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This is very interesting. The language he's using suggests he suffered at least at some point from psychosis in a certain degree, most certainly caused by the

This is very interesting. The language he's using suggests he suffered at least at some point from psychosis in a certain degree, most certainly caused by the level of stress he was experiencing on a daily basis and perhaps even by the potential 'substances' he may have been sampling (pure speculation though). Unfortunately we'll most likely never know if once he starts levelling to a normal state, he starts regretting those planned hits, regardless of whether they actually happened or not. There was some speculation that the person(s) he contracted were actually FBI.

baddox 13y ago
What about the language he's using suggests that he suffered from psychosis?
- pallandt 13y ago
  There are several key words such as 'stress' or 'overwhelming' or wanting to quit but being unable to, but what is often common to persons suffering of delusions of a manic extent (btw, I think they seized some cocaine from him as well if I remember correctly) is believing they are on a special mission to accomplish something world-changing and even expressing intent to sacrifice their lives if it were needed, zealousness, being over-invested emotionally in the 'idea' and perhaps most importantly, the unlikeness of their belief or idea actually manifesting as envisioned. His message is very self-centered and does not mention other people (joining him or helping him reach his goal). It is not unreasonable to think/realize that his belief is/was failing to fit with his socio-cultural background, especially considering he was mostly running the op alone. There were mentions of admins that were paid lowly sums compared to what he was making, I assume they had very limited attributions and he was the only one in true controlling capacity. Throw in the necessity for secretiveness due to the nature of the op, the ensuing distrust and suspicion and it is a safe recipe for psychosis as a result of stress.
  - chrislipa 13y ago
    I don't know ... but I'm not convinced. I looks perfectly congruent with the facts that he's just incredibly passionate about his mission. I don't think it's so unreasonable for DPR to think and hope that he was changing the world for the better.
    - tptacek 13y ago
      Kinda not factoring in the notion that he was ordering people to be killed during this timeframe, right?
      - chrislipa 13y ago
        Not ignoring that at all. History is replete with true believers willing to kill and die for their causes.
  - crystaln 13y ago
    I didn't realize complete dedication and sacrifice for your ideals was indicative of psychosis. I suppose in that case many of our heros were psychotic.
    - ics 13y ago
      Well, you could just imagine projecting the judgement onto a bell curve. Plenty of psychotic failures and psychotic geniuses, but everyone in the middle we just give the benefit of the doubt (because "we" most likely lie on that part of the curve as well). Whether the term 'psychotic' is correct I don't really know.
  - gwern 13y ago
    > (btw, I think they seized some cocaine from him as well if I remember correctly) I haven't heard anything about that. Are you referring to the fake cocaine that the undercover agent sold to a SR employee right before arresting them?
    - mikegogulski 13y ago
      No cocaine seizure was reported, but the Maryland indictment show federal agents delivering 1 kilogram of coke to someone, presumably the alleged "victim" in the assassination plot also referenced there. I guess the feds have plenty of that high-grade stuff just laying around...
      - gwern 13y ago
        No, the Maryland indictment is clear that it was not 1kg of coke, it was mostly fake.
        mikegogulski 13y ago
        "X {micro,milli,,kilo,mega,giga,peta,exa}grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of DRUG" is boilerplate derived from the text of the federal drug statutes. Either of us could be right, or neither. shrug
  - mikegogulski 13y ago
    This armchair pyschoanalysis is rubbish. Where does your apparent intent to paint the guy in the worst light possible come from? And no, there has been no report of any drug seizure to accompany the arrest of Ulbricht.
ninjac0der 13y ago
What... the... I thought the non-essential government services were shut down right now.
- tptacek 13y ago
  The FBI is not shut down right now.
  - jlgreco 13y ago
    I think ninjac0der was insinuating that pallandt is a shill (and that the United States Department of Shilling is a non-essential service.) Ninjac0der can correct me if I interpreted his comment wrong...
    - pallandt 13y ago
      Fortunately/unfortunately, I'm not an U.S citizen, or even resident. I probably wouldn't even be allowed to clean windows for a government agency, let alone work in law enforcement.Btw, I also didn't downvote you.
    - ninjac0der 13y ago
      Yes, and it was a useless comment to be sure. My apologies, I try not to go out in public.

baddox 13y ago

What about the language he's using suggests that he suffered from psychosis?

pallandt 13y ago
There are several key words such as 'stress' or 'overwhelming' or wanting to quit but being unable to, but what is often common to persons suffering of delusions of a manic extent (btw, I think they seized some cocaine from him as well if I remember correctly) is believing they are on a special mission to accomplish something world-changing and even expressing intent to sacrifice their lives if it were needed, zealousness, being over-invested emotionally in the 'idea' and perhaps most importantly, the unlikeness of their belief or idea actually manifesting as envisioned. His message is very self-centered and does not mention other people (joining him or helping him reach his goal). It is not unreasonable to think/realize that his belief is/was failing to fit with his socio-cultural background, especially considering he was mostly running the op alone. There were mentions of admins that were paid lowly sums compared to what he was making, I assume they had very limited attributions and he was the only one in true controlling capacity. Throw in the necessity for secretiveness due to the nature of the op, the ensuing distrust and suspicion and it is a safe recipe for psychosis as a result of stress.
- chrislipa 13y ago
  I don't know ... but I'm not convinced. I looks perfectly congruent with the facts that he's just incredibly passionate about his mission. I don't think it's so unreasonable for DPR to think and hope that he was changing the world for the better.
  - tptacek 13y ago
    Kinda not factoring in the notion that he was ordering people to be killed during this timeframe, right?
    - chrislipa 13y ago
      Not ignoring that at all. History is replete with true believers willing to kill and die for their causes.
- crystaln 13y ago
  I didn't realize complete dedication and sacrifice for your ideals was indicative of psychosis. I suppose in that case many of our heros were psychotic.
  - ics 13y ago
    Well, you could just imagine projecting the judgement onto a bell curve. Plenty of psychotic failures and psychotic geniuses, but everyone in the middle we just give the benefit of the doubt (because "we" most likely lie on that part of the curve as well). Whether the term 'psychotic' is correct I don't really know.
- gwern 13y ago
  > (btw, I think they seized some cocaine from him as well if I remember correctly) I haven't heard anything about that. Are you referring to the fake cocaine that the undercover agent sold to a SR employee right before arresting them?
  - mikegogulski 13y ago
    No cocaine seizure was reported, but the Maryland indictment show federal agents delivering 1 kilogram of coke to someone, presumably the alleged "victim" in the assassination plot also referenced there. I guess the feds have plenty of that high-grade stuff just laying around...
    - gwern 13y ago
      No, the Maryland indictment is clear that it was not 1kg of coke, it was mostly fake.
      - mikegogulski 13y ago
        "X {micro,milli,,kilo,mega,giga,peta,exa}grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of DRUG" is boilerplate derived from the text of the federal drug statutes. Either of us could be right, or neither. shrug
- mikegogulski 13y ago
  This armchair pyschoanalysis is rubbish. Where does your apparent intent to paint the guy in the worst light possible come from? And no, there has been no report of any drug seizure to accompany the arrest of Ulbricht.

ninjac0der 13y ago

What... the... I thought the non-essential government services were shut down right now.

tptacek 13y ago
The FBI is not shut down right now.
- jlgreco 13y ago
  I think ninjac0der was insinuating that pallandt is a shill (and that the United States Department of Shilling is a non-essential service.) Ninjac0der can correct me if I interpreted his comment wrong...
  - pallandt 13y ago
    Fortunately/unfortunately, I'm not an U.S citizen, or even resident. I probably wouldn't even be allowed to clean windows for a government agency, let alone work in law enforcement.Btw, I also didn't downvote you.
  - ninjac0der 13y ago
    Yes, and it was a useless comment to be sure. My apologies, I try not to go out in public.