Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon • Hacker News Board

Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#131

Post by zoklet-enjoyer » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:30 AM UTC

rcpt wrote: post #105

FergusArgyll wrote: post #91

This thread is a great lesson in "Politics is a mind virus" I recommend you read the HN thread when Ulbricht was sentenced [0] first, then come here and read all the "Honest, genuine question, why?"s Then start practicing not letting politics influence your thought process https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9626985

The main thing I notice is that back then we were writing paragraphs.

I mostly stopped typing in paragraphs because I use a smart phone for most of my internetting. It's a lot easier to write your thoughts on a keyboard

Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#132

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:30 AM UTC

FergusArgyll wrote: post #91

This thread is a great lesson in "Politics is a mind virus" I recommend you read the HN thread when Ulbricht was sentenced [0] first, then come here and read all the "Honest, genuine question, why?"s Then start practicing not letting politics influence your thought process https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9626985

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Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#133

Post by ein0p » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:31 AM UTC

monero-xmr wrote: post #35

maplant wrote: post #5

I had no idea this was a campaign promise. Why? I don’t understand.

I am active in libertarian circles and Ulbricht was a cause celebre. The 2024 election was a game of inches, and many libertarians I know voted Trump purely on this issue. It is possible this was a key way Trump eked out a victory.

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Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#134

Post by fzeroracer » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:31 AM UTC

croissants wrote: post #108

fzeroracer wrote: post #61

[flagged]

A possible line of reasoning is that drugs should be legal, but the property and violent crimes committed around them shouldn't be, in the same way that adults are legally permitted to drink alcohol, but they're not legally permitted to drive drunk. The "ruining cities" is about the crimes, not the drugs themselves. (I think.)

That's the logically consistent line of thought, yes. Which is one I don't particularly disagree with, because of the harm the war on drugs has caused.

But the inconsistency comes from people advocating for a black market drug site and bending towards the far right. The same people who in the same breath also further criminalize drugs, reduce access to things that help addicts while arguing that drug dealers should be deported and our streets swept.

The logical inconsistency is that 'their' drug dealers are conducted by people of virtue therefore they did nothing to break the law. And not being willing to deal with the actual fallout of said illegal drug empire.

Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#135

Post by amrocha » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:31 AM UTC

FergusArgyll wrote: post #91

This thread is a great lesson in "Politics is a mind virus" I recommend you read the HN thread when Ulbricht was sentenced [0] first, then come here and read all the "Honest, genuine question, why?"s Then start practicing not letting politics influence your thought process https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9626985

It’s different people commenting on each post. There’s no “mind virus”.

Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#136

Post by ktallett » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:32 AM UTC

Trasmatta wrote: post #125

FergusArgyll wrote: post #91

This thread is a great lesson in "Politics is a mind virus" I recommend you read the HN thread when Ulbricht was sentenced [0] first, then come here and read all the "Honest, genuine question, why?"s Then start practicing not letting politics influence your thought process https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9626985

Or it could be different people commenting than on that original thread? And people might have changed their minds? HN is not a monolith. Humans are not static. You don't need to blame it on "politics being a mind virus".

Based on the sheer number of posts that have misrepresented the charges or misunderstood why he was actually in prison, it appears to partially be a lack of knowledge on the case, likely due to time hazing some of the memories. Of course someone will change their mind, and some may have their view influenced by who happens to support him.

Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#137

Post by macinjosh » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:32 AM UTC

dimator wrote: post #113

macinjosh wrote: post #89

I am happy to see that Trump is a man of his word. I voted for him just because of this campaign promise. I would have voted for almost anyone who promised this.

This one act was more important than the Paris agreement?

Immensely more important than an ineffective agreement on an overblown problem.

Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#138

Post by nikolay » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:32 AM UTC

Trump freed him because libertarians voted for him - he openly said so. Meanwhile, he's waging a war on fentanyl! He should've freed Snowden instead.

Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#139

Post by tayo42 » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:32 AM UTC

FergusArgyll wrote: post #91

This thread is a great lesson in "Politics is a mind virus" I recommend you read the HN thread when Ulbricht was sentenced [0] first, then come here and read all the "Honest, genuine question, why?"s Then start practicing not letting politics influence your thought process https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9626985

It was pretty out of left field and seemingly uncharacteristic for the him to do this. It's fair to ask why. I think Trump is terrible in every way, think the pardon is fine, but can't help but wonder why and other questions about it

Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon

#140

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:32 AM UTC

ty6853 wrote: post #102

bb88 wrote: post #68

Genuine question: Of all the people to pardon, why him?

What do you mean? Trump just pardoned or commuted pretty much all of the J6 crowd. One guy convicted of crimes that don't require proving violence beyond a reasonable doubt is pretty tame in comparison. He is one of thousands.

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