Moving the "line"???

by 7 replies
9
enA former Marine posts on facebook that he is sharpening his axe and heads will roll (just one of the comments posted). He posts repeatedly about conspiracies and fighting back - and some people who see it report it as a potential threat.

He is taken into custody and put in a psych center for evaluation. HuffPost and bloggers go wild - screaming about his "arrest" (he wasn't arrested) and his "rights to free speech" and moaning about censorship.

These were the same people who pointed to the psychiatrist after the movie theater shooting. They claimed she should have told more people - should have been more aggressive in telling authorities about this guy's level of instability. Same thing happened after Ft Hood shooting.

You can't have it both ways and move the line as it suits you. If you want to complain that threats before an incident weren't taken seriously enough - you can't then complain when authorities take a threat seriously BEFORE the killing happens.

I'd think an ex-marine with training and access to weapons should be taken very seriously when he starts spouting about "taking people out". Am I nuts?
#off topic forum
  • In both cases the threats should be taken seriously.

    Our entire focus seems to be on protecting the civil rights of the perpetrators and nothing for the victims except a nice funeral.

    For people who exhibit behavior that is indicative of someone screaming out for attention, we should give them all the attention they need - After all if they are making public statements they are really not concerned about their privacy and nobody is sworn to secrecy.

    In the case of a medical doctor (psych, etc) - I know there is a thin line and we should be able to trust them - however there has to be a 'line' where they can cross to protect society - even if it breaks their 'oath' of confidentiality. I believe there is wiggle room here for a direct threat to a specific person(?)

    For example I have read that with suicide, when a person threatens to take his own life, he really doesn't want to and is telling you because he wants help.

    It is the same premise (to me) when they threaten others - they want attention - and maybe if they get it that will be as far as it goes.

    Maybe not - but I would rather err on the side of caution.
  • That seems to be a growing phenomena these days, move the lines at will for the sake of posturing.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • That's a very widely used expression. Not a death threat. As far as talk of a revolution and seeing treasonous politicians hang for treason (which is the punishment for treason) - that is not actually the same as just running around shooting up a town and its people. A lot of people are screaming "treason" right now. Is that actually a "death threat" just because it is the sentence for treason? I would think that the only one worried about that one is any politicians that are actually committing, have committed, treason and could be convicted for such if caught and tried for it.

    I'm thinking the reason this guy got picked up is for interrogation. What does he know about people forming brigades against Martial law and fascist control? That's what question came to my mind when I read that story and some of his posts. He really messed up getting hot enough under the collar to spout off about it. But to be honest - which of us wouldn't like to see corrupt politicians held accountable for illegal actions? Which of us can look at what's going on in this country and wonder how long it will be until civil war breaks out if the direction isn't changed soon?
  • The problem is treating all writers at the Huff Post and all bloggers as the same person. Is is the exact same people with different opinions, or in reality is it different people with different opinions?
    • [1] reply
    • I wouldn't care if the opinions differed. That would be normal but it's not the case with stories like this - the same terminology appears on multiple blogs. "kidnapped", "retired Marine", "interrogated", etc. - all the buzzwords.

      "Marine veteran" - yes, he is. "Retired Marine" at 26 - don't think so.

      A recent post he made:

      Does that sound like comments of someone with both oars in the water?

      Some here are ready to believe he has secret knowledge of underhanded govt plans and is innocent of any nefarious plans or threats.

      We've seen the results of not following up on warnings - Ft Hood - movie theater - and others. Many were understandably angry about warnings that went unheeded. But now it's anger that a warning is being taken too seriously. Pick one.

      For myself - I'm sick and tired of innocent people and children being killed for some nutcase's delusions of power or persecution.
  • Banned
    No ... (and I've never thought that of you at all, even when I've very occasionally disagreed with you about some issue). Anyway, you're right.

    People do sometimes like to have the line in very inconsistent places, though. It's almost part of "the human condition". More so for some than for others, I think. But you're still right.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • I never saw that comment you quoted in post #6, Kay. Good grief he should have known that one might get him picked up and hauled off. He was half right though -- guys did show up at his door.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed

  • 9

    Moving the "line"???

    enA former Marine posts on facebook that he is sharpening his axe and heads will roll (just one of the comments posted). He posts repeatedly about conspiracies and fighting back - and some people who see it report it as a potential threat. He is taken into custody and put in a psych center for evaluation. HuffPost and bloggers go wild - screaming about his "arrest" (he wasn't arrested) and his "rights to free speech" and moaning about censorship.