League of Legends Player Faces Eight Years For "Terroristic Threats"

[Fordo]

We don't F around in Texas. This poor bastard is going to crucified.

 

[Smiley Face]

I'm honestly surprised at people who seem perfectly comfortable with the idea that we now live in a "be careful what you say" society. This kid - and he is a kid - spends three months in jail and faces a longer sentence than some killers simply because we are too afraid to make a call between a genuine threat and shit-talk on the internet, and this is somehow okay?

I've got to agree - some people are just trash-spewing jerks, but trash-spewing isn't a threat, and if you start construing it as a threat, then everyone's got to watch what they say, not just in terms of vitriol, but sarcasm, black humour, jokes in intentional bad taste, and jokes in unintentional bad taste. Not everyone is good at understanding how what they'll say will be interpreted, sometimes people slip up, and for the consequences to even POSSIBLY include something like this - 8 years of jail time and probably going on some watchlists - is nuts.

If a threat is ACTUALLY a threat, then yes, some sort of intervention should happen. But this is not a threat, this is a joke in bad taste, and taking action in this case is tantamount to arresting on suspicion, which is just wrong. There's no intent here - and since the laws in place here are meant to stop intention before it turns to action, there's also no act which should be prosecuted under the spirit of the law. This is really just sad.

 

[Ickorus]

Land of the free my ass.

The fact that something like this can go anywhere in the 'justice' system shows just how far America has fallen.

 

[Elijah Newton]

Small correction, you can't buy booze in the US if you're 18. You have to wait 'till 21 for that. You can totally drive a machine that can easily kill, cast your vote on politics and government, get married, have sex, go to actual jail, and every other fun thing adults get to do. But drinking? Now that's just crazy!

*eye roll* Cannot believe I missed that - shows how long it's been since I've been either age, really. It was a last minute swap-out for being able to buy porn. And smoking? Are cigarettes 18+?

 

[mythgraven]

"Carter's friends and family have started an online petition to bring attention to the matter, calling for his release and for the laws regarding "terroristic threats" to be changed and clarified. A hearing on the case is scheduled for July 1."



... And yet, I see no mention of legislation aimed at stopping people from acting like -raging, incoherent, psychotic, belligerent ASSHOLES- to one another online. Whether you believe the kid should eat crow for his stupid comments, or you believe the woman was way out of line to call the police, brought right down to it, you believe someone online dicked someone else online over.

And that is the correct interpretation of these things. People online tend to act with the mindset that the online is the old west. Well, guess what? After two decades now of rampant, unchecked assholery, people who DONT take joy in being a terrible human being are getting fed up with it. The essence of "Why We Cant Have Nice Things". You abuse it for long enough, and people will stop you.


Youve been warned, Internet. Youve been being warned with increasing severity over the last few years.


Whiskey Echo!!
mythgraven

 

[Andy Chalk]

... And yet, I see no mention of legislation aimed at stopping people from acting like -raging, incoherent, psychotic, belligerent ASSHOLES- to one another online.

I don't think "being nice to people" is something you can legislate in a free society.

 

[BoogieManFL]

But you know, bullies destroying lives every day at schools for years is cool, because they don't have a gun or make terrorist threats. Doesn't matter that the harm done is just as real as it drives some to suicide, depression, and substance abuse.

Good use of taxpayer money and the legal system's time! /sarcasm (you guys should look that word up btw)

Colossal Idiots.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Fuck me, this is just ridiculous. A possible 8 years from a (admittedly idiotic) comment? Never mind that the guy has already been kept in custody for three months in this ridiculous event.

Christ, I never hope the police track all the jokes I've made that aren't in the greatest taste. I'll be put away until I'm dead 5 times over.

 

[Guffe]

This is just plain wrong!

I mean if someone finds the comment, looks them up on the internet, finds out where they live, takes time to check out the neighbourhood and then files a police report... The lady who did that is the one I'm more scared of than this kid!

When getting the report take him in for a quick talk (interogation) and then make a psych test on him, everything seems normal, tell him to not make stupid jokes like that since some people actually take them seriously, especially after a dramatic event just happened, and let him go! Unless the psych thing comes out showing him being nuts, but in that case you give him help not throw him into jail!

 

[xorinite]

Youve been warned, Internet. Youve been being warned with increasing severity over the last few years.

Was this supposed to be ironic? It's hard to tell sometimes.

If you were serious, well I can only say that the choice between self censorship or mandated censorship is a distinction without a difference. Its like being given the choice to kneel or be knelt, the end result is the same.

What is the distinction between a right you may not exercise and a right you do not possess?

 

[SecondPrize]

I'm honestly surprised at people who seem perfectly comfortable with the idea that we now live in a "be careful what you say" society. This kid - and he is a kid - spends three months in jail and faces a longer sentence than some killers simply because we are too afraid to make a call between a genuine threat and shit-talk on the internet, and this is somehow okay?

Can't spend a dozen years controlling your populace through fear of terrorism and other things without shit like this occurring.

 

[CriticalMiss]

social media is not a playground

What? So social media is all business now?

I'm curious as to why he has been in jail for so long, would it really take that long to search his house for weapons? To interrogate him and give him a psychological examination? After all, if he doesn't have the means to do it or the motivation and even said in the offending statement that it was a joke...he was probably joking. Poor taste yes, but he's not a terrorist for making a crap joke.

Captcha: what even. I know, right?

 

[Trishbot]

Overreaction. Plain and simple.

Common sense isn't so common.

 

[NvrPhazed]

what happen to that of "you are innocent until proven guilty"?
civil rights are a joke, it seems.

ummm no one said he was convicted just arrested and charged, but thanks for playing.

Oh yeah, he's only been in jail for three months, I see nothing to be concerned about.

Cases take a long time to go through the legal system. Most Criminal trial defendants end up being in jail for months maybe even over a year before their case eventually gets a verdict. Since he is eighteen, he goes through the same hoops as everyone else and is not a kid like his father keeps insisting. I'm pretty sure his case will eventually be dismissed, and even if it doesn't, the state does not have much evidence. Just let the court system sort it out.

 

[Gizen]

All the different levels of stupid in this story.

First off, when will people learn that Facebook, and social media as a whole, serves no purpose in life except to eventually come back and bite you in the ass for using it?

Second, I continue to grow more and more ashamed of my country (Canada) by the day, knowing that there are just as many idiots here who take things too seriously as there are in the States.

Congratulations world, you continue to let the terrorists win. Everytime somebody caves in to paranoia and gets people who've done nothing wrong arrested, everytime someone willingly allows their rights and freedoms to be eroded in the name of 'safety', you are conceding defeat to terrorism.

 

[NickBrahz]

America, land of the free, until you say 1 thing to another in a fit of anger that is clearly a joke, then you get your ass locked up for 3 months, maybe even 8 years, seriously, are you guys for real? next you will be having public hangings if you disagree with the government.

 

[Weaver]

I'm honestly surprised at people who seem perfectly comfortable with the idea that we now live in a "be careful what you say" society. This kid - and he is a kid - spends three months in jail and faces a longer sentence than some killers simply because we are too afraid to make a call between a genuine threat and shit-talk on the internet, and this is somehow okay?

I'm with you 100% on this, Andy.
The number of empty threats, trash talk and basically awful things said on the internet is extremely high and all of it that I've experienced has culminated to absolutely nothing. It's like this society would take "A Modest Proposal" at face value and lock up Jonathan Swift as a baby eater.

Most criminals don't advertise their crimes on Facebook prior to committing them. If the police did any actual investigation I'm sure any level headed person would conclude he's essentially harmless.

More to the point, look at the things comedians have said on stage. They can say whatever they want, even if the believe it, because it's done under the guise of comedy and entertainment. They might catch social flack, like for making a rape joke; but police don't arrest them because they're probably rapists, because they're probably not.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I'm honestly surprised at people who seem perfectly comfortable with the idea that we now live in a "be careful what you say" society. This kid - and he is a kid - spends three months in jail and faces a longer sentence than some killers simply because we are too afraid to make a call between a genuine threat and shit-talk on the internet, and this is somehow okay?

I agree with this. It is getting pretty out of hand. Everyone is a terrorist now. Be nice or go to jail.

 

[DugMachine]

Just wow. The kid is an idiot for saying such a thing don't get me wrong but 8 fucking years?! I really hope he isn't locked up for that long. If he has no history of violence or any evidence pointing toward him actually going through with an attack why would you keep him locked up?

18 yes it's technically an adult but you're practically still a kid. A really dumb and arrogant kid who makes mistakes. Fucking hell, I wish the law would use common sense sometimes.

 

[Frostbite3789]

I'm confused with the inclusion of League of Legends in this article. From what I gather, he was using Facebook whilst playing a league match? I'm not going to get into how much that bother's me in the first place, but instead it seems to be irrelevant. I don't recognize the name of the player, and they don't mention any affiliation he might have, so it seems that he's just happens to play. Also, if an opponent messages you on Facebook, wouldn't they have to actually know you on Facebook? If the actual conversation was shown, instead of an except, maybe I wouldn't be so confused.

Simple, page views. LoL is popular. If this was just an article about reckless speech, nobody would care. I mean, The Escapist does this a lot. Like all the time. Like the article about the PS4 requiring PS+ for online play.