4 ms·

Do you really believe that? Or maybe you don't really care about the truth of it, but find it convenient for your career and peace of mind to just go along wit

Do you really believe that? Or maybe you don't really care about the truth of it, but find it convenient for your career and peace of mind to just go along with whatever his torturers say?

_kbh_ 4y ago
> Schulte referred to the child pornography he was accused of possessing as a "victimless crime" Whilst im sceptical of these charges, this doesn't really help his case. Certainly sounds like he is just admitting he has it.
- vintermann 4y ago
  You're quoting the Wikipedia page, it looks like. Do you think Schulte's former employer is too noble to have people working to "advance their perspectives" on Wikipedia? For all we know the images are stick figures. For all we know they just made up that he said that. It is exceedingly easy to manufacture something like this, when you control all the sources of information. If you ever wondered how some people in the west could stay Stalinist after his show trials of dissidents, look in the mirror.
  - dontrip 4y ago
    No need to invent a shadowy conspiracy theory here. Some people really are just unrepentant pedophiles, and based on his own words, this guy is one of them.
    - vintermann 4y ago
      "No need to invent a shady conspiracy theory here"? You are aware we're talking about the CIA here? I'm supposed to believe it's unreasonable to think CIA people would smear a guy they personally and collectively hate?
      - dontrip 4y ago
        Okay, so, where is your evidence of this?
        vintermann 4y ago
        Much like a fresh account created to defend the CIA's honour, the CIA does not get the benefit of doubt that they would NOT lie to hurt a guy they hate.
        dontrip 4y ago
        No evidence to offer? Not even a scrap? Thought not. Shadowy conspiracy theory it is then.
  - thfuran 4y ago
    For all we know, Schulte doesn't exist and the whole thing is Russian psyops.
dontrip 4y ago
There would have to be a lot of conspirators involved, that first decided to plant child pornography on this guy's encrypted hard disks and his laptop, and then somehow coerced him into defending himself with the proclamation that it's a 'victimless crime'. Given how unlikely this is, it's almost certainly the case that he is a pedophile who has trafficked in child pornography with other pedophiles. I don't know about you, but my sympathy level for such people is approximately zero.
- vintermann 4y ago
  No, it would not. Odds are there is something on your hard disk right now that could be classified as child porn, if the accuser was motivated enough. And imagine you wouldn't get to defend yourself, and no one would speak up and say "Hey come on, obviously that's not remotely CSAM" because they hated you for being a "traitor". It doesn't take a conspiracy at all, all it takes is a handful of people willing to say "So what, I don't care what happens to such people". Which, you'll notice, is what you're saying right now.
  - dontrip 4y ago
    > No, it would not. Odds are there is something on your hard disk right now that could be classified as child porn, if the accuser was motivated enough. Speak for yourself, there's absolutely nothing in my files that could even marginally be classified as child pornography. I would think this is the same for most people. With this guy, investigators found hundreds of thousands of photos and videos of child sexual abuse on his disks. And then he tried to defend himself by claiming it's a victimless crime. I know people like a good conspiracy theory, especially if it involves the government, but this isn't it.
    - vintermann 4y ago
      > there's absolutely nothing in my files that could even marginally be classified as child pornography You're going to run into your Cardinal Richelieu one day, person who signed up to HN two hours ago in order to defend the honour of the CIA.
pxmpxm 4y ago
Tinfoil hat type of retorts is not what I expect to read on HN
- vintermann 4y ago
  Well excuse me for suggesting that this guy's employer, whose mission includes lying, betraying and killing people, might not be scrupulously fair in this issue.

Do you really believe that? Or maybe you don't really care about the truth of it, but find it convenient for your career and peace of mind to just go along with whatever his torturers say?

_kbh_ 4y ago

> Schulte referred to the child pornography he was accused of possessing as a "victimless crime" Whilst im sceptical of these charges, this doesn't really help his case. Certainly sounds like he is just admitting he has it.

vintermann 4y ago
You're quoting the Wikipedia page, it looks like. Do you think Schulte's former employer is too noble to have people working to "advance their perspectives" on Wikipedia? For all we know the images are stick figures. For all we know they just made up that he said that. It is exceedingly easy to manufacture something like this, when you control all the sources of information. If you ever wondered how some people in the west could stay Stalinist after his show trials of dissidents, look in the mirror.
- dontrip 4y ago
  No need to invent a shadowy conspiracy theory here. Some people really are just unrepentant pedophiles, and based on his own words, this guy is one of them.
  - vintermann 4y ago
    "No need to invent a shady conspiracy theory here"? You are aware we're talking about the CIA here? I'm supposed to believe it's unreasonable to think CIA people would smear a guy they personally and collectively hate?
    - dontrip 4y ago
      Okay, so, where is your evidence of this?
      - vintermann 4y ago
        Much like a fresh account created to defend the CIA's honour, the CIA does not get the benefit of doubt that they would NOT lie to hurt a guy they hate.
        dontrip 4y ago
        No evidence to offer? Not even a scrap? Thought not. Shadowy conspiracy theory it is then.
- thfuran 4y ago
  For all we know, Schulte doesn't exist and the whole thing is Russian psyops.

dontrip 4y ago

There would have to be a lot of conspirators involved, that first decided to plant child pornography on this guy's encrypted hard disks and his laptop, and then somehow coerced him into defending himself with the proclamation that it's a 'victimless crime'. Given how unlikely this is, it's almost certainly the case that he is a pedophile who has trafficked in child pornography with other pedophiles. I don't know about you, but my sympathy level for such people is approximately zero.

vintermann 4y ago
No, it would not. Odds are there is something on your hard disk right now that could be classified as child porn, if the accuser was motivated enough. And imagine you wouldn't get to defend yourself, and no one would speak up and say "Hey come on, obviously that's not remotely CSAM" because they hated you for being a "traitor". It doesn't take a conspiracy at all, all it takes is a handful of people willing to say "So what, I don't care what happens to such people". Which, you'll notice, is what you're saying right now.
- dontrip 4y ago
  > No, it would not. Odds are there is something on your hard disk right now that could be classified as child porn, if the accuser was motivated enough. Speak for yourself, there's absolutely nothing in my files that could even marginally be classified as child pornography. I would think this is the same for most people. With this guy, investigators found hundreds of thousands of photos and videos of child sexual abuse on his disks. And then he tried to defend himself by claiming it's a victimless crime. I know people like a good conspiracy theory, especially if it involves the government, but this isn't it.
  - vintermann 4y ago
    > there's absolutely nothing in my files that could even marginally be classified as child pornography You're going to run into your Cardinal Richelieu one day, person who signed up to HN two hours ago in order to defend the honour of the CIA.

pxmpxm 4y ago

Tinfoil hat type of retorts is not what I expect to read on HN

vintermann 4y ago
Well excuse me for suggesting that this guy's employer, whose mission includes lying, betraying and killing people, might not be scrupulously fair in this issue.