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

nationalreview.com

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

#41

Post by blisterpeanuts »

rayiner wrote: post #20
wavesounds wrote: post #4

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

I wouldn't count on it. It was some uptight woman who saw the comment and told the police in the first place, and you can bet its the fear of uptight parents that's causing the prosecution. Can you imagine how the shit would hit the fan if the kid had said something like that, the police had been notified, and the police had done nothing, and the kid had shot up some school?

But that's exactly the problem -- some fearful little officials saying, "But what if he meant it?"

An intelligent chief of police and prosecutor should have looked at the kid's background, maybe dropped by his house, and said, OK there's no "there" there. Unless there's a history of violence, or record of mental illness, or sociopathic behavior officially noted, etc. Which as far as I know, there isn't in this case. Just pure blind, stupid bureaucratic grinding an individual with their jackboots, simply because they have the power.

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

#43

Post by zaroth »

blisterpeanuts wrote: post #38
zaroth wrote: 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 cou…

He had a public defender, but recently got Donald Flanary to take the case pro bono. I don't know anything about Flanary, but reports indicate this is a positive development, and it seems he was able to get some traction.

I think fundamentally the woman did nothing wrong, if it was truly a case of an unrelated person showing concern. If it turns out she had some more nefarious reason to throw Justin to the wolves (there's no evidence of this) then have at her.

A more tech literate police force would have pointed and laughed, but that's a pipe dream. Where I feel the system truly failed is in getting past the DA, past the grand jury, and past the judge with the $500,000 bail.

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

#44

Post by rayiner »

blisterpeanuts wrote: post #41
rayiner wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't count on it. It was some uptight woman who saw the comment and told the police in the first place, and you can bet its the fear of uptight parents that's causing the prosecution. Can you imagine how the shit would hit the fan if the kid had said something like that, the police had been notified, and the police had done nothing, and the kid had shot up some school?

But that's exactly the problem -- some fearful little officials saying, "But what if he meant it?" An intelligent chief of police and prosecutor should have looked at the kid's background, maybe dropped by his house, and said, OK there's no "there" there. Unless there's a history of violence, or record of mental illness, or sociopathic behavior officially noted, etc. Which as far as I know, there isn't in this case.…

I don't know if you remember high school, or more specifically other peoples' parents, but it doesn't ring true to me to blame the bureaucracy with their "jackboots."

Parents are fucking nuts, suburban parents doubly so. This is some town outside of San Antonio--you think these police officials are acting out of step with what most of the local parents want?

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

#45

Post by xauronx »

kristopolous wrote: post #40
xauronx wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

That's just the thing though. Context matters a lot. Are you so excited to have something to be outraged about that you don't think about this? I mean, if I yell "I'm going to rape you" in a video game that's the equivalent of "Good game buddy", and quite innocent. I wouldn't however yell that in a public arcade at a 12 year old.

The inability to discern the difference hints at mental issues that need to be discussed with someone, even a parent would do.

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

#47

Post by koalakid »

I'm going to be downvoted into oblivion for this comment, then my account will be hellbanned by the mods, but whatever: this guy's posting was jarringly violent and disturbing.

I believe most people would never fathom ideas so evil, and yet this guy broadcasted it in the most public space in the known universe - FACEBOOK.

The guy needs correction, badly.

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

#48

Post by blisterpeanuts »

rayiner wrote: post #44
blisterpeanuts wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But that's exactly the problem -- some fearful little officials saying, "But what if he meant it?" An intelligent chief of police and prosecutor should have looked at the kid's background, maybe dropped by his house, and said, OK there's no "there" there. Unless there's a history of violence, or record of mental illness, or sociopathic behavior officially noted, etc. Which as far as I know, there isn't in this case.…

I don't know if you remember high school, or more specifically other peoples' parents, but it doesn't ring true to me to blame the bureaucracy with their "jackboots." Parents are fucking nuts, suburban parents doubly so. This is some town outside of San Antonio--you think these police officials are acting out of step with what most of the local parents want?

See my earlier comment :)

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

#49

Post by epochwolf »

blisterpeanuts wrote: post #41
rayiner wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't count on it. It was some uptight woman who saw the comment and told the police in the first place, and you can bet its the fear of uptight parents that's causing the prosecution. Can you imagine how the shit would hit the fan if the kid had said something like that, the police had been notified, and the police had done nothing, and the kid had shot up some school?

But that's exactly the problem -- some fearful little officials saying, "But what if he meant it?" An intelligent chief of police and prosecutor should have looked at the kid's background, maybe dropped by his house, and said, OK there's no "there" there. Unless there's a history of violence, or record of mental illness, or sociopathic behavior officially noted, etc. Which as far as I know, there isn't in this case.…

It's the suburban soccer moms wearing the jackboots. The police are just their messengers.

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

#50

Post by jxcole »

zaroth wrote: post #43
blisterpeanuts wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 cou…

He had a public defender, but recently got Donald Flanary to take the case pro bono. I don't know anything about Flanary, but reports indicate this is a positive development, and it seems he was able to get some traction. I think fundamentally the woman did nothing wrong, if it was truly a case of an unrelated person showing concern. If it turns out she had some more nefarious reason to throw Justin to the wolves (th…

Hate to downvote an otherwise very informative post, but tech literacy is not an issue here. If this was a hundred years before facebook existed and someone joked "Oh yes I'm insane, I am going to stab a hundred babies...ha ha ha" it would be the exact same issue.
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