Thunderf00t's Potentially Illegal, Positively Immoral Crusade

I’m not going to say much about Thunderf00t’s plunge into probable illegality, because it’s been said better elsewhere. I’m having a difficult time thinking in anything other than expletives, and have since I discovered that little shit hacked our email list after being tossed out on his ear. I know he has a penchant for flouting copyright, but apparently, there are no depths to which he will not sink in order to satisfy a grudge. It borders on stalking. When I encounter asshats like him, my thoughts tend to trend towards words of roughly four letters. Especially when they’ve placed people I love and respect at real risk of physical harm.

In other words, it would be impossible for me to write a measured post.

Other people have managed more coherent pieces on the subject.

Ed Brayton’s statement sums up things nicely. Start here if you have no idea what’s going on.

Natalie Reed explains why what he’s done places some of us at risk of real-world harm, and why people like him drive good people out of the movement. If you read no other post, read this one.

Ashley Miller describes how his loathesome exploits have sickened those who were staying on the sidelines.

Zinnia Jones discusses the right to private spaces, free of eavesdropping asshats, and tells us about what the asshat has already done with some of the information he stole.

Stephanie Zvan describes the difference between a whistleblower and Thunderf00t. This is a useful post to bookmark for those times when folks may be tempted to view him as some sort of freedom fighter.

Jason Thibeault explains how Thunderf00t hacked our system. Combined with the fact he’s now crowing about it (no, I’m not going to link his ass: if you want to see it, either find the link in another post on FtB or Google it), this should satisfy those uber-skeptics who believe nothing without twelve dozen lines of evidence. If not, they’re a lost cause, and I will no more weep for their departure than I did Thunderf00t’s.

Greta Christina walks us through the ways egregious violations of privacy can harm folks who haven’t done a damned thing wrong.

JT has a moving post up on what it’s like when a personal hero turns out to be a complete asshole.

Jen McCreight explains why those of us at no obvious risk are outraged. Her final paragraph sums it up nicely.

Al Stefanelli takes Thunderf00t to task directly.

PZ pulls no punches (you didn’t expect him to, right?) and is curating links.

Ophelia Benson has her say.

There’s nothing much I can add to this discussion. I simply wish to make it clear that I think he’s a loathsome little shit, lest my silence be taken for indifference or approval. It doesn’t matter how angry he is that we decided he was better off our network than on. No amount of personal butthurt justifies what he’s done.

That said, I shall waste no more time over him. I have better things to do than watch an asshat dig himself deeper holes. I will be there for the people he’s placed at risk, and I will happily cooperate with law enforcement if it turns out they take an interest in his doings. I will make it clear to any and all people who wish me to attend conferences that my attendance is dependent upon his not being there. But he gets no more posts. I don’t like wasting my time with scum.

He can fuck right off.

(Before you comment: read the policy thoroughly. Keep in mind that this is not a public forum, I am in the midst of quitting smoking, I have no damned patience left, and I’m not interested in letting people split hairs and excuse his behavior in my comments section. We will not be discussing possible legal recourse, as that is a discussion to have with lawyers. If any of the foregoing has diminished your desire to comment, that’s very likely for the best. Come back for one of the happier posts.)

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Thunderf00t's Potentially Illegal, Positively Immoral Crusade
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9 thoughts on “Thunderf00t's Potentially Illegal, Positively Immoral Crusade

  1. 3

    Dana,

    Thanks for the table of contents. When approaching a collection of essays it’s so much easier to start from the abstracts. I’m pretty slammed this weekend and can’t afford another deep dive into the rifts. It’s great to get the overview. Now I can get the gist without having to hunt/read through everything.

    Good luck on quitting. I appreciate your work and would like to see you carry on for as long as possible.

    Cheers and have a great weekend.

  2. F
    5

    Tin foil may not be enough. I don’t know Dana well enough to say, so that is a generic observation WRT startling people who are quitting smoking (or something similar). The shelter would be a good idea. Or, just not having a poke at the quitter works fairly well, and is likely easier.

    If I quit, It’ll be me in the bunker. Just in case.

  3. F
    6

    Ya know, I don’t even really get his thing. He started insulting 90% of the FTB members and community, so now this. How does that work, exactly?

  4. 7

    What thunderf00t did could be a violation of the Stored Communications Act. If so, and he gets busted for breaking it, he could lose his U.S. work visa and be ordered deported.

  5. 8

    It’s all just… sad, like Jen McC. said. I’d rather be in a world where BlunderF00t was on our side, a solid force for good, because he’s obviously a smart and creative guy… and it’s sad that he had to be an unrepentant [insert favorite derogatory term here] instead. I’m still kind of gobsmacked at the whole thing.

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