Libel

[playitasitlays]

While I trust my friends and am totally cool with supporting them in the event that some asshat fucks them over, I do not really feel comfortable being asked to repost said asshat's picture, name and information over the internet in a vengeful attempt to defame their character/achieve retribution for asshattery, esp when I only have secondhand

Comments

[playitasitlays]

I wonder though, how those intentions will play out when this information- incomplete and one sided as it is- is decimated to hundreds, if not more, myspacers, many of whom might recieve the bullitin through a long chainof posts, and be unable or uninterested in learning more about the subtlties of the situation. Once you've put that information out there, you can't control how it's going to be taken, or to extremes people may deem "acceptable" consequences for bike theft.

Is there a reason why the matter could not be dealt with through a call to the police, or a trip to small claims court? I'm certainly not happy with the way that law and justice are often practiced in our society (my suspicion of these institutions is no doubt associated with my reluctance to condemn a thief) BUT I think that they provide an arena of due process and dispassionate arbitration that curtails the kind of emotion based, reactionary descisions that are made when we take matters into our own hands.

I have to agree with James

[joeyartfag]

It does all have an echo of high school. Like when somebody screwed you over in high school it was number one priority to make sure everybody knew that you were wronged and the other party was to be shunned. That tends to overshadow the actual situation

[starshiparcadia]

My opinion, not that is matters to anyone but me, is that because this fool DID steal the bike, he deserves the ridicule. Was he the least bit concerned about the owner of the bike when he stole it? Who knows who the owner could have been and what they might have had to do that night? When you do something like this it should be known that you are a threat. And being a bike thief in Allston is like being a pedophile at Storyland. I fully support this vigilant crusade. If there was a Star Wars memorabilia thief in Melrose I'd be posting his mug on every telephone pole in town.

[joeyartfag]

Well firstly, I don't think you can compare a bike thief to a pedophile.

But, ANYWAY... The issue isn't that we think this is some innocent guy or something. The problem is that the backlash does not fit the crime.
When there is some rapist or something I totally support putting their face out there because people are in danger. This is some guy who stole a bike (maybe the first time he did anything like that, who knows?). So take him to court and get the money back... don't incite vigilante justice and risk him getting beat up and the violence being traced back to you.
Plus, I don't think it makes sense to justify potentially dangerous behavior with things like "Was he the least bit concerned about the owner of the bike when he stole it?".
I mean, when somebody does something that is terrible should you justify your recourse by the offenders moral code?

[carolyn_z]

I don't think it's really as black and white as you're wrong, we're right or, You're acting like you're in high school, court is the mature route. Etc. That would be too easy and I think we're all a little smarter and nuanced than that.

I think one thing that is important to consider is that people, for valid personal and political reasons, have really complicated belief systems around their trust in the authority of the police and the courts. We may not personally understand or agree with them, but that is not grounds for jumping to the conclusion that someone is being petty, immature, or whatever.

[joeyartfag]

No, I agree that it isn't so black and white... and I'm not (and I'm sure James isn't either) saying I am right (or we are right) and you guys are wrong. I think we are all just voicing our opinions here

[playitasitlays]

I think both situations carry risks. Honestly, If this issue was brought to the police, it probably wouldn't be treated with any seriousness. I'm sure Puppy recognized this, thus feeling the need to take more creative steps to right the wrong