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"What the heck is a BitCoin??" I bet there is no actual extortion going on, but kind of a "let's educate the business owners into the new digital economy, and,
by ccozan 12y ago
"What the heck is a BitCoin??"
I bet there is no actual extortion going on, but kind of a "let's educate the business owners into the new digital economy, and, if necessary, by force".
The pranksters probably estimate, once the business owners find out what is the idea of Bitcoin, they will say, hey, let's offer this to our customers.
- talmand 12y agoUm, no, that's a pretty clear cut example of extortion. Whether they follow through with the threats or not is irrelevant. The act of extortion has already been committed.
- PhasmaFelis 12y agoSo your theory is that, having been introduced to a new idea by gut-churning fear and anger, business owners will immediately think "Hey, this is pretty cool! We should use it!" Have you met many humans?
- robert_tweed 12y agoReplying because I don't think your post deserves all the downvotes, even though I think your argument is stupid. TBH, my first thought when I saw the "notice of extortion" letter was that it was a joke. Not a particularly funny one for the restaurateurs, but perhaps someone's lame idea of a prank that got a bit out of hand. However, as others have pointed out already, it is most definitely a clear-cut case of extortion whether or not they have any intent of following through on the threats. Just as robbery with an unloaded gun is still robbery and threatening with a deadly weapon: nobody knows whether it's loaded, so they have to assume it is. In that case the induce fear and panic is quite real. People have been known to have heart attacks in such situations. In that case the the perpetrator has committed a homicide, regardless of intent. It's also not a very good way of winning hearts and minds if education is the goal.