a jail owner so he send pretty much ever minor to jail for years for minor law violations just so they could profit of it (jails being a for profit business in the USA)

all teenagers should go to prison.

No other country jails more.

But all is still possible because not enough self-policing. If society has to enforce morality/ethics (and not the individual) they'll use the biggest clubs available, and as indiscriminately too.

Not 1984 style, Clockwork Orange style.

Self-policing keeps it under the radar. If you let the powers-that-be shine their laser on it because they now know about it, the interest can even be incinerated as the powers-that-be will do anything to remain in power.

Your choice of source says a lot about you is all.

I'm sorry, but your response makes me severely doubt that you are in fact English... we don't live in the 1800s.

Yeah good point with the Clockwork orange though It does seem that you associate both books with most countries now-a-days.

But 8 years in jail is too steep even to make him a point for gamers who use sarcasm to reply to others in my eyes anyway

I'm sorry, but your response makes me severely doubt that you are in fact English... we don't live in the 1800s.

I'll underline that part for you shall I? I like watching a multitute of game reviews, some being idiots some not... Where would you like to go with this? Lol

Mainly that you rage because some youtuber tells you to and not because you bothered to look into it.

That makes you just as much of a sheep as the angry soccer moms if you ask me; it's important to be indignant for the right reasons.

EDIT: If you don't want to watch the youtube vid, links to the news article are in the description. I just find AlphaOmegaSin's reaction brilliant, and it pretty much mirrors my own view on the topic.

I dunno, something about the stories that are coming out of the USA are constantly reminding my of George Orwell's nineteen eight four I mean seriously this person who tracked the kids IP was praised instead of jailed for Hacking......isnt Hacking a cyber-crime?

I thought sarcasm was just part of being a troll?

Here let me underline something in the original post for you...

But it's okay, you put me in the same category as the soccor mums which can only mean one thing. You think I'm a couger and want in my knickers...

You're not in the UK and Germany? Because those countries have even stricter online laws than the US. Couple kids in the UK are in jail for "hate crimes" as it is, too. In Germany mention things about ******, or even be a Holocaust denier, and you will face jail time.

You mean that stuff you read after I called you out? It's a step in the right direction I guess. I urge you to go slightly deeper than "The Daily Caller" though.

yah from Germany , i know what you mean. although the only real noticeable cut is that i can't officially watch most youtube videos containing popular music. Thats do to the n4zi organization GEMA that demand youtube pay them about 0.13 euro per click. these nut-jobs are the reason we Germans can't have nice things.
Stuff here is far from ideal, but 8 years is what an 18y/o gets for murdering his dad in affect.

The kid was stupid. That's just not something you say in public, sarcasm or no. While I agree jail-time might be a bit much, he definitely should receive some kind of punishment.

It happened in a discussion about LoL on Facebook, not in LoL itself.

You couldn't find a more credible source than the wannabe metalhead pacing in front of a gaming library?

While I agree jail-time might be a bit much, he definitely should receive some kind of punishment.

The kid was stupid. That's just not something you say in public, sarcasm or no. While I agree jail-time might be a bit much, he definitely should receive some kind of punishment.

MURRICA?

I'm not surprised.

Your total lack of respect or honor is evident when you call a country like the US, 'Murica.

This is not included under Freedom of Speech anymore than just randomly shouting "Fire!" in buildings.

Geez people, did everyone miss the education boat ??

He did not directly threaten anyone, and it was conveyed that it was intended as a joke. Therefore, it is covered. If it weren't do you think George Carlin would have spent a day of his life past age 40 out of prison?

Yes, cause I'm sure the countries all you people are soap boxing about are perfect. People these days have no respect for other countries. Your total lack of respect or honor is evident when you call a country like the US, 'Murica.




Do you honestly think he's going to get 8 years? He's not. Stop being over dramatic.

No respect for other countries????

It's hard to respect a country that claims to be:
"the best country in the world",
"the country of freedom",
a country of immigrants but that hate immigrants;
a country that bases their economy in starting wars against other countries...
Should I continue?

And and a funny one: a country where a vid of nudity (barely a nipple) is banned but a vid of a body being shot with a shotgun is ok.

PLEASE SHUT UP...

The kid was stupid. That's just not something you say in public, sarcasm or no. While I agree jail-time might be a bit much, he definitely should receive some kind of punishment.

A country that hates immigrants? Stop being a drama queen. Illegal immigrants is what we don't like. Look how well lax immigration policies work so well for some European countries. Even the president of Germany said the multiculturalism you are so fond of has FAILED.

We a country of freedom, contrary to what all your friends with the same opinion as you believe.

Starting wars with other countries? So we'll just live in some hippy utopia where Iran and North Korea dispose of their nuclear arsenal out of good will?

How about you SHUT UP, and get out of your little world.

*snip*
And yes, Europe is a total FAIL, I know it because I live here. Mostly for trying to be like USA, the capitalism is what is killing Europe, not immigrants.
*snip*

Illegal immigrants? who asked the natives about settling in north america?

And yes, Europe is a total FAIL, I know it because I live here. Mostly for trying to be like USA, the capitalism is what is killing Europe, not immigrants.

Regarding nuclear weapons: you decide who can build them? based on what?

I can only laugh at this kind of logic and hypocrisy...

The kid was stupid. That's just not something you say in public, sarcasm or no. While I agree jail-time might be a bit much, he definitely should receive some kind of punishment.

I see someone who is technically an adult (18 now 19) and should have known better.
Sorry but there are a lot of things that just shouldn't be joked about, granted most won't get you sent to jail but this person was an idiot.

I see someone who is technically an adult (18 now 19) and should have known better.
Sorry but there are a lot of things that just shouldn't be joked about, granted most won't get you sent to jail but this person was an idiot.

Some nice freedom you have there America.

Certainly an interesting read though and if I take anything away from this it's that I shouldn't be telling everyone in Jita local about my plans to hotdrop the London Subway and gate camp the ticket barriers.

OH BTW LULZ GUYS THAT WAS SARCASM PLEASE DON'T TRACK ME DOWN AND REPORT ME TO OUR UNDERPAID POLICE FORCE.

Seems it was obviously intended as a joke, it may cause offence but lots of people make jokes about things that people would find offensive and do not get put in jail.

When was the last time you read newspaper or watched news from TV?

This should always be taken seriously. Joke or not. You just can't go to airport, shout you have bomb in your backpack -> "Dude! It was a joke!".

Bullshit. Sarcasm should and can not be punished, except you don't live in a country which constitutes free speech.

A German doesn't even see a quarter of the internet as their country will censor even on copyright issues. It's draconian there on copyright and ideas about hate crimes

In Germany mention things about ******, or even be a Holocaust denier, and you will face jail time (researchers there are jailed if they don't follow the political line about WWII).

When was the last time you read newspaper or watched news from TV?

This should always be taken seriously. Joke or not. You just can't go to airport, shout you have bomb in your backpack -> "Dude! It was a joke!".

He did not directly threaten anyone, and it was conveyed that it was intended as a joke. Therefore, it is covered. If it weren't do you think George Carlin would have spent a day of his life past age 40 out of prison?

That's true but Freedom of Speech doesn't mean you can say anything you want.

Confirming that "lol, j/k" is a get out of jail free-card.

If the una-bomber had put it at the end of his manifesto, everyone would've known it was just a big joke.

Freedom of speech is not freedom to be an idiot and make threats in a public forum. Let the system work it out - that's what the system is for.

Mittens learned there was a line not to cross - this kid jumped past the line a bit farther. Both may have been joking, but both actions have consequences.

That's a pretty extreme example. Airports may actually be a special thing, especially in the states.

But I sure as hell can say to someone in real life that I'm gonna shoot up a school, laugh about it and say "just kidding" without the cops coming and locking me up.

Freedom of speech.

Confirming that "lol, j/k" is a get out of jail free-card.

If the una-bomber had put it at the end of his manifesto, everyone would've known it was just a big joke.

Freedom of speech is not freedom to be an idiot and make threats in a public forum. Let the system work it out - that's what the system is for.

Mittens learned there was a line not to cross - this kid jumped past the line a bit farther. Both may have been joking, but both actions have consequences.

When was the last time you read newspaper or watched news from TV?

This should always be taken seriously. Joke or not. You just can't go to airport, shout you have bomb in your backpack -> "Dude! It was a joke!".

Well it sounds like you are getting a reality check, not happy about it are you ?
There are rules for living in a society, I am sorry if your parents failed to pass that information on to you.

And yes at times they completely suck, sad part of growing up I guess is you find out things are not what you expected them to be.
Probably why teenagers are always mad.

Afraid not you need to look up freedom.
Freedom to do something means there will be no repercussions from the government for your actions.
If there are repercussions like going to jail or receiving a fine your actions are not free.

Example - you can talk about hating your government all you want. (Freedom of speech)

Now if you start talking about killing your leader you are no longer talking but now implying a possible action and that can have repercussions.

Too many people/companies (especially news agencies) believe freedom gives them the right to be irresponsible it doesn't.
Your are responsible for your actions, and can be punished if you cross the line.

When was the last time you read newspaper or watched news from TV?

This should always be taken seriously. Joke or not. You just can't go to airport, shout you have bomb in your backpack -> "Dude! It was a joke!".

Whatever happened to common sense.

Whatever happened to common sense.

And this isn't really true either. Nobody gets in trouble if their research stacks up. The problem with holocaust denial is that the research never does. That's not to say I agree with these laws but they are far less extreme than you make them sound.

The Patriot Act did all kinds of bad things to it, apparently.

This is simply not true.



And this isn't really true either. Nobody gets in trouble if their research stacks up. The problem with holocaust denial is that the research never does. That's not to say I agree with these laws but they are far less extreme than you make them sound.

Yes it is.

I couldn't even send my brother (who was an US Army calvary scout) WWII books from the US to Germany in the fear that he'll be fined for receiving them. In the US a book with a swastika on it won't have cops at your door. Germany it can.
.

Funny thing, if he's a first time offender; he could have gotten less time for (1) **** (2) manslaughter (3) 2nd degree murder (4) armed robbery or (5) drug dealing etc etc all in the state of texas.

Fake research does lead to trouble with authorities in other fields as well, not just history. Latest news relating to that can be read in Retraction Watch. Most cases don't get in news.

People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.

Also I'm taking notes on the cowards in this thread, I have a feeling you emulate your RL attitudes ingame and would make for some juicy war decs.

A near personal violent attack and verbal threat are not covered under The Patriot Act. Get real with the arguments please. This is the same as the dude who likened it to a George Carlin performance. Sheesh.

Did you really just compare a known murderer to some kid who made a smart assed comment on the internet? Seriously?

Edit: Mittens also didn't spend eight years in prison either, smartass.

That I absolutely do not believe. The military's APO service would handle his mail, and nothing to do with German censorship would have been involved.

Get real.

Boy, let me tell you: I live in a free country, I grew up in a dictatorship. I know something about that kind of stuff.

If the case in the topic would be correct law enforcement, the US jails must be filled with comedians etc. Think about it.
No more Bill Maher, no more Larry King.

Take a step back and look at the big picture. Reality check etc.

Nope because people like Bill Maher, and Larry King know what to say and what not to say, which I am sure you learned as well.

Lol...nice plan xD

Prison.

For words.
We just went back in time.

No, I pointed out the idiocy of taking "lol, j/k" as cancelling anything you just said, regardless of how threatening, stupid or ignorant it may have been.



No, but he felt repercussions for what he said "jokingly" in a public forum. Pay attention. Read critically, not emotionally. This 19 year old "kid" hasn't spent 8 years in prison yet either. That is the maximum potential penalty for the charges he is facing today.

also does this mean all out dreams will come true and LoL will be shut down?

Not back in time, it has never changed.
You must dress a certain way when at work.
You can't say certain things to your boss or you get fired.
You can't do certain things while in public.
The list goes on and on.
The internet allows people to say things they would never say if they were face to face.
Is that a good or bad thing.
A little of both perhaps.
In this case the kid would have been better off saying it face to face.
Keep in mind the written word has always been a binding contract, so saying something out loud does not always have the same consequences as putting it down on paper.
And that is the catch 22 so to speak with the internet.

Like I've said, looking into threats can be a good thing.
Throwing people into prison for them is not a good thing.

Even if you don't care about the life (or lives) being ruined by bad law(?) enforcement, do you really think as a tax-payer that this is a good idea? If we start putting everyone in prison who has made a violent joke on the internet, all prisons in all the world will see a spike of new inmates every one of which take tax money to keep alive and well.

I agree that actions have consequeces, but is 8 years in prison really the right consequece for this particular action?
I think not. I hope you think not as well.
Altho I don't really care what you think.

This is an absolute joke of a court case.

EVE online better watch out because alot of us are always posting similar sh*t in local or somewhere. Apparently sarcasm is dead to the world now.

What's your verdict on sarcasm in EVE people?

EDIT: If you don't want to watch the youtube vid, links to the news article are in the description. I just find AlphaOmegaSin's reaction brilliant, and it pretty much mirrors my own view on the topic.

Not to mention that prisons (in the UK anyway, unsure about America) are already overcrowded.

I haven't looked much into this particular statistic in a long time, but the US has a proud tradition of incarcerating the highest percentage of it's population of any country in the world. Welp, since the whole economic superpower thing is falling apart, and Australia is now officially more obese than the US, we have to be in first place for something.

Like I've said, looking into threats can be a good thing.
Throwing people into prison for them is not a good thing.

Even if you don't care about the life (or lives) being ruined by bad law(?) enforcement, do you really think as a tax-payer that this is a good idea? If we start putting everyone in prison who has made a violent joke on the internet, all prisons in all the world will see a spike of new inmates every one of which take tax money to keep alive and well.

I agree that actions have consequeces, but is 8 years in prison really the right consequece for this particular action?
I think not. I hope you think not as well.
Altho I don't really care what you think.

If you have a good dictator then in some respects you are much better off then with a group of people.

We live in a double plus good world. Crimethink is a reality.

I this case a private citizen filed charges against a person.
The police by law can't ignore it, they have to investigate.
Obviously they found enough evidence to arrest him and he goes to trial, and now the courts have to decide if he guilty or just foolish.
3 things could have prevented the entire incident.

1 - The kid could have used good judgement (which he didn't or maybe he wasn't joking now wouldn't that be a twist)
2 - The lady could have done nothing, she had to fill out all kinds of paperwork to get the police to respond (think about that)
3 - Change the law to give the police more power to ignore the law and do whatever they want (now that is not a good idea)

Last as other have stated the guy is NOT serving a 8 year sentence he is awaiting trial, nothing more.
He is still innocent as it stands right now.

This is an absolute joke of a court case.

EVE online better watch out because alot of us are always posting similar sh*t in local or somewhere. Apparently sarcasm is dead to the world now.

What's your verdict on sarcasm in EVE people?

EDIT: If you don't want to watch the youtube vid, links to the news article are in the description. I just find AlphaOmegaSin's reaction brilliant, and it pretty much mirrors my own view on the topic.

Innocent but has been incarcerated for months while his date of his trial was to be decided and come around. Everyone at some point has said something sarcastically that they shouldn't have...

And yeah he's finding out today if he gets a jail sentance. Personally I hope not because if it carries on, it will eventually bring about stricter laws and monitering of games. Look at all the sensorship laws at the minute, there was uproar because the xbox kinect thing "watches" you. Imagine what will happen if thing like this carry on.

edit:You are entitled to your opinon no matter how wrong and misguided it is.

and yes, we'll just wait nice and patient like for North Korea and Iran to relinquish their nuclear arsenal out of good will. I hope your children love their new supreme leader.

there was uproar because the xbox kinect thing "watches" you..

I feel sorry for the kid, but it was bound to happen eventually, especially when people who watch in from the outside get involved. Stuff that's taken out of context, combined with not understanding gamer lingo, can lead to some pretty odd conclusions. And there is a LOT of prejudice about games and gamers to start with. Apparently we're all psychos who are rehearsing in game what we'd like to perpetrate in real life*... or so some media would have you believe. I'm pretty sure actual research shows gamers are LESS likely to have RL violent tendencies, but hey, who cares about facts when there's nicely bloodcurdling urban legends to be had...

* so OK, I know this gaming lawyer who's THE worst in game price gouger you'll ever see, but let's call him an exception. Besides, his only contribution to violence is making his customers want to commit it.

Therein lies the problem. Most people don't see a problem with this kind of thing. "It's for your own good" is being lapped up by useful idiots (pardon the Leninist phrasing) left and right. I once thought it was strange, but now it's getting downright pathetic.

Innocent but has been incarcerated for months while his date of his trial was to be decided and come around. Everyone at some point has said something sarcastically that they shouldn't have...

And yeah he's finding out today if he gets a jail sentance. Personally I hope not because if it carries on, it will eventually bring about stricter laws and monitering of games. Look at all the sensorship laws at the minute, there was uproar because the xbox kinect thing "watches" you. Imagine what will happen if thing like this carry on.

This was a case of players monitoring other players.
OR perhaps this was a case of a mother monitoring a 9 year old playing a game.
Perhaps the guys comments upset this 9 year old which prompted the mother to act.
There might be a lot more to this then a simple joke.

Did you ever get into trouble for swearing as a kid or did you ever get into trouble for saying the wrong thing to your parents ?
If you did those where supposed to be a lesson about thinking before you open your mouth.
Obviously this kid did not get the lesson.

This was a case of players monitoring other players.
OR perhaps this was a case of a mother monitoring a 9 year old playing a game.
Perhaps the guys comments upset this 9 year old which prompted the mother to act.
There might be a lot more to this then a simple joke.

Did your ever get into trouble for swearing as a kid or did you ever get into trouble for saying the wrong thing to your parents ?
If you did those where supposed to be a lesson about thinking before you open your mouth.
Obviously this kid did not get the lesson.

Last as other have stated the guy is NOT serving a 8 year sentence he is awaiting trial, nothing more.
He is still innocent as it stands right now.

The fact is that we are surrounded by morbid humor on a constant basis. It's been that way for a very long time, and the internet has only fueled such. I mean, ffs, do you remember the "you give love a bat name" meme that was going around after the theater shooting in Colorado? No one ever gets punished for black humor, so why would anyone think that their joke is but so far out of the ordinary?

Was it in bad taste? Sure. But if jokes in bad taste were a criminal offense, I could think of a whooooole lot of people who should be in prison right now.

The US is imploding on itself.

True, but the justice system being what it is in the US, the kid could end up sitting in jail for years while technically innocent.

Jails are huge buildings where hundreds or even thousands of technically innocent people spend their time waiting for trial. Many of those people are stuck there because the system is too clogged up or somehow obstructed for the case to go to court. It's just as good as being in prison. Same thing for the tax-payers, same thing for the person who's locked up.

The fact that you're considered innocent in the eyes of the law is little consolation when you're confined to a cell with no idea when you might be getting out.

You don't make certain jokes when children are present.
You don't make racial jokes where you might bet your ass kicked.
The internet and internet games are a party line you don't know is listening.
How many corps in EVE are adult only, there is a reason for this.
I forgot how many times we had to what what we said in vent cause someone stated there kid was in the room.
.

Maybe but joke are tailored to an audience.
You don't make certain jokes when children are present.\
You don't make racial jokes where you might bet your ass kicked.
The internet and internet games are a party line you don't know is listening.
How many corps in EVE are adult only, there is a reason for this.
I forgot how many times we had to what what we said in vent cause someone stated there kid was in the room.
Not a problem and we thanked them for letting us know.
This is not a hard concept to grasp or has courtesy gone out the window.

That's the other issue with the internet anonymity thing. You don't know who YOU are talking to when you say things. If you did, pedobears would never get caught up by FBI agents. Did that guy know his joke was aimed at a very young person? I have no idea, but I am willing to bet not. I have found that in online video games, people are often rather shocked at the age spread of those they play with when/if they find out. I've played games with people as young as 8 (kid was a damned good enhancement shaman too) and guys as old as their 70s (most of those have actually been in Eve). Do you always ask the stats of a person you are talking to before making a joke? If so, you're probably known as the corp/guild creeper.

That's due to obesity

...and the idiot phones that turn people in zombies.



Remember countrymen, only stupid people need smart phones.

That is right you don't know who is listening so you watch what you say.
Just like you do at work or in front of a cop or sometimes in public.
I may be sitting at home right now in private, but this discussion is VERY public.

No respect for other countries????

It's hard to respect a country that claims to be:
"the best country in the world",
"the country of freedom",
a country of immigrants but that hate immigrants;
a country that bases their economy in starting wars against other countries...
Should I continue?

And and a funny one: a country where a vid of nudity (barely a nipple) is banned but a vid of a body being shot with a shotgun is ok.

PLEASE SHUT UP...

...(researchers there are jailed if they don't follow the political line about WWII)...

The kid was stupid. That's just not something you say in public, sarcasm or no. While I agree jail-time might be a bit much, he definitely should receive some kind of punishment.

You are correct, and that is both a blessing and a curse. All I can do is speak out in hopes of lightening the curse aspect. I feel the way I do, because I have been where that guy is right now, just without the jail aspect. Some people don't know how to take sadistic humor, and that has caused me more than one problem. Do some people dislike me for the things I say? I'm sure they do. Does that really affect me? Not at all. However, as soon as I have police kicking in my door over a joke that put no one in direct harm's way (unlike where the smartass pointed out the "fire" in an airport example earlier, as that causes panic, and panicked people are much like panicked cattle), then something has gone very wrong in someone mind, and it isn't my own.

You need more friends or stay close to them.
They watch over you when you drink to much.
They are there when you need a hand.
They will prevent you from chatting up the wrong person.
They will laugh at your sadistic humor
but remember friends have a sense of humor as well and paybacks tend to be a lot harsher among friends.

Parents teach there kids to be careful of strangers, well that doesn't change when you are an adult.

"conspiracy" automatically means you're crazy paranoid

Oh, and he did not say it in public. He said it in a PM channel.

Or do you feel that anything you say via the internet is in the public forum?

Pretty sure you have some sort of likable evidence or reference. I would like to see it.

People should lighten up a little. This is just an absurd overreaction of law officials that are afraid of being blamed for the next terroris attack. They live by the fear. Fear is a powerful political strategy. In particular in a country were the real threat doesn't come from terrorist but the toddlers :
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/guns/toddlers-killed-more-americans-terrorists-did-year

Potentially, yes it could be.

Presumably, none of us were in that channel, yet somehow we all know what was said. Yep, public.

You might want it to be private, but assuming it is would be tremendously naive.

At the time, no it wouldn't. For example, any text messages that you send would be assumed private. That doesn't mean that logs of them won't get leaked into the public forum one day. Hell, even government cables which were supposed to be all kinds of confidential and private are now all over the place. So, if you acknowledge that just because something may one day be public means that it should always be considered public, then you are basically saying that all privacy laws should be done away with, because they serve no real purpose.

You might want it to be private, but assuming it is would be tremendously naive.

At the time, no it wouldn't. For example, any text messages that you send would be assumed private. That doesn't mean that logs of them won't get leaked into the public forum one day. Hell, even government cables which were supposed to be all kinds of confidential and private are now all over the place. So, if you acknowledge that just because something may one day be public means that it should always be considered public, then you are basically saying that all privacy laws should be done away with, because they serve no real purpose.

And that would mean further: A trial against Bradley Manning is obsolete.

At the time, no it wouldn't. For example, any text messages that you send would be assumed private. That doesn't mean that logs of them won't get leaked into the public forum one day. Hell, even government cables which were supposed to be all kinds of confidential and private are now all over the place. So, if you acknowledge that just because something may one day be public means that it should always be considered public, then you are basically saying that all privacy laws should be done away with, because they serve no real purpose.

To be quite honest, I feel that Manning should not be prosecuted for several reasons (not the least of which being that the government demands it's right to privacy while shitting all over the right to privacy of civilians). That being said, it would require it's own damned thread, and this probably isn't the place for it.

Consequences for actions are important. However, having said that, the consequence should really match the action.

Yes, abolish privacy laws. I'm sure that's what I was saying.

LOL,

J/K!

Yeah, Bradley Manning is way off topic. He joined the military and accepted their laws and regulations, then decided to break them. That wasn't ignorance or mistaking sadistic threats for humor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_against_Holocaust_denial

Scroll down and check for yourself.

Then what exactly are you saying? Because so far, it looks like a whole lot of nothing, with some vague intent wrapped around it. What I am seeing from you is to always assume that anything you say can at some point become public and be used against you. If that's the case, then privacy laws that apply to communications are all but obsolete.