5 ms·

This is not the most popular meme on the internet yet it has been amplified by large media outlets, why? It's not funny, people have died trespassing on that ba

This is not the most popular meme on the internet yet it has been amplified by large media outlets, why? It's not funny, people have died trespassing on that base. Forcible unauthorized access of a military installation is taken deadly seriously. The security force on that base has squeezed (the trigger) on trespassers. Does anyone realize that the base security force already has positions for high causality producing weapons (machine guns), and interlocking fields of fire defined? The stupidity of this astounds me. Where's the editorial discretion of these news outlets? BBC calling it a "possible" disaster isn't helpful and doesn't absolve them of their sins. News flash, foreign governments would love access to a number of US military facilities. Trespassers won't be dealt with like Portland deals with ANTIFA.

partialrecall 7y ago
> "It's not funny" Humor is subjective; a lot of people are laughing.
- ryanmarsh 7y ago
  True, some people find dead people funny.
jpindar 7y ago
Two people have already been arrested. https://themindunleashed.com/2019/09/people-getting-arrested-trying-storm-area-51.html https://themindunleashed.com/2019/09/people-getting-arrested...
- Freak_NL 7y ago
  Two Dutchmen who in all probability expected to be stopped, but seriously underestimated the risk of being made an example because of the coming 'event'. They are Youtubers with 700,000 and 300,000 subscribers, respectively. They did this for the views obivously, but being only 20 and 21 years old and naive about how seriously trespassing on US military property is treated by the local sheriff's department they probably misjudged the consequences of their actions. Their timing was on purpose. The buzz generated by the event meant that their videos would have lifted along on the popularity of the topic. But these are kids who are used to nothing more than an occasional stern telling off by cops in Europe. I think they are being tried this Monday. They were released on bail, so chances are they will get away with just a fine and probably a travel ban to the US, but that seems to depend on whether the judge wants to set an example for the coming weekend or not. As some people knowledgable about the US judicial system noted: they had better get a damn good local lawyer.
  - klez 7y ago
    > But these are kids who are used to nothing more than an occasional stern telling off by cops in Europe. I can assure you that trespassing on a military base in Europe does not result in just a stern warning.
    - partialrecall 7y ago
      Maybe it depends on the country. I know Canada isn't in Europe, but as an American citizen I have casually wandered onto Canadian military bases before without any hassle. Sometimes they have guards at the gate that ask to see your ID then wish you a good day, but other times there is nobody at the gate and you're free to wander around. Incidentally the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum has a superb collection. This all contrasts sharply with my experiences visiting American military bases, where the impression of security/paranoia is in my experience quite high, even though I was visiting somebody who lived there and he'd told them to expect me.
      - ryanmarsh 7y ago
        Depends on the base. Some bases are open to the public because they have a mix of private and public business on them. One of my clients operates out of just such a facility. Others are, shall we say, less friendly.

partialrecall 7y ago

> "It's not funny" Humor is subjective; a lot of people are laughing.

ryanmarsh 7y ago
True, some people find dead people funny.

jpindar 7y ago

Two people have already been arrested. https://themindunleashed.com/2019/09/people-getting-arrested-trying-storm-area-51.html https://themindunleashed.com/2019/09/people-getting-arrested...

Freak_NL 7y ago
Two Dutchmen who in all probability expected to be stopped, but seriously underestimated the risk of being made an example because of the coming 'event'. They are Youtubers with 700,000 and 300,000 subscribers, respectively. They did this for the views obivously, but being only 20 and 21 years old and naive about how seriously trespassing on US military property is treated by the local sheriff's department they probably misjudged the consequences of their actions. Their timing was on purpose. The buzz generated by the event meant that their videos would have lifted along on the popularity of the topic. But these are kids who are used to nothing more than an occasional stern telling off by cops in Europe. I think they are being tried this Monday. They were released on bail, so chances are they will get away with just a fine and probably a travel ban to the US, but that seems to depend on whether the judge wants to set an example for the coming weekend or not. As some people knowledgable about the US judicial system noted: they had better get a damn good local lawyer.
- klez 7y ago
  > But these are kids who are used to nothing more than an occasional stern telling off by cops in Europe. I can assure you that trespassing on a military base in Europe does not result in just a stern warning.
  - partialrecall 7y ago
    Maybe it depends on the country. I know Canada isn't in Europe, but as an American citizen I have casually wandered onto Canadian military bases before without any hassle. Sometimes they have guards at the gate that ask to see your ID then wish you a good day, but other times there is nobody at the gate and you're free to wander around. Incidentally the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum has a superb collection. This all contrasts sharply with my experiences visiting American military bases, where the impression of security/paranoia is in my experience quite high, even though I was visiting somebody who lived there and he'd told them to expect me.
    - ryanmarsh 7y ago
      Depends on the base. Some bases are open to the public because they have a mix of private and public business on them. One of my clients operates out of just such a facility. Others are, shall we say, less friendly.