9 ms·

It's interesting to show the VP and 45, but as their speeches and public messages are probably mostly written BY the senior staff the correlation is highly susp

It's interesting to show the VP and 45, but as their speeches and public messages are probably mostly written BY the senior staff the correlation is highly suspect. Also, just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

mc32 8y ago
While I don’t think Trump did it, he has pulled stunts somewhat similar to this in the past. It would be intersting if hr did. [To the objection] Someone else could have authored it and had this official to the “op ed writing” though it’s unlikely, it’s not impossible.
- kkwteh 8y ago
  The NYTimes stated just above the anonymous opinion that they know who the official is, so I think it's safe to say that it wasn't written by Trump.
- smsm42 8y ago
  > he has pulled stunts somewhat similar to this in the past Like what? Could you name several instances of Trump publishing an article in a major newspaper under false name criticizing himself?
  - mc32 8y ago
    There are a few reported instances, but you can search. Here is one: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m10_rOHalIM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m10_rOHalIM
    - smsm42 8y ago
      OK, he did pretend to be his own publicist, but he didn't criticize himself, on the contrary - he did that to praise himself in third person.
heartbreak 8y ago
Why should we not attempt to unmask the author? Is there an ethical argument against it?
- mc32 8y ago
  People have tried to unmask Satoshi in the past. So probably not much of an issue to many.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- rococode 8y ago
  A person tries to anonymously reassure the public while putting their career at risk if they are found out, and the response to their good intentions is to try to out them and destroy their career as a result? I feel that's a little messed up, especially when NYTimes states they are aware of the identity of the person so it's not like the validity of the article is suspect. Regardless of how you might feel about everyone in the administration, it'd certainly be a clear warning to people about the risk of making such statements in the interest of transparency, and you can be sure we'd never see one ever again, from any politicians on any side of the political spectrum. For the sake of discussion, what ethical arguments do you think there are for finding out who wrote this? Let's assume you aren't in the Trump camp, since it'd be reasonable to say that if you support Trump then you might be more motivated to find out who it is, and there's nothing wrong with that I suppose.
  - vivekd 8y ago
    Even if a person doesn't support Trump, actively interfering with and sabotaging an elected official who holds the highest executive office in the country seems like a bad thing to do. If a person doesn't like the president, the proper recourse is public criticism working to ensure he doesn't get re-elected and if possible impeachment . . . the proper recourse is never actively sabotaging the president of the United States. There may be exceptional circumstances where the president is violating the constitution, however, we still have a functional supreme court so that exception isn't raised in this circumstance.

mc32 8y ago

While I don’t think Trump did it, he has pulled stunts somewhat similar to this in the past. It would be intersting if hr did. [To the objection] Someone else could have authored it and had this official to the “op ed writing” though it’s unlikely, it’s not impossible.

kkwteh 8y ago
The NYTimes stated just above the anonymous opinion that they know who the official is, so I think it's safe to say that it wasn't written by Trump.
smsm42 8y ago
> he has pulled stunts somewhat similar to this in the past Like what? Could you name several instances of Trump publishing an article in a major newspaper under false name criticizing himself?
- mc32 8y ago
  There are a few reported instances, but you can search. Here is one: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m10_rOHalIM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m10_rOHalIM
  - smsm42 8y ago
    OK, he did pretend to be his own publicist, but he didn't criticize himself, on the contrary - he did that to praise himself in third person.

heartbreak 8y ago

Why should we not attempt to unmask the author? Is there an ethical argument against it?

mc32 8y ago
People have tried to unmask Satoshi in the past. So probably not much of an issue to many.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
rococode 8y ago
A person tries to anonymously reassure the public while putting their career at risk if they are found out, and the response to their good intentions is to try to out them and destroy their career as a result? I feel that's a little messed up, especially when NYTimes states they are aware of the identity of the person so it's not like the validity of the article is suspect. Regardless of how you might feel about everyone in the administration, it'd certainly be a clear warning to people about the risk of making such statements in the interest of transparency, and you can be sure we'd never see one ever again, from any politicians on any side of the political spectrum. For the sake of discussion, what ethical arguments do you think there are for finding out who wrote this? Let's assume you aren't in the Trump camp, since it'd be reasonable to say that if you support Trump then you might be more motivated to find out who it is, and there's nothing wrong with that I suppose.
- vivekd 8y ago
  Even if a person doesn't support Trump, actively interfering with and sabotaging an elected official who holds the highest executive office in the country seems like a bad thing to do. If a person doesn't like the president, the proper recourse is public criticism working to ensure he doesn't get re-elected and if possible impeachment . . . the proper recourse is never actively sabotaging the president of the United States. There may be exceptional circumstances where the president is violating the constitution, however, we still have a functional supreme court so that exception isn't raised in this circumstance.