RP Listener Forum

Posted: Oct 17, 2012 - 8:15pm

cc_rider wrote:

I don't understand the article. Reddit did not reveal VA's identity, a separate media entity did. Which, if I remember correctly, is also free speech. People have the right to publish material many people find odious. They do not have the right to be protected from the consequences of their actions.

If the article I read about VA is correct, he was promptly fired from his job. Just as he had feared: he begged the reporter not to reveal his identity. Too late, scumbag.

Yes, the guy from Gawker outed the troll. Then in retaliation moderators on Reddit blocked all links to Gawker on Reddit. Reddit's CEO is now merely clarifying their views on free speech.

It's the tail end of the brouhaha.

Posted: Oct 17, 2012 - 4:03pm

RichardPrins wrote:

Reddit CEO issues internal memo on free speech and outing of Violentacrez

Reddit has been shaken up by Gawker’s expose of Texas programmer, Michael Brutsch, also known as a mean-spirited troll Violentacrez on the sprawling internet community site. (...)

I don't understand the article. Reddit did not reveal VA's identity, a separate media entity did. Which, if I remember correctly, is also free speech. People have the right to publish material many people find odious. They do not have the right to be protected from the consequences of their actions.

If the article I read about VA is correct, he was promptly fired from his job. Just as he had feared: he begged the reporter not to reveal his identity. Too late, scumbag.

Posted: Oct 17, 2012 - 3:40pm

Reddit CEO issues internal memo on free speech and outing of Violentacrez

Reddit has been shaken up by Gawker’s expose of Texas programmer, Michael Brutsch, also known as a mean-spirited troll Violentacrez on the sprawling internet community site. (...)

Posted: Oct 17, 2012 - 2:09pm

"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to glue..."

Posted: Jul 14, 2012 - 9:04pm

Freedom = Censorship?
by Timothy Karr
MediaCitizen
July 13, 2012

Think you have the right to speak freely via cellphones, websites and social media? Well, the companies that provide you with access to the Internet don’t.

The framers drafted the First Amendment as a check on government authority — not corporate power. But whether we’re texting friends, sharing photos on Facebook, or posting updates on Twitter, we’re connecting with each other and the Internet via privately controlled networks.

And the owners of these networks are now twisting the intent of the First Amendment to claim the right to control everyone's online information.

Right before the Fourth of July, Verizon filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that expressed this intent in no uncertain terms. The brief was part of the telecom company’s bid to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s Net Neutrality rules, which prohibit carriers from blocking or discriminating against Internet users’ content...

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 1:35pm

brandog wrote:

He was (most likely) a planned-for contingency - reports say he had a rep around campus.

I'm actually glad to see someone take a taser for the cause - I don't, however, believe his motives were pure.

Whatever - it's a nice alternative to the OJ bullshit.

OJ...that man just can't keep it in his pants...if ya know what I mean.

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 12:56pm

NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:

but they did seem to react pretty quickly.. I mean he only spoke for about a minute or two... did they know who he was?

He was (most likely) a planned-for contingency - reports say he had a rep around campus.

I'm actually glad to see someone take a taser for the cause - I don't, however, believe his motives were pure.

Whatever - it's a nice alternative to the OJ bullshit.

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 12:47pm

He was sticking it to 'the man' & that's ok by me. Politicians should be challenged at every turn since they get away with nothing short of MURDER. Healthy resistence at every turn regardless, I say. Have these politician corporate stooge SOB's explain their actions. We want answers. This kid had the guts to ask the questions. Just like in the good old days. Encourage your kids to speak out even if you don't agree with their line of thinking. But this might be asking too much methinks.
Ask yourself this. Was he breaking the law ?

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 12:27pm

This is from a UK newspaper (Note use of the word "cheeky")
The tactics of police in Florida who Tasered a cheeky student as he tried to question former presidential candidate Senator John Kerry have been called into question after a video of the incident was posted on the internet.

The officers responsible have been suspended on full pay while the debate rages over whether the student was a victim of police brutality or an attention-seeking prankster who got what he deserved.

The student, Andrew Meyer, who was well-known on campus for his practical jokes, was Tasered after jumping the queue to ask Mr Kerry a series of questions in a Florida University lecture hall on Monday.

Event organisers were unhappy with his line of questioning and switched off the microphone as police officers moved in to escort him out of the hall.

Mr Meyer refused to leave quietly, and as police officers grabbed him, he repeatedly tried to wriggle free while shouting: ÂWhat did I do?Â

After a scuffle, the police fired several thousand volts into Mr Meyer, but not before he coined a new slogan for the YouTube generation: ÂDonÂt Tase me, bro!Â

Video of the incident was posted on websites, attracting student laughter, right-wing fulmination and, of course, T-shirt merchandise. Half a million people have watched the original post and the footage was replayed by television channels around the world.

Mr Kerry has criticised the arrest of Mr Meyer, suggesting that he could have dealt with the heckler himself.

"In 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way. I believe I could have handled the situation without interruption,Â he said.

Mr Meyer was released yesterday after a night in the cells, while students protested outside the police station claiming police brutality had been used.

He was arrested on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace but the State AttorneyÂs Office has yet to make the formal charging decision.

Mr MeyerÂs lawyer, Robert Griscti, said it appeared his client had been shocked after handcuffs had been put on him.

Bernie Machen, the University of Florida president, said that the episode was ÂregretfulÂ. He placed the campus officers involved on leave and asked for a state probe of police actions.

Students at the university organised a protest yesterday and marched on the police station shouting ÂDonÂt Tase me, broÂ and demanding that stun guns were banned from campus.

Benjamin Dictor, an arts student, called for the officers to be disciplined and the charges against Mr Meyer to be dropped.

ÂFor a question to be met with arrest, not to mention physical violence, is completely unacceptable in the United States, especially in the halls of education,Â Mr Dictor said.

Not everyone has sided with Mr Meyer. Critics have suggested that the entire incident was a planned attempt to win attention for a student who has already posted dozens of videos of himself on his website www.andrewmeyer.com.

Indeed the video of the arrest was taken on his own camera, which he had brought to the John Kerry Q&A session.

Police claimed that Mr Meyer's behaviour was very different when the camera was no longer rolling. One officer told the Associated Press that Mr Meyer asked, ÂAre you taping this? Do you have this? You ready?Â before beginning his questions.

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 12:19pm

owld_skipper wrote:

Are you saying he deserved what was done to him?

If you are saying that, are you saying that security guards have the right
to use tasers as a form of extra-judicial punishment?

Nope, just making a statement. I believe in free speech, but if you disrupt a meeting, you know that at least you are going to be removed. I consider the taser thing an extraordinary response.

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 12:17pm

brandog wrote:

Stupid git - he deserved what he got but, he will probably win the lawsuit..

but they did seem to react pretty quickly.. I mean he only spoke for about a minute or two... did they know who he was?

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 12:04pm

hippiechick wrote:

He likes to cause a disturbance in public places, record it, and put it on his website. Prolly tasing was just what he was looking for.

Espcially if that was his intention, it was wrong by the police act as he wanted them to do. They should be better than falling for a prank, if it was one.

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 12:03pm

Johray63 wrote:

Andrew Meyer tasered by Police

Stupid git - he deserved what he got but, he will probably win the lawsuit..

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 12:01pm

Freedom of speech? There it goes.

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 11:53am

He likes to cause a disturbance in public places, record it, and put it on his website. Prolly tasing was just what he was looking for.

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 11:50am

Andrew Meyer tasered by Police