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The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

nationalreview.com

31–40 of 93 posts

Re: The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

#31
post #24

It's only illegal for him to say such a thing if he also has a few machine guns and other preparations ready to go. Such statements, even with the appended "jk lol," deserve question. But I don't see how authorities managed to do anything more than question or search him.

Seems to me more like he needed a councilor and a talking to from his parents, but maybe the police did find the means to follow through with these statements in his home. This is all outrage-inducing non-information.

Re: The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

#32
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like the concerned woman who reported him to the police?

Actually, if you saw that posted, would you not consider whether to tell the police? The proper thing to do - as said in the article - is for the police to investigate if he was serious. And you or I would - depending on lots of context on whether we thought it a remotely credible threat I guess - report it for them to investigate? The problem seems to be on the police end, not the concerned citizen (of another count…

No. I may respond with "lol". That's it.

Re: The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

#33

"He’s been incarcerated since March without trial." That's the problem. A jury of his peers would throw this out no questions asked.

Don't be so sure. I was on a jury recently, and the deference given to the government position is alarming. Your fellow Americans are ready to send you to jail.

Re: The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

#35
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, if you saw that posted, would you not consider whether to tell the police? The proper thing to do - as said in the article - is for the police to investigate if he was serious. And you or I would - depending on lots of context on whether we thought it a remotely credible threat I guess - report it for them to investigate? The problem seems to be on the police end, not the concerned citizen (of another count…

I definitely would. I'm not sure what the rest of these people are talking about. If some angst-ridden teenager is posting something like that on facebook, they probably need to speak with a psychologist/councilor. In today's America, you can't take that shit lightly. However, this is like putting out a candle with a fire hose.

So it's only if an american says this that you'd report it?

Re: The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

#36
post #31
post #24

It's only illegal for him to say such a thing if he also has a few machine guns and other preparations ready to go. Such statements, even with the appended "jk lol," deserve question. But I don't see how authorities managed to do anything more than question or search him.

Seems to me more like he needed a councilor and a talking to from his parents, but maybe the police did find the means to follow through with these statements in his home. This is all outrage-inducing non-information.

The police did not find means to follow through with the statements. They did, however, confiscate his computer.

Re: The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

#37
post #19

I know articles like this bring out the trolls, but I can't get over the sheer number of commenters (on the target site) happy to see Justin being 'taught a lesson', or claiming that his speech was truly criminal. What hits me the hardest about this story is that, what if an HN post of mine strikes the wrong nerve and next thing they're coming for me? Maybe next they'll be coming for you. Or 15 years from now my kid…

There are always armchair prosecutors ready to bring out the electric chair for jaywalking. They are the same ones saying we always need to be tougher on crime even though we lock more people up than any other country. They are completely out of touch with reality.

Re: The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

#38
post #19

I know articles like this bring out the trolls, but I can't get over the sheer number of commenters (on the target site) happy to see Justin being 'taught a lesson', or claiming that his speech was truly criminal. What hits me the hardest about this story is that, what if an HN post of mine strikes the wrong nerve and next thing they're coming for me? Maybe next they'll be coming for you. Or 15 years from now my kid…

I would wish her a swift expulsion from office for gross incompetence, except that this type of brainless bureaucrat really does represent the people who elect them.

We live in a post-literate, lawsuit driven society where such officials are simply following the path of least resistance.

I hope the parents have some really good lawyers. This thing may have to go up the chain to their Senator and perhaps a federal court of appeals, before this kid is exonerated.

As for that woman who turned him in to the police and effectively ruined his life, I'd say she deserves a nice, fat civil suit.

Re: The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

#39
"Normally this wouldn't be the kind of story we run, but given the misconception that Carter's comments were made within a game and that League of Legends had anything to do with this, we felt compelled to dispel the inaccurate information. According to lieutenant Wells, the comments were left on the Facebook page of someone unknown to Carter"

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/07/01/was-a-...

Re: The 19-year-old jailed for the crime of sarcasm

#40
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, if you saw that posted, would you not consider whether to tell the police? The proper thing to do - as said in the article - is for the police to investigate if he was serious. And you or I would - depending on lots of context on whether we thought it a remotely credible threat I guess - report it for them to investigate? The problem seems to be on the police end, not the concerned citizen (of another count…

I definitely would. I'm not sure what the rest of these people are talking about. If some angst-ridden teenager is posting something like that on facebook, they probably need to speak with a psychologist/councilor. In today's America, you can't take that shit lightly. However, this is like putting out a candle with a fire hose.

Have you ever been to 4chan? Just scroll through: http://boards.4chan.org/b/ ... things like this can be considered the norm depending on what sites you go to.
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