The Father of Computer Science is Still a Criminal

[weirdee]

I prefer not to jump to conclusions in such matters...

Regardless, the situation should probably lay where it stands, as we know the cruelty that occurred, justified or not, and hold no judgement of him; at least, none that actually matters.

 

[cobra_ky]

Exactly.

Why else would they deny this man an absolution of his 'crimes'? They waited till he was done with his work, then charged him a lesser sentence, and even let him choose his punishment. Who else, but a man with with great ideas for their progress, would they let decide his own fate after the fact? Is it sp crazy to think the powers that be can hide things because they want a result?

Yes. Yes, it's pretty crazy to think that the House of Lords today refused to pardon him because they are guarding the secret coverup of the crimes Alan Turing supposedly committed 50 years ago. Never mind that if they actually wanted to cover it up that badly, they simply could have granted the pardon and not lent any credence to your conspiracy theory. I'm sure you could then twist some other event in order to support the conclusion you've already reached.

I have no inside knowledge about what happened, but this just makes more sense than 'The House of Lords are just bitter homophobes'.

Idk, I think that makes an awful lot of sense considering the very law he was convicted under was itself bitterly homophobic.

 

[Awexsome]

I very much agree with the decision on this. Nobody thinks that his crime and punishment was fair nowadays except for the very backwards kind of thinkers. It's not standing because he's a criminal, it's standing because it's history.

History is history, good or bad. Trying to alter it isn't the way to go even for the best of intentions. We need it to learn from it.

 

[The Wooster]

Then why do they not pardon him, if not for the fact that there may be something they don't want to admit that he was guilty of? Is it so crazy to think that they have knowledge they would rather not release to the public?

EDIT: Was there ever a massive amount of people given the choice between prison and chemical castration that I am not aware of? Pertaining to being a homosexual I mean.

In the UK it was offered as a "treatment" for homosexuality. People ofted for it to reduce their sentences, in the same way you might get a lesser sentence for drunk driving if you agree to go to rehab.

 

[cobra_ky]

But taking Prime Minster Gordon Brown's word of apology, even though he (The Prime Minister) was only a year old at the time of Turings sentencing, makes him deserving of absolution?

Yeah...

Uh, no, the presumption of innocence does.

And who cares how old Brown was at the time? Were you even alive then?

Exactly.

Why else would they deny this man an absolution of his 'crimes'? They waited till he was done with his work, then charged him a lesser sentence, and even let him choose his punishment. Who else, but a man with with great ideas for their progress, would they let decide his own fate after the fact? Is it sp crazy to think the powers that be can hide things because they want a result?

Yes. Yes, it's pretty crazy to think that the House of Lords today refused to pardon him because they are guarding the secret coverup of the crimes Alan Turing supposedly committed 50 years ago. Never mind that if they actually wanted to cover it up that badly, they simply could have granted the pardon and not lent any credence to your conspiracy theory. I'm sure you could then twist some other event in order to support the conclusion you've already reached.

I have no inside knowledge about what happened, but this just makes more sense than 'The House of Lords are just bitter homophobes'.

Idk, I think that makes an awful lot of sense considering the very law he was convicted under was itself bitterly homophobic.

Then why do they not pardon him, if not for the fact that there may be something they don't want to admit that he was guilty of?

Because they're stuffy jerks who don't want to admit the state was wrong to chemical castrate one of their greatest heroes and drive him to suicide? I think they'd be more likely to cover the ass of their predecessors than a supposed child molester, in which case i remind you that if they actually wanted to cover for him they would have granted the pardon.

 

[Monkeyman O'Brien]

They made the right call. No matter his contributions to society he was still guilty of a criminal offence. It does not matter one bit what we think of the laws back then. So it is only right that he stay a criminal.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Hmmm, as much as it would seem like "He deserves a posthumous pardon"; I think preserving the historical context is good. We need to know about the horrors and stupidity of our past if we are to repeat them more effectively move forward without falling into the same patterns.

[sub][sub]That last part was a joke, I in no way advocate the repression of people regardless of their race or sexuality. What happened then was wrong but a symbolic pardon now would change little.[/sub][/sub]

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

They made the right call. No matter his contributions to society he was still guilty of a criminal offence. It does not matter one bit what we think of the laws back then. So it is only right that he stay a criminal.

What a progressive attitude you have there, sir.

OT: This kind of deference to upholding old laws for the sake of avoiding revisionist history is a gross logical fallacy. Granting someone a pardon for acts which are now decriminalised will not change the fact that the history books record his treatment, and curious minds will wonder how a society could imprison such a great man over something we have now come to accept as an innate human right. Imagine if the South African government had pulled this kind of shit when they overturned the ban on the ANC. "Yes, it is no longer a prohibited organisation, but pardoning Nelson Mandela would seek to rewrite history. We prefer that he stays in prison as a living reminder of the grim times we used to live in."

Because that's basically what they're stating here. Let's just imagine Alan Turing was alive for a moment: how many of you would be against him being pardoned then?

 

[Terramax]

They made the right call. No matter his contributions to society he was still guilty of a criminal offence. It does not matter one bit what we think of the laws back then. So it is only right that he stay a criminal.

To me, this sounds like if present day Germany didn't pardon the Jewish whom died in the Second World War, because then it was considered illegal/ immoral to be Jewish, and they knew they were committing an offense by preaching to that religion.

Or people persecuted in America for believing in communist ideologies during the cold war era.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Illegal isn't the same as immoral. Turing didn't do anything immoral. He was persecuted simply because his beliefs were different to that of the British aristocracy at the time. His persecution was nothing less than rascism. The ultimate irony being that he helped fight again rascism in another country.

 

[Fat Hippo]

"A posthumous pardon was not considered appropriate as Alan Turing was properly convicted of what at the time was a criminal offense. He would have known that his offense was against the law and that he would be prosecuted."

Oh Turing, should've stopped being gay there, old chap! Bloody stupid of you, remaining a fag when you knew they'd stick in you jail for it. Oh well, who wants biscuits and tea?

 

[Knight Templar]

@Sober Thal
Do you have anything to support this conspiracy theory of yours at all? I'm asking for evidence here not more of your musings.

"A posthumous pardon was not considered appropriate as Alan Turing was properly convicted of what at the time was a criminal offense. He would have known that his offense was against the law and that he would be prosecuted."

Oh Turing, should've stopped being gay there, old chap! Bloody stupid of you, remaining a fag when you knew they'd stick in you jail for it. Oh well, who wants biscuits and tea?

I read that and thought "Good job boys, keep digging that there hole". I mean do they really think thats going to do anything to help them avoid looking like antediluvian fools?