Julian Assange, Opinion of,

[Filuwaúrdjan]

And that was just one charge out of four:

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I think there's a danger of reading our own views about Assange and the wikileaks project into this; while it is certain that the allegations are being treated as seriously as they are because of wikileaks, that doesn't mean that they must automatically be untrue. Equally those who believe that the wikileaks project is a dreadful thing should avoid assuming guilt. We've really nothing to go on other than our prejudices.

[courts]

I'm going to assume he's the real deal and say freedom fighter.

[Earth]

I think there's a danger of reading our own views about Assange and the wikileaks project into this; while it is certain that the allegations are being treated as seriously as they are because of wikileaks, that doesn't mean that they must automatically be untrue. Equally those who believe that the wikileaks project is a dreadful thing should avoid assuming guilt. We've really nothing to go on other than our prejudices.

The danger is to focus on intently on Assange, at all. He's not the information, nor the leaker, nor should he be the focal point. Rape is irrelevant to what we should be focusing on, but it ultimately impacts, obviously, on his future moves. If it does turn out to be an actual rape case, and not some idiotic, politically opportune story, then the best we can hope for is wikileaks moving on without him.

[Earth]

Re: Rape and being an FF
So respect for people's rights now counts as fascism? I hadn't heard. Someone obviously isn't defending freedom if they're violating someone's rights.

It's really funny you think defending freedom excludes the necessary part of violating someone's right, no matter how small it is.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I separate the two... the sexual assault charges are being brought have NOTHING to do with the wikileaks story (of course Opebo thinks otherwise no doubt).

On the wikileaks front, I don't think he's committed a crime - he's an attention-seeking agitant, but that's not a crime.

The issue of consent in sex is a HUGE deal... if he in any way did anything that voided consent... then it's sexual assault...

[??????????]

I separate the two... the sexual assault charges are being brought have NOTHING to do with the wikileaks story (of course Opebo thinks otherwise no doubt).

No, he was set up, the stories are connected.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

the likely effect of the wikileaks will be a reaction toward less transparency as well as less sharing of information that could thwart terrorism. this seems to even be a part of Assange's strange theories of how to bring down American power.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

I don't care much of Assange, don't have a particular opinion of him. And for the charges, well may he be condemned to something if he actually committed something wrong about that, not me to judge on that either.

Yeah, the problem is that the sources of our information globally need a sense of security and anonymity. If we cannot provide that, then people will simply stop talking to us.  When are sources of intel dry up- things go boom. 

Yeah, and that's what Wikileaks just showed, that you (and other govts as well, France was concerned too), that you and others were not able to protect some secrets, too bad for you, and others.

Again, people seem to be conflating "Julian Assange" and "Wikileaks."  Wikileaks does not need Julian Assange to function, and will continue leaking on a regular basis with or without him.  Saying that "he" is putting people at risk or whatever is kind of silly, especially for this batch of leaks, which are all diplomatic cables, many of which are years out of date, and are just interesting primary source documents more than anything else.  They might have had an argument about the Iraq/Afghanistan leaks six months ago, but no one cared about those for whatever reason.

I frankly don't care about one way or another about Mr. Assange, but I support Wikileaks, and I seriously hope that the government isn't stupid enough to think that they'll somehow shut down just by taking down Assange.

Yes, indeed, and it's not even only about the 'Wikileaks Project', it's about the 'Internet Project', it's about 'Internet Citizens', 'Internet Reality'. That's why focusing on Assange really is a petty, not to say possibly grotesque especially if some of those sexual things are twisted or blown over to make fall this guy, thing, not to say totally counter-productive too. You cut 1 head and 2 can grow back. After terrorism USA really have troubles correctly handling their problems apparently...

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Well, considering he has the most talked about penis on the planet, maybe that automatically makes him an FF?

[J. J.]

I have a very low opinion Assange.  I think he is doing things that put both American interests and American lives in danger.  That is not a prosecutable offense, from everything I've seen.

[opebo]

I have a very low opinion Assange.  I think he is doing things that put both American interests and American lives in danger. 

That's precisely what's so great about him.  America is engaged in aggression, genocide, exploitation, torture, and murder in order to further aggrandize a parasitic class who happen to be a worse enemy to the poors whose lives are on the line than Julian Assange.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Oh, and, about the guy himself, definitely has a romanesque life. Sometimes I really had the feeling it was like in a movie.

[opebo]

Oh, and, about the guy himself, definitely has a romanesque life. Sometimes I really had the feeling it was like in a movie.

Yes, fighting a horrible fascism with unbelievable bravery, while finding time to be insouciant, condescending, and a successful cream-pie man.  If I didn't already have a hero (Max Hardcore), Julian would be my new one!

[The Mikado]

Good Lord, opebo, shrink your signature image.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Oh, and, about the guy himself, definitely has a romanesque life. Sometimes I really had the feeling it was like in a movie.

I'd say a movie about Assange/WikiLeaks is inevitable anyway. I'm just wondering how the movie-makers are gonna avoid comparions with The Social Network though.

In any case, it will probably best to let some time pass first... just to see how the rape/espionage (?) will play out.

[opebo]

Good Lord, opebo, shrink your signature image.

Ha ha, I wondered if anyone noticed that.  It took me about 20 minutes to figure out to change the image size.

[Oakvale]

 don't think much of him, really - he's clearly something of a meglomaniac with a personality that rivals Nixon's - read the New York Times profile - and his absurd sense of self-dramatisation is a little much. And this is without mentioning the alleged rape stuff.

I voted HP.

[Storebought]

I wonder: If the people voting for Assange as a "freedom fighter" would do the same if his name were instead "Matt Drudge"?

[Earth]

Would Drudge even care to do what Assange has done? He would if he could successfully blackmail the globe.

[opebo]

I wonder: If the people voting for Assange as a "freedom fighter" would do the same if his name were instead "Matt Drudge"?

Good lord man, can't you see the difference?  Assange is about to be disappeared and tortured by a vast, all-powerful fascism, while Drudge serves that fascism.

[Lunar]

I am also skeptical of the rape charges, for reasons that Nate Silver outlines here:
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/15/a-bayesian-take-on-julian-assange/

Opebo, you've gone over the top in this thread.  Extremely misogynistic comments are out of line, just like extremely racist ones.  Things like [this isn't an exact quote] "The **** deserved it!" are ridiculous.  As are personal attacks on other posters' sexuality.

Cool it brah.  

-The Police State

[Gustaf]

I think some of Silver's points are pretty off-base to be honest.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I must have been reading a different thread  Mein Lunar, cause I didn't see that.