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> The redditors are basically using the scorched-earth method of journalism, with no regard to who they accuse. Theyre causing considerably more harm than help,

> The redditors are basically using the scorched-earth method of journalism, with no regard to who they accuse. Theyre causing considerably more harm than help, which is typical of vigilantism. What? The difference is that redditors don't claim to be journalists, so why would anyone put any weight in their accusations? No one was lynched by redditors (or in danger of being lynched), so let's not call this vigilantism.

justin66 14y ago
> No one was lynched by redditors (or in danger of being lynched) Anyone who thinks that Salah Barhoun's life wasn't in danger for a few hours there just hasn't thought things through. This country is littered with small people with guns who would love to assassinate the newest boogeyman.
- analog 14y ago
  This is absolutely true. But he was only put in danger once the Fox News affiliate broadcast the image (purportedly from the FBI) of Salah and his friend.
  - justin66 14y ago
    Fox (and, indeed, at least one other Rupert Murdock property: the New York Post) didn't help, but if I were in Salah's place I'd be most concerned about the ar15.com nutjobs who were trolling him: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5573281 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5573281 In any case, no number of intermediaries would absolve "the subreddit" of responsibility if something went tragically wrong as result of their actions. Mob psychology and the diffusion of responsibility certainly makes people feel like it would.
georgemcbay 14y ago
Nobody was killed, but that doesn't mean nobody was harmed. Sunil Tripathi's name will forever be linked to the Boston Marathon bombing for absolutely no good reason whatsoever, causing irreparable damage to his memory and untold grief to those who knew him on top of the already crushing grief of his being missing (and perhaps, it now seems, dead).

justin66 14y ago

> No one was lynched by redditors (or in danger of being lynched) Anyone who thinks that Salah Barhoun's life wasn't in danger for a few hours there just hasn't thought things through. This country is littered with small people with guns who would love to assassinate the newest boogeyman.

analog 14y ago
This is absolutely true. But he was only put in danger once the Fox News affiliate broadcast the image (purportedly from the FBI) of Salah and his friend.
- justin66 14y ago
  Fox (and, indeed, at least one other Rupert Murdock property: the New York Post) didn't help, but if I were in Salah's place I'd be most concerned about the ar15.com nutjobs who were trolling him: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5573281 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5573281 In any case, no number of intermediaries would absolve "the subreddit" of responsibility if something went tragically wrong as result of their actions. Mob psychology and the diffusion of responsibility certainly makes people feel like it would.

georgemcbay 14y ago

Nobody was killed, but that doesn't mean nobody was harmed. Sunil Tripathi's name will forever be linked to the Boston Marathon bombing for absolutely no good reason whatsoever, causing irreparable damage to his memory and untold grief to those who knew him on top of the already crushing grief of his being missing (and perhaps, it now seems, dead).