Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Do you really believe that?

Or maybe you don't really care about the truth of it, but find it convenient for your career and peace of mind to just go along with whatever his torturers say?



There would have to be a lot of conspirators involved, that first decided to plant child pornography on this guy's encrypted hard disks and his laptop, and then somehow coerced him into defending himself with the proclamation that it's a 'victimless crime'.

Given how unlikely this is, it's almost certainly the case that he is a pedophile who has trafficked in child pornography with other pedophiles. I don't know about you, but my sympathy level for such people is approximately zero.


No, it would not. Odds are there is something on your hard disk right now that could be classified as child porn, if the accuser was motivated enough.

And imagine you wouldn't get to defend yourself, and no one would speak up and say "Hey come on, obviously that's not remotely CSAM" because they hated you for being a "traitor".

It doesn't take a conspiracy at all, all it takes is a handful of people willing to say "So what, I don't care what happens to such people". Which, you'll notice, is what you're saying right now.


> No, it would not. Odds are there is something on your hard disk right now that could be classified as child porn, if the accuser was motivated enough.

Speak for yourself, there's absolutely nothing in my files that could even marginally be classified as child pornography. I would think this is the same for most people.

With this guy, investigators found hundreds of thousands of photos and videos of child sexual abuse on his disks. And then he tried to defend himself by claiming it's a victimless crime.

I know people like a good conspiracy theory, especially if it involves the government, but this isn't it.


> Speak for yourself, there's absolutely nothing in my files that could even marginally be classified as child pornography. I would think this is the same for most people.

Apparently there's some in the bitcoin blockchain. Never went looking for it personally, but I assume it's encoded the same way as the image of the bitcoin logo in there.


> there's absolutely nothing in my files that could even marginally be classified as child pornography

You're going to run into your Cardinal Richelieu one day, person who signed up to HN two hours ago in order to defend the honour of the CIA.


Announcing what you desire to be true does not make it true.


No, sure. Maybe the CIA won't betray you. I mean, they gain people's trust in order to betray it all the time - that's what spies do - but maybe your trust in them won't be betrayed.


>Odds are there is something on your hard disk right now that could be classified as child porn, if the accuser was motivated enough.

This sounds like projection.

Not everyone blunders through life with a massive stash of questionable pornography.

The criteria for determining what is and is not child pornography are quite clear: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2252A


It does sound like projection. Your link comes down to depiction of “a minor”. How does one prove an image is an 18 year old, even if they are, and not 1 day younger? It’s unquestionable for children but not so clear near the age of 18. I think that is the point of the poster, that it’s really not clear on all porn what age the people are. Even with disclaimers they could be lies.


>How does one prove an image is an 18 year old, even if they are, and not 1 day younger?

That's up to the jury. I'll defer to their judgement and in the absence of additional information (information neither of us possesses) that is the only reasonable position to take.


No, it's not my point. Point is, these are all just accusations from people who think lying about and murdering the people they hate is fine. You're still taking a lot of the torturers claims as true, just on their word.


My position on the claims of the torturers is unknown to you.

My position on the findings of the various juries involved in the various trials is that I should defer to their analysis of the evidence-- and that is the only reasonable position to take in the absence of more information, information neither of us has.


Please be aware that some of us actually don't amass piles of erotica in our alone time, as if some sort of pornsick squirrel.

The most reliable way of not getting caught out storing dodgy images on your computer is to not procure them in the first place.

And, it's better for keeping a healthy and well-adjusted attitude towards sexual desire, rather than being trained on whatever pornographers want to you see. From an ethical point of view, not being complicit in the sexual abuse that is so rife in the porn industry is also a big plus.


Have you been to any art museums?

Holy cow did previous generations / civilizations love to collect lewd sculptures and paintings.


> Schulte referred to the child pornography he was accused of possessing as a "victimless crime"

Whilst im sceptical of these charges, this doesn't really help his case.

Certainly sounds like he is just admitting he has it.


You're quoting the Wikipedia page, it looks like. Do you think Schulte's former employer is too noble to have people working to "advance their perspectives" on Wikipedia?

For all we know the images are stick figures. For all we know they just made up that he said that. It is exceedingly easy to manufacture something like this, when you control all the sources of information.

If you ever wondered how some people in the west could stay Stalinist after his show trials of dissidents, look in the mirror.


No need to invent a shadowy conspiracy theory here.

Some people really are just unrepentant pedophiles, and based on his own words, this guy is one of them.


"No need to invent a shady conspiracy theory here"?

You are aware we're talking about the CIA here? I'm supposed to believe it's unreasonable to think CIA people would smear a guy they personally and collectively hate?


Okay, so, where is your evidence of this?


Much like a fresh account created to defend the CIA's honour, the CIA does not get the benefit of doubt that they would NOT lie to hurt a guy they hate.


No evidence to offer? Not even a scrap? Thought not. Shadowy conspiracy theory it is then.


For all we know, Schulte doesn't exist and the whole thing is Russian psyops.


Tinfoil hat type of retorts is not what I expect to read on HN


Well excuse me for suggesting that this guy's employer, whose mission includes lying, betraying and killing people, might not be scrupulously fair in this issue.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: