Live data from Hacker News

Blackmail as a Victimless Crime: Reply to Altman (1998)

papers.ssrn.com

101–102 of 102 posts

Re: Blackmail as a Victimless Crime: Reply to Altman (1998)

#101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're arguing about what happened in a case the paper clearly doesn't argue against - I was asking for an example of "blackmail" by the papers definition, where it was easy to identify the witness. You provided an example of extortion and definitely not an example of the definition of blackmail provided in the paper, so the whole point is kind of moot. So instead, going by what the paper talks about, could you come…

You asked for an example I gave you one. You tried to claim (in spite of the source I provided showing the contrary) that the actions weren’t blackmail and weren’t illegal. Now you’re trying to reframe to get me to provide another example for some reason. Pretty clear you’re not even attempting a good faith argument at this point.

That's quite the cop out. I just gave you an example - to not put the burden on you again, while still being open to you providing one that's relevant if you wanted to.

You're arguing blackmail should be illegal because of the status quo, which isn't all that interesting of an argument, so if that's good faith, in your opinion, then I don't mind ending it here.

Re: Blackmail as a Victimless Crime: Reply to Altman (1998)

#102
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now I wonder how common cases are where the threat is made in such an abstract way that it wouldn't qualify for a court. Because from the victims perspective, just acting on a highly abstract threat is difficult. You'd expect some bartering and a deal, no? The victim will need some kind of trust that their action will cause inaction on the perpetrators part.

You're still alluding to the use of a threat, which isn't necessary. If somebody knows that another person "has some dirt on them", then any demands that person makes are going to be evaluated in that context, especially if those demands are plainly unreasonable.

As I said, I wonder whether victims acting on such abstract threats is common.
Post reply on HN