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Blatantly copying from Twitter [1], but it's what I believe, also: > The largest fine paid by a banking executive responsible for the 2008 Financial Crisis was

Blatantly copying from Twitter [1], but it's what I believe, also: > The largest fine paid by a banking executive responsible for the 2008 Financial Crisis was $67.5 million A few tens of millions would have set straight almost everyone involved, the victims getting their money, Jones having to pay out of his pocket. But $1 billion means Jones will never be able to pay the sum, and, what's more, it will also silence him indefinitely. Which will make lots of his supporters think that was the intention all along, and in so doing making a mockery out of the act of justice. [1] https://twitter.com/WSBChairman/status/1580289631714947072 https://twitter.com/WSBChairman/status/1580289631714947072

greedo 4y ago
Interesting and brave take to defend a real scumbag.
- dolfine 4y ago
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
danans 4y ago
> But $1 billion means Jones will never be able to pay the sum, and, what's more, it will also silence him indefinitely. How does it do that? You don't need billions or even millions to practice your free speech rights. Jones still has a website with a huge reader/viewership last I checked, which is far more reach than he'd have using the last backstop platform of free speech: literally speaking standing on a box in the town square. Many people like him who have been demonetized on mainstream platforms because of content policy violations continue to operate with the financing of wealthy private donors who share their beliefs and agendas. Furthermore, there are plenty of media companies that would probably hire him as a paid commentator or to host an entertainment show where he continues to talk about the subjects over which he isn't being sued for defamation. They would probably pay him well enough to pay these damages for years to come and still live a comfortable life. He can also keep selling his dietary supplements to his audience who seem to believe in their efficacy. He just can't slander the Sandy Hook families anymore without fear of financial repercussions.
saila 4y ago
Jones is already back on his show deriding the victims, saying he won't pay, and soliciting money. Given his conspiratorial bent and the type of people who support him, I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't hurt him as much as you'd think, because it reinforces their world view and will make them double down even further. Even if he ends up paying out substantial amounts, which would take years, I think he'll be just fine. The only thing that would really take him out would be if he went to jail for fraud or something.
Jordrok 4y ago
This is only a good point if you think that the fines that the banking executives paid in 2008 were sufficient. I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone express that opinion. The fine here is fully justified. The lack of fines in 2008 is the problem, not this.
- yucky 4y ago
  >The fine here is fully justified. A billion dollar fine is justified because idiots read his blog and decided a baseless conspiracy theory seemed plausible? That's laughable. I didn't think I'd ever find myself on the same side of something as Alex Jones and yet here I am. These people lost their minds.
  - tptacek 4y ago
    That's literally how tort damages work. The inverse of your logic would imply that defamation wouldn't be actionable at all; reputation damage, after all, concerns entirely what unrelated third parties do with your misstatements.
    - yucky 4y ago
      Yes because thinking a BILLION dollar fine is absurd for saying dumb shit online, clearly means there should be no torts at all. What it really means is for this fine to make sense, we need to start fining other people and companies TRILLIONS. I feel like I'm in an Austin Powers movie, or worse, on Reddit.
      - kasey_junk 4y ago
        What if he made 1.2 Billion off of his grift that attacked actual people? He isn’t going to jail (which seems like it should be in play to me). He’s just not able to keep any of his ill gotten gains. It’s really hard to feel sympathetic here.
        yucky 4y ago
fogus 4y ago
> make lots of his supporters think that was the intention all along His listeners believe that the literal devil controls the government, Hollywood, and the minds of liberal minded people. His listeners believe that Klaus Schwab secretly controls the United States and that his goal is to feminize men and cut off children's sex organs. His listeners believe that Sandy Hook never happened and the parents are crisis actors. His listeners will believe all kinds of insane things but that has nothing to do whether justice should be served or not.

greedo 4y ago

Interesting and brave take to defend a real scumbag.

dolfine 4y ago
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

danans 4y ago

> But $1 billion means Jones will never be able to pay the sum, and, what's more, it will also silence him indefinitely. How does it do that? You don't need billions or even millions to practice your free speech rights. Jones still has a website with a huge reader/viewership last I checked, which is far more reach than he'd have using the last backstop platform of free speech: literally speaking standing on a box in the town square. Many people like him who have been demonetized on mainstream platforms because of content policy violations continue to operate with the financing of wealthy private donors who share their beliefs and agendas. Furthermore, there are plenty of media companies that would probably hire him as a paid commentator or to host an entertainment show where he continues to talk about the subjects over which he isn't being sued for defamation. They would probably pay him well enough to pay these damages for years to come and still live a comfortable life. He can also keep selling his dietary supplements to his audience who seem to believe in their efficacy. He just can't slander the Sandy Hook families anymore without fear of financial repercussions.

saila 4y ago

Jones is already back on his show deriding the victims, saying he won't pay, and soliciting money. Given his conspiratorial bent and the type of people who support him, I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't hurt him as much as you'd think, because it reinforces their world view and will make them double down even further. Even if he ends up paying out substantial amounts, which would take years, I think he'll be just fine. The only thing that would really take him out would be if he went to jail for fraud or something.

Jordrok 4y ago

This is only a good point if you think that the fines that the banking executives paid in 2008 were sufficient. I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone express that opinion. The fine here is fully justified. The lack of fines in 2008 is the problem, not this.

yucky 4y ago
>The fine here is fully justified. A billion dollar fine is justified because idiots read his blog and decided a baseless conspiracy theory seemed plausible? That's laughable. I didn't think I'd ever find myself on the same side of something as Alex Jones and yet here I am. These people lost their minds.
- tptacek 4y ago
  That's literally how tort damages work. The inverse of your logic would imply that defamation wouldn't be actionable at all; reputation damage, after all, concerns entirely what unrelated third parties do with your misstatements.
  - yucky 4y ago
    Yes because thinking a BILLION dollar fine is absurd for saying dumb shit online, clearly means there should be no torts at all. What it really means is for this fine to make sense, we need to start fining other people and companies TRILLIONS. I feel like I'm in an Austin Powers movie, or worse, on Reddit.
    - kasey_junk 4y ago
      What if he made 1.2 Billion off of his grift that attacked actual people? He isn’t going to jail (which seems like it should be in play to me). He’s just not able to keep any of his ill gotten gains. It’s really hard to feel sympathetic here.
      - yucky 4y ago

fogus 4y ago

> make lots of his supporters think that was the intention all along His listeners believe that the literal devil controls the government, Hollywood, and the minds of liberal minded people. His listeners believe that Klaus Schwab secretly controls the United States and that his goal is to feminize men and cut off children's sex organs. His listeners believe that Sandy Hook never happened and the parents are crisis actors. His listeners will believe all kinds of insane things but that has nothing to do whether justice should be served or not.