trumpet-205 said:Our founding father (US) wanted a transparent government, a government that does not withhold information.
You mean like Benjamin Franklin, our first spy?
I doubt he was particularly forthcoming with all of his information.
trumpet-205 said:Our founding father (US) wanted a transparent government, a government that does not withhold information.
trumpet-205 said:Our founding father (US) wanted a transparent government, a government that does not withhold information.
Searinox said:I love them. I absolutely love them like I do few things in life. If I had money I'd donate to them. If they forshamed me someday and I'd still support them. I believe them to be one of the most powerful democratic forces in history! I fully support everything they've done and I do not believe to date ONE person was jeopardized, injured, or killed from the documents they've released. They're as damn close as they can get to being my heroes!
TrolleyDave said:Searinox said:I love them. I absolutely love them like I do few things in life. If I had money I'd donate to them. If they forshamed me someday and I'd still support them. I believe them to be one of the most powerful democratic forces in history! I fully support everything they've done and I do not believe to date ONE person was jeopardized, injured, or killed from the documents they've released. They're as damn close as they can get to being my heroes!
Completely and utterly agree with everything you've said here. The people running Wikileaks deserve awards for preserving free speech. Free speech is the right to tell the truth unhindered by prosecution or persecution. All this people these days who argue that free speech is the right to say what ever they want don't actually understand or appreciate the history of free speech. Wikileaks is a shining example of what free speech is. Always remember, you can't be a supporter of free speech until someone tells a truth that you don't like and you still argue their right to say it.
Absolute worse case scenario. However, even less sensitive leaks can have potentially similar consequences.monkat said:TrolleyDave said:Searinox said:I love them. I absolutely love them like I do few things in life. If I had money I'd donate to them. If they forshamed me someday and I'd still support them. I believe them to be one of the most powerful democratic forces in history! I fully support everything they've done and I do not believe to date ONE person was jeopardized, injured, or killed from the documents they've released. They're as damn close as they can get to being my heroes!
Completely and utterly agree with everything you've said here. The people running Wikileaks deserve awards for preserving free speech. Free speech is the right to tell the truth unhindered by prosecution or persecution. All this people these days who argue that free speech is the right to say what ever they want don't actually understand or appreciate the history of free speech. Wikileaks is a shining example of what free speech is. Always remember, you can't be a supporter of free speech until someone tells a truth that you don't like and you still argue their right to say it.
Absolutely, you're correct.
While I don't think much of anything released was of any importance, bad as though it may have been, there is a difference between having the right to do something, and whether or not you should be doing something.
Imagine the information was more like, "The U.N.'s forces weapons can be turned off with this noise!" (ridiculous, but regardless...). Potentially millions would die because of your right to do something. With every right comes a responsibility, not only to use it, but to use it wisely.
monkat said:Absolutely, you're correct.
While I don't think much of anything released was of any importance, bad as though it may have been, there is a difference between having the right to do something, and whether or not you should be doing something.
Imagine the information was more like, "The U.N.'s forces weapons can be turned off with this noise!" (ridiculous, but regardless...). Potentially millions would die because of your right to do something. With every right comes a responsibility, not only to use it, but to use it wisely.
I heard a little bit ago that if they are shutdown, they have way more sensitive documents that have been encrypted and distributed with their normally downloaded files. All they have to do is release the password. I honestly have no qualm with the release of with held information, but as Monkat has said, there is a difference between the right information being released, and information that has deadly consequences for everyone. WikiLeaks has to draw the line, but where will the line be drawn.TrolleyDave said:monkat said:Absolutely, you're correct.
While I don't think much of anything released was of any importance, bad as though it may have been, there is a difference between having the right to do something, and whether or not you should be doing something.
Imagine the information was more like, "The U.N.'s forces weapons can be turned off with this noise!" (ridiculous, but regardless...). Potentially millions would die because of your right to do something. With every right comes a responsibility, not only to use it, but to use it wisely.
Totally agree that there's a difference between a right and what's right. I've been saying for a long time now that people are more concerned with protecting someones right to do something than whether it's right or not. However, in the case of Wikileaks discretion has been used when releasing stuff. If you go back through past interviews you'll see that they've been given information where the release of it could put real people in real jeopardy and have declined it's publication. They are using their right responsibly so deserve to be supported. The American government are showing their fascist colours over the site by declaring him a terrorist, it's a real "toe the party line" ideology.
Sterl500 said:I heard a little bit ago that if they are shutdown, they have way more sensitive documents that have been encrypted and distributed with their normally downloaded files. All they have to do is release the password. I honestly have no qualm with the release of with held information, but as Monkat has said, there is a difference between the right information being released, and information that has deadly consequences for everyone. WikiLeaks has to draw the line, but where will the line be drawn.