jfc

If this explosion in Texas is what it appears to be (a tragic accident), let's have everyone take their comments to the OOT thread on the subject. If there are substantial political implications (it was actually a terrorist attack, government something something, etc.) then we can start a new thread for it, but let's leave this one for Boston.

Thanks Wookie.

After reading stuff on Reddit/4Chan/Facebook/Twitter/etc tonight, I am much more in the camp that the internet should stay out of the identification side of this. For example, it now appears that those two guys that were linked to before are likely innocent (reports are that they found one of the dude's Facebook page, idiots reposted it, and the guy wrote a message on FB freaking out and saying he would go down to the courthouse to clear his name).

Media outlets have also picked up on some of the people speculated about on 4Chan/Reddit and they are confusing the story even more. I've seen other just horrible posts on Facebook and Twitter to the effect of "this is the bomber!!! do you know this man?!?!"

Some really irresponsible stuff out there.

I can already hear religious nutjobs proclaiming that now, finally, the apocalypse is coming.

it's been an weird week.

Speed bump on the way to a brave new world. Everyone is a: photographer, filmmaker, journalist, commentator, and soon everyone will be a detective. Don't ask me if this is a good thing cause I don't know.

So if the cops really have caught the bombers, what kind of charges will they be facing? A little Google research reveals capital punishment is illegal in Massachusetts, but will they be charged under federal anti-terrorism laws or something?

There are a bunch of federal charges whoever did this will face, specifically things like 'Detonating a weapon of mass destruction'.

Amateurs pretending to be professionals almost never leads to something good....

Susan Candiotti on CNN saying the guys in the pics being circulated by the Feds have a black backpack and a duffel bag. She said she has seen the photos. The description of the bags fit the description of the guys mentioned in the Reddit pics.

Really don't know what to believe coming from the Media right now considering everything.

I have never read, or had even heard of, the NY Post prior to reading this thread, but given what I know about them from you guys, them running a story about the reddit images, pretty much is acquitting the two guys right there on the spot.

One way or another the people who worked the UB/AP fiasco from 2p2 were poker professionals. They were very good at what they did... This differentiates them from random people on Reddit. Also they weren't investigating a terrorist attack.

Holy crap the picture of the apartment building is insane how close was it to the plant, I would have assumed any sort of fertilizer plant/refinery/other risky factory would usually have a bit of a buffer area around it?

Sums it up perfectly.

I'm in the camp that these forums hit it out of the park. I see nothing wrong with pondering the "ifs". When you see these long threads on reputable forums, 99 times out of 100 they reach the truth. Look at all the hustles and scams "some very complex" this forum busts wide open until the truth is reached.

I also think this type of event is so rare that we shouldn't even bother pondering whether it should be allowed or whether it's irresponsible.

There is a pretty big difference between issues like "I think 2 guys colluded on a poker site" which very few in the real world cares about, and a terrorist attack that gets the full attention from the authorities.

The police have access to all the pictures from Boston and a lot of additional information so they probably don't need that investigative help, so the 4chan detective squad does no good in solving the crime but can easily create a whole lot of trouble for people who gets unfairly singled out just because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

someone explain what the point of this is?

http://www.wfaa.com/news/slideshows/...allery=y&img=3

Security Theater

Maybe investigating on behalf of any Brit citizen affected by the blast?

Nobody should use reedit ever.. It makes normal people think you might be a moran.

Internet Comes Up With 8.5 Million Leads On Potential Boston Bombing Suspect

So what is the recourse against the NY Post if they ID'd the wrong suspects on their front page today?

Basically nothing. Their 'anonymous sources' said the guys were 'suspected'; given that the FBI maybe have even glanced at their picture in some capacity at some point, going to the extent of proving libel that the guys were never suspected would be incredibly difficult.

They could face consequences from the rabid right-wing tabloid newspaper audience hurting their circulation by not buying papers, since putting incredibly spurious reports on their front pages framing Arab-ish looking guys as guilty with very little evidence might have that kind of effect for normal consumers of news, but I mean, that's a feature to the NY Post audience, not a bug.

LOL Reddit, LOL media

http://www.reddit.com/r/findbostonbo...aimed_the_fbi/

Better article that says the same thing:

http://gawker.com/5994955/

On his Facebook page, the kid said he went down to the authorities to clear his name - nice work internet/right wing tabloids! Some high school runner has to go clear his name with the cops and get defamed by the Post for being Arab looking and holding a bag.