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While it's always good to critically examine information, Bingo, the author of the linked post, repeatedly adopted a combative, hyperbolic tone that only served

While it's always good to critically examine information, Bingo, the author of the linked post, repeatedly adopted a combative, hyperbolic tone that only served to further derail the conversation, rather than restore moderation and critical thought. After finding few sympathizers in the Metafilter threads, he moved his critiques off-site and onto his own blog. That's all well and good, but it's worth knowing that his perception of the events represents an extreme minority amongst the site's regular readership. Suffice to say, both the NYPD and an employee of the State Department directly involved in human trafficking cases believed that the situation was sufficiently dubious to warrant intervening. If you're looking for a more moderate summary of events, Newsweek had a fairly decent overview: http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-human-condition/2010/05/21/exclusive-one-of-the-heroes-behind-the-metafilter-human-trafficking-rescue-speaks-out.html http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-human-condition/2010/05/21... If you have the time, I'd highly recommend reading the original Ask Metafilter and Metatalk threads. Both were developing concurrently, so it's best to alternate reading a few posts in each. Just watch the timestamps to stay synchronized.

jerf 16y ago
"Suffice to say, both the NYPD and an employee of the State Department directly involved in human trafficking cases believed that the situation was sufficiently dubious to warrant intervening." Before or after it became A Thing? If they were involved before anybody on MeFi heard about it, I'll accept that as evidence. If it occurred after, unfortunately it is completely plausible that these agencies decided they must be seen to Do Something (TM). I mean these "ifs" because I honestly don't know which is which, and am curious, because if it is established that they were interested first than that's pretty strong evidence.
- Vivtek 16y ago
  Pollomacho is a MeFite who works at State in the human trafficking department. He was involved in the case as soon as he heard about it, and stated quite clearly that it was nice to be able to help somebody in this situation before two or three months had passed. Bingo omits this entirely, because Bingo thought it would be cool to visit this club and come back and say how histrionic MeFites were being. Now, from what Pollomacho said later, he talked to the girls and there was information he didn't feel free to share (personal in nature) that indicated very, very strongly to him that this was in fact a human trafficking case, and as he is not known to be a twit in other instances, I'm inclined to take him at his word.
  - callahad 16y ago
    It's also worth noting that many trusted members of the site have vetted the story, and the members involved. Part of that trust is evident in the willingness of folks to let Fake stay at their place, sight unseen, as he drove from WY to CA. And I'll actually be meeting up with one of those hosts this Sunday for brunch. So there's a little more context behind the members involved than in a normal interweb forum. Imagine if epi0Bauqu had a friend in a weird situation, patio11 stepped in to help out, and pg was frequently posting updates and coordinating communications. Meanwhile, cperciva and a number of other major names were also doing what they could to mobilize aid. And now imagine if a large portion of the site's posters had some sort of real-world connection to at least someone involved.
  - jerf 16y ago
    Thank you. That is a compelling argument. I, too, am not a big fan of vague "smart authorities of an unspecified nature are on it, shut up" assertions, so if you heard a note of skepticism in my original post, yes, it was there. But specific "this specific experienced authority with years of experience in this field was concerned and directly replied that it was a problem" can be compelling. I am particularly impressed by the fact this person fed back directly, and not through a press release.
    - Vivtek 16y ago
      Well, the fact that the specific experienced authority is a well-known poster on Metafilter (by which I mean, I already knew his name and associate it favorably with well-considered commentary) helped a lot. I'm not convinced the NYPD was really in control of the situation, for instance. Pollomacho, though, I trust. I had no idea he did this for a living. That was a pretty cool bonus.
- callahad 16y ago
  The guy from the State Department is a long-time member of Metafilter in good standing, and got involved quite early on of his own volition. In his own words, "For future reference in situations exactly like this please contact the US State Department at jvisas at state dot gov. We (and by that I me my coworkers and I) will get this situatuation rectified imediately upon learning of such situations. We cannot take action to ensure that women like fake's friend here are not exploited unless we know about these situations!" and "Usually I get these cases weeks or months after they've stepped off that bus." While it is plausible that the involvement was for PR reasons, I think it's unlikely. Media coverage didn't really kick in until well after we had the "happy ending" of IFDSS#9 picking up K and S.
  - ergo98 16y ago
    >While it is plausible that the involvement was for PR reasons backtrack a bit- >The guy from the State Department is a long-time member of Metafilter in good standing This is like your friend with the pick-up truck hearing you might have to move.

jerf 16y ago

"Suffice to say, both the NYPD and an employee of the State Department directly involved in human trafficking cases believed that the situation was sufficiently dubious to warrant intervening." Before or after it became A Thing? If they were involved before anybody on MeFi heard about it, I'll accept that as evidence. If it occurred after, unfortunately it is completely plausible that these agencies decided they must be seen to Do Something (TM). I mean these "ifs" because I honestly don't know which is which, and am curious, because if it is established that they were interested first than that's pretty strong evidence.

Vivtek 16y ago
Pollomacho is a MeFite who works at State in the human trafficking department. He was involved in the case as soon as he heard about it, and stated quite clearly that it was nice to be able to help somebody in this situation before two or three months had passed. Bingo omits this entirely, because Bingo thought it would be cool to visit this club and come back and say how histrionic MeFites were being. Now, from what Pollomacho said later, he talked to the girls and there was information he didn't feel free to share (personal in nature) that indicated very, very strongly to him that this was in fact a human trafficking case, and as he is not known to be a twit in other instances, I'm inclined to take him at his word.
- callahad 16y ago
  It's also worth noting that many trusted members of the site have vetted the story, and the members involved. Part of that trust is evident in the willingness of folks to let Fake stay at their place, sight unseen, as he drove from WY to CA. And I'll actually be meeting up with one of those hosts this Sunday for brunch. So there's a little more context behind the members involved than in a normal interweb forum. Imagine if epi0Bauqu had a friend in a weird situation, patio11 stepped in to help out, and pg was frequently posting updates and coordinating communications. Meanwhile, cperciva and a number of other major names were also doing what they could to mobilize aid. And now imagine if a large portion of the site's posters had some sort of real-world connection to at least someone involved.
- jerf 16y ago
  Thank you. That is a compelling argument. I, too, am not a big fan of vague "smart authorities of an unspecified nature are on it, shut up" assertions, so if you heard a note of skepticism in my original post, yes, it was there. But specific "this specific experienced authority with years of experience in this field was concerned and directly replied that it was a problem" can be compelling. I am particularly impressed by the fact this person fed back directly, and not through a press release.
  - Vivtek 16y ago
    Well, the fact that the specific experienced authority is a well-known poster on Metafilter (by which I mean, I already knew his name and associate it favorably with well-considered commentary) helped a lot. I'm not convinced the NYPD was really in control of the situation, for instance. Pollomacho, though, I trust. I had no idea he did this for a living. That was a pretty cool bonus.
callahad 16y ago
The guy from the State Department is a long-time member of Metafilter in good standing, and got involved quite early on of his own volition. In his own words, "For future reference in situations exactly like this please contact the US State Department at jvisas at state dot gov. We (and by that I me my coworkers and I) will get this situatuation rectified imediately upon learning of such situations. We cannot take action to ensure that women like fake's friend here are not exploited unless we know about these situations!" and "Usually I get these cases weeks or months after they've stepped off that bus." While it is plausible that the involvement was for PR reasons, I think it's unlikely. Media coverage didn't really kick in until well after we had the "happy ending" of IFDSS#9 picking up K and S.
- ergo98 16y ago
  >While it is plausible that the involvement was for PR reasons backtrack a bit- >The guy from the State Department is a long-time member of Metafilter in good standing This is like your friend with the pick-up truck hearing you might have to move.