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I'll break the mold in this thread by saying this outcome is ideal. At the core, this was a new kind of case. This sets a precedent for people who may try to re

I'll break the mold in this thread by saying this outcome is ideal. At the core, this was a new kind of case. This sets a precedent for people who may try to replicate his business model, and it makes it seem less desirable. Sure, people could just do it internationally, etc, but this is a good outcome for a tenacious and abusive criminal. edit: it is an injustice that people are jailed for minor crimes, it seems wild that this is longer than some murderers receive, but recognize that what effectively happened here's was the monetization of widespread psychological and social abuse. 18 years is likely less than the sum time his victims have spent trying to deal with the abuse he inflicted, willingly and for profit. edit 2: removed downvote gripe, in response to feedback, previously the first paragraph ended with "Let the downvotes flow."

raldi 12y ago
Damn it, I was all set to upvote you, and then you had to go attempt the reverse-psychology "I'm sure I'll be downvoted for this" ploy. Sorry, but that's an automatic "stop reading and downvote" in my book.
- codezero 12y ago
  Given the tone of the thread when I posted this, it felt necessary. Reactions on HN are truly stochastic and if what I said before the defensive comment wasn't meaningful enough for you to upvote then I'm glad you downvoted it, it only reinforces how reactionary people can be.
  - raldi 12y ago
    I liked your comment up until that point. See the last two items: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
  - vacri 12y ago
    Complaining about or goading downvotes turns a comment into a soapboxing whine. It's a juvenile debating tactic where if the author gets modded up they claim victory because of assent, and if the author gets modded down, they also claim victory because "I called it, you all suck!". >it only reinforces how reactionary people can be You're calling raldi reactionary even though the downvote was not for your 'meaningful comment', but because you literally asked to be downvoted?
    - codezero 12y ago
      I didn't ask to be downvoted I expressed my expectations. I didn't force anyone. Also, I've since made an edit. Edit: on inspection of your profile you seem intimately aware of the gratuitous downvotes on HN. Why is pointing it out considered a faux pas? Why should we be goaded into not bringing it up?
      - DanBC 12y ago
        The guidelines ask you to not do it. People commenting are asking you to not do it. Saying thigs like "I expect I'll get downvoted for this" guarantees downvotes - but those votes are for that part of the comment and not for the rest of the comment. I've seen people say "I expect I'll get downvoted for this" but then say something bland and uncontroversial.
        codezero 12y ago
        They say resist it, which is materially different from saying not to do it. Goading is another story entirely. I will add that in practice, adding this defensive layer has had the opposite effect, it has resulted in more compassionate voting, rather than more downvotes, on my comments, which reinforces why I did it here and have done it in the past, so I question why it's such a big deal, to me, the big deal is the fact that there is an expectation of surprise downvotes, that you can't expect a discussion without driveby negative feedback is a sign of a very toxic community. Since this is a point of contention, though, I'll try to resist in the future, but I still call out to anyone to ask of the community – why do you downvote so readily, rather than upvoting equally as readily? Check out the Wikipedia article for critical positivity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_positivity_ratio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_positivity_ratio – there's no reason we can't make HN a positive environment.
tim333 12y ago
Yeah, it sends a message to the "many revenge-porn outfits" that maybe they should stop.
PhantomGremlin 12y ago
> This sets a precedent for people who may try to replicate his business model Yeah, it would be funny to read a business plan or YC application. How could anyone think this type of "business" was a good idea?
locusm 12y ago
Thats more than whats considered a life sentence here in Australia. edit: Actually a Judge must sentence a non parole period of at least 10 yrs and up to 25, but it differs between states.
quesera 12y ago
There is a strong precedent in the U.S. for aiming for the top end of the sentencing guidelines in cases of psychological cruelty. That cruelty might not be a crime on its own (sometimes it is) but the logic is that deeply antisocial criminals should be kept away from society for longer. Or they need more time for rehab, or they should just be punished more harshly. Whichever explanation you accept. Also, extortion has never been a minor crime. A long history of psychologically cruel extortion? It's hard to have sympathy for people who flaunt their own lack of it.

raldi 12y ago

Damn it, I was all set to upvote you, and then you had to go attempt the reverse-psychology "I'm sure I'll be downvoted for this" ploy. Sorry, but that's an automatic "stop reading and downvote" in my book.

codezero 12y ago
Given the tone of the thread when I posted this, it felt necessary. Reactions on HN are truly stochastic and if what I said before the defensive comment wasn't meaningful enough for you to upvote then I'm glad you downvoted it, it only reinforces how reactionary people can be.
- raldi 12y ago
  I liked your comment up until that point. See the last two items: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
- vacri 12y ago
  Complaining about or goading downvotes turns a comment into a soapboxing whine. It's a juvenile debating tactic where if the author gets modded up they claim victory because of assent, and if the author gets modded down, they also claim victory because "I called it, you all suck!". >it only reinforces how reactionary people can be You're calling raldi reactionary even though the downvote was not for your 'meaningful comment', but because you literally asked to be downvoted?
  - codezero 12y ago
    I didn't ask to be downvoted I expressed my expectations. I didn't force anyone. Also, I've since made an edit. Edit: on inspection of your profile you seem intimately aware of the gratuitous downvotes on HN. Why is pointing it out considered a faux pas? Why should we be goaded into not bringing it up?
    - DanBC 12y ago
      The guidelines ask you to not do it. People commenting are asking you to not do it. Saying thigs like "I expect I'll get downvoted for this" guarantees downvotes - but those votes are for that part of the comment and not for the rest of the comment. I've seen people say "I expect I'll get downvoted for this" but then say something bland and uncontroversial.
      - codezero 12y ago
        They say resist it, which is materially different from saying not to do it. Goading is another story entirely. I will add that in practice, adding this defensive layer has had the opposite effect, it has resulted in more compassionate voting, rather than more downvotes, on my comments, which reinforces why I did it here and have done it in the past, so I question why it's such a big deal, to me, the big deal is the fact that there is an expectation of surprise downvotes, that you can't expect a discussion without driveby negative feedback is a sign of a very toxic community. Since this is a point of contention, though, I'll try to resist in the future, but I still call out to anyone to ask of the community – why do you downvote so readily, rather than upvoting equally as readily? Check out the Wikipedia article for critical positivity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_positivity_ratio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_positivity_ratio – there's no reason we can't make HN a positive environment.

tim333 12y ago

Yeah, it sends a message to the "many revenge-porn outfits" that maybe they should stop.

PhantomGremlin 12y ago

> This sets a precedent for people who may try to replicate his business model Yeah, it would be funny to read a business plan or YC application. How could anyone think this type of "business" was a good idea?

locusm 12y ago

Thats more than whats considered a life sentence here in Australia. edit: Actually a Judge must sentence a non parole period of at least 10 yrs and up to 25, but it differs between states.

quesera 12y ago

There is a strong precedent in the U.S. for aiming for the top end of the sentencing guidelines in cases of psychological cruelty. That cruelty might not be a crime on its own (sometimes it is) but the logic is that deeply antisocial criminals should be kept away from society for longer. Or they need more time for rehab, or they should just be punished more harshly. Whichever explanation you accept. Also, extortion has never been a minor crime. A long history of psychologically cruel extortion? It's hard to have sympathy for people who flaunt their own lack of it.