Fantastic news for the guy probably responsible for the wide adoption of bitcoin.
I hope curl php no longer troubles him.
Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
501–510 of 1001 posts
Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
#502This 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
What exactly are you trying to say here? That people can't change their minds? That HN is a hivemind ? (news flash: it's not , it's more diverse than you actually think) or that everything is attributed to "Politics is a mind virus" ? if so, what do you mind by this term specifically? I personally, find little substance in such comments. If you have an opinion on the matter (which seemingly you do), then please share…
I believe they are implying that people are disapproving the pardon because it was done by Trump.
Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
#503I think his original sentence was absolutely deserved—even though the charge of hiring a contract killer to assassinate his business competition may have been dropped, I think it's clear he did many things in the same vein. Even if you support his original pursuit of a free and open online marketplace, I think most people would agree he took it a bridge too far in the end. That said, I do think he absolutely deserved…
"he took it a bridge too far" is a massive trivialization. The guy operated a marketplace for illegal goods in order to enrich himself. The illegality wasn't just incidental, it was literally his business model -- by flouting the law, he enjoyed massive market benefit (minimal competition, lack of regulation, high margins etc) by exploiting the arbitrage that the rest of us follow the rules. Said a different way, he…
His sentence was excessive and cruel to make an example out of him. There’s a serial child rapist in the same prison serving less time.
Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
#504A. His prison sentence was totalitarian and three letters stole his crypto and illegally convicted him. B. Orange is not a hero. I don't bow down to Kim Jong Un/Hitler wannabees. C. Tor is a three letter honeypot.
[citation needed] on those items
Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
#505I wonder if Assange will get the pardon he’s campaigning for: https://www.action.assangecampaign.org.au/
I'd wager the chances of that happening are much lower under this current administration. Surprised Biden didn't consider it though.
Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
#506Is this president extremely concerned about drug dealers and gangs in the US? Why is he pardoning a drug trafficker?
I understand your point, but it has become a waste of energy to try to point out hypocridy and ideological inconsistency among that group. It's better to ignore the rational reasons to oppose them and focus on the emotional ones. For starters, people are repulsed by their cruelty.
I disagree, the lukewarm emotion driven campaign ("we're not the other guy!") and lack of any rational strategy or arguments from the oppositon is how these people won in the first place.
Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
#507I think his original sentence was absolutely deserved—even though the charge of hiring a contract killer to assassinate his business competition may have been dropped, I think it's clear he did many things in the same vein. Even if you support his original pursuit of a free and open online marketplace, I think most people would agree he took it a bridge too far in the end. That said, I do think he absolutely deserved…
The most prolific drug dealers who sold on silk road have served their sentences and are out of prison.
Ross was given a life sentence without possibility of parole an incomparable sentence in relation to all other parties that were involved.
Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
#508This is wonderful. I've never argued that Ross shouldn't have served time but it's always been clear his prosecution and sentencing were excessive and unjust. The prosecutors asked for a 20 year sentence, which seemed disproportionate given the sentencing guidelines for a first-time offender and the non-violent charges he was convicted of. But the judge sentenced Ross to TWO life sentences plus 40 years - without the…
Madoff got 150 years for non-violent charges (and he didn't even try to have anyone killed). Died in prison.
Madoff stole from the rich. That is a sure fire way to have the book thrown at you. Smart criminals steal from the poor, because they don’t fight back as much and the justice system doesn’t care.
Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
#509Earlier quoted context omitted.
"he took it a bridge too far" is a massive trivialization. The guy operated a marketplace for illegal goods in order to enrich himself. The illegality wasn't just incidental, it was literally his business model -- by flouting the law, he enjoyed massive market benefit (minimal competition, lack of regulation, high margins etc) by exploiting the arbitrage that the rest of us follow the rules. Said a different way, he…
His sentence was excessive and cruel to make an example out of him. There’s a serial child rapist in the same prison serving less time.
The state hates more than anything someone who operates on first principles that the empire is wrong.
A serial rapist, even one that would happily do it again, will often repent and quickly admit guilt. They have no interest in undermining the philosophical basis of the state. They will posture themselves as bound but imperfect citizens under the law.
Ross violated the only remaining national holy religion, the rule of law. He was sentenced for being a heretic.
Re: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
#510Well, I think that justice has been served. The feds' prosecution of Ulbricht was the epitome of throwing the book at someone to make an example, when the government's case was pretty flawed, in my opinion. 10 years is enough time to pay the debt of running the silk road. I am glad that Ulbricht has been pardoned and I feel like a small iota of justice has been returned to the world with this action.
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills reading the comments on this thread. Multiple teenagers (one in Australia) died from the drugs distributed on Silk Road. Ross was ok with selling grenades, body parts, etc on there. But everyone is saying he served his time ???
As an Australian who had friends who bought product on silk road my understanding was:
1) It's safer to buy something online and have it mailed to your house than go pick it up from some shady dude.
2) On the street you would often get duds or spiked product, online reputations were built up over time and important to be maintained (think uber/ebay stars).
Overall silk road probably increased the amount of drug activity but made each incident safer. Not sure what the overall impact would be.