FBI raids alleged online drug market Silk Road, arrests owner

[ro4eva]

I don't think anything will change until something like 75% of the world demands change. I can't see that happening in a lifetime or two.

When Lincoln was POTUS, much of his cabinet advised him against pursuing what is now the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution (the abolishment of slavery), and it was expected that the House of Representatives - given the circumstances at the time - would never majority-vote in favor of such a radical change in policy. Yet it eventually came to pass.

Unfortunately for African-Americans, the transition hasn't been easy as it's obvious even today that racism continues to run rampant. The adjustment from being considered a commodity to be bought, sold and traded to having - at least on paper - the same rights as Caucasians has been difficult (to put it rather lightly).

Similarly, I believe that we (recreational drug users) too shall witness and endure a period of transition and adjustment when drugs will be decriminalized, then made legal and regulated. I feel it's not a question of "if," but rather "when."

If you ever bother reading the comments left by readers of an article regarding (for example) the death of a young adult who decided to try some (adulterated) ecstasy at a rave, you will no doubt notice how hate-filled some of those reader opinions are towards drug (ab)users. In my experience, most comments amount to the following: "The scumbag deserved it."

One day, when I'll be able to legally open my own modernized opium den, one thing I expect to be dealing with on a daily basis will be the same haters who leave the comments you and I read below an article such as the aforementioned example above.

The transition won't be easy, but I'll be damned if they get the better of me, or if they begin preaching to my customers.

 

[StoneHappyMonday]

When Lincoln was POTUS, much of his cabinet advised him against pursuing what is now the Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution (the abolishment of slavery), and it was expected that the House of Representatives - given the circumstances at the time - would never majority-vote in favor of such a radical change in policy. Yet it eventually came to pass.

Unfortunately for African-Americans, the transition hasn't been easy as it's obvious even today that racism continues to run rampant. The adjustment from being considered a commodity to be bought, sold and traded to having - at least on paper - the same rights as Caucasians has been difficult (to put it rather lightly).

Similarly, I believe that we (recreational drug users) too shall witness and endure a period of transition and adjustment when drugs will be decriminalized, then made legal and regulated. I feel it's not a question of "if," but rather "when."

Nice analogy, nice thoughts...but re the bit in bold...that's been nearly 200 years now...good luck with that modernized opium den in your lifetime.

 

[ro4eva]

^^ Sounds like a pipe dream doesn't it? What if I told you it's already open, but not to the public? I must be bullshitting

 

[velmwend]

Ulbricht has been interviewed for the first time, and he says that he hasn't received any mail from supporters yet. It was suggested that he be sent some letters of encouragement. Someone even suggested starting the letter with --BEGIN PGP BLOCK -- I wonder whether he'd find that funny, and I was also wondering whether Fleshlights are permitted in jail? :-/

 

[RTrain]

So I can't help but wonder in the event they go after sellers how charges will hold up if they do not actually find any product? This would particularly stand true for if they go after buyers, too. Will they have a solid case against the sellers/buyers just with the internet records, but no physical evidence of the actual product?

I suppose they didn't need to find any physical product in the possession of Ulbricht to knock him up on enough drug charges to spend the rest of his life in the can.

Ulbricht has been interviewed for the first time, and he says that he hasn't received any mail from supporters yet. It was suggested that he be sent some letters of encouragement. Someone even suggested starting the letter with --BEGIN PGP BLOCK -- I wonder whether he'd find that funny, and I was also wondering whether Fleshlights are permitted in jail? :-/

Poor guy...not a single letter. Don't all the people who used SR remember all the good things he did for them, ungracious bastards.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Nice analogy, nice thoughts...but re the bit in bold...that's been nearly 200 years now...good luck with that modernized opium den in your lifetime.

Theoretically- and I know it'd be shutdown through some emergency legislation/powers/whatever, but as things stand right now, couldn't you setup a fully-legit den with, say, hookahs/vaporizers and be a kratom bar? I guess it depends whether you were aiming for a badass den, or just trying to mimic the bars of old. The way I read about them (the old), they hardly seem more appealing than the bar down the street from me (I'd be largely indifferent between smoking opium or having a few beers, anymore than mild opium high gives terrible hangovers IMO)

I don't think the dens of a near-future 'alternative' setup will resemble the dens of old, nor should that be desired. Addiction sucks and, unlike laudanum addicts and opium smokers of dens-past, today we have simple means to fix this (naloxone/bupe, methadone, etc) that are available to those suffering from addiction (err..sometimes available. sadly. But in an open setup it would be available, and if you know much about black dope markets you know how valuable people consider maintenance products; almost seems deplorable not to at least make those simply available with ID, but that's a bit of a tangent )

 

[Mendo_K]

Poor guy...not a single letter. Don't all the people who used SR remember all the good things he did for them, ungracious bastards.

I hardly think he wants "Dear DPR", "DPR THANKS FOR ALL THE DRUGS I GOT" etc and being convicted before his trial has even started, go ahead and write him a love letter though, you know who reads it first.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Ulbricht has been interviewed for the first time, and he says that he hasn't received any mail from supporters yet. It was suggested that he be sent some letters of encouragement. Someone even suggested starting the letter with --BEGIN PGP BLOCK -- I wonder whether he'd find that funny, and I was also wondering whether Fleshlights are permitted in jail? :-/

No way he'll get a fleshlight (are they awesome?), they have him in solitary most of the day (but that's totally keeping with fair detention practices..lol) And given the scenario it's hard to write letters- many are not too concerned with him as a person if the contract hits were real. You wouldn't be writing letters to him you'd be writing to an enigma in your head that he may not match nearly as closely as you think.

Anyone find it weird that his best friend, who denies it could be ulbricht, hasn't mentioned his friend being railroaded (if he were 100% unrelated to sr/dpr) in his (currently updated) twitter feed? Think you'd mention that...


AND a whole lotta this:

I hardly think he wants "Dear DPR", "DPR THANKS FOR ALL THE DRUGS I GOT" etc and being convicted before his trial has even started, go ahead and write him a love letter though, you know who reads it first.

Until there's a better handle on who he really is and what some more details are, it's hard to write a proper letter. There's zero doubt he's well aware of the interest in this, and an arbitrary 'keep your head up mister' would be meaningless.

 

[StoneHappyMonday]

^^ Sounds like a pipe dream doesn't it? What if I told you it's already open, but not to the public? I must be bullshitting

No, just PM me an invite.

 

[RTrain]

I hardly think he wants "Dear DPR", "DPR THANKS FOR ALL THE DRUGS I GOT" etc and being convicted before his trial has even started, go ahead and write him a love letter though, you know who reads it first.

1. its called sarcasm
2. I never used SR so I have nothing to thank him for.

 

[Jabberwocky]

2. I never used SR so I have nothing to thank him for.

while i'm not saying that you have something to thank him for, that doesn't(shouldn't?) necessarily follow from your having used the site.

I've never used SR, and am immensely thankful to whoever set it up.

 

[Si Dread]

Poor guy, if he wasn't in solitary, I'd send him a six pack of corks!

I honestly don't trust the authorities, I have many reasons for this not least the fucked up drugs laws that have inhibited my freedom all my life. I would not for one single second put it past the authorities to have falsified the shit about the hits to turn the very people who might have written Ullbricht a letter totally against him.

Who knows if DPR even exists, who knows if there is even ANYONE in prision? It's possible the authorities did nothing but shut the site & sieze the bitcoins! It really could ALL be 100% propaganda. I've bought propaganda hook, line & sinker before now, & found out later that I had been comprehensively duped by government!

"Trust no-one, believe nothing, question everything", that is the moto I have learned to live by.

 

[velmwend]

Pinnell needs to (and will have to) give detailed info about what paid work he gave to Ross when Ross first moved to SF. No mention was made of the nature of work Ross undertook when he gave up everything and moved to SF to be with his 'start-up' bud.

 

[ro4eva]

I honestly don't trust the authorities, I have many reasons for this not least the fucked up drugs laws that have inhibited my freedom all my life. I would not for one single second put it past the authorities to have falsified the shit about the hits to turn the very people who might have written Ullbricht a letter totally against him.

And IMO/IME you are right not to trust them as they have been known to plant false evidence in an attempt to incarcerate us; particularly someone whom they've been trying to burn for a while, yet, haven't been able to using conventional (legal/proper) methods. And I'm sure that several individuals are rotting in prison atm because they were framed by the very people sworn to protect the public.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Who knows if DPR even exists,

Or how many have used that handle in the same role (I just learned of where he got hte name, interesting concept!)

Would be great to know he was the 'front man' DPR working with better DPR's (the type that wouldn't make the mistake of nailing a philosophical approach most of the way, and then blundering on the most sacrosanct of its principles- that of not initiating physical force; that's of course on the premise he did order hit(s))

 

[knock]

Or how many have used that handle in the same role (I just learned of where he got hte name, interesting concept!)

Would be great to know he was the 'front man' DPR working with better DPR's (the type that wouldn't make the mistake of nailing a philosophical approach most of the way, and then blundering on the most sacrosanct of its principles- that of not initiating physical force; that's of course on the premise he did order hit(s))

What "philosophical approach"? (rhetorical question)... what use is an "approach" that relies on good intentions? People will always act in their own interest.

 

[Jabberwocky]

And IMO/IME you are right not to trust them as they have been known to plant false evidence in an attempt to incarcerate us; particularly someone whom they've been trying to burn for a while, yet, haven't been able to using conventional (legal/proper) methods. And I'm sure that several individuals are rotting in prison atm because they were framed by the very people sworn to protect the public.

I'm a law-abiding citizen 99% of the time (and the other 1% is solely in relation to drugs, namely others' drugs, when I'm somewhere that it seems safe/appropriate. I won't keep drugs in my home or on my person, or be around them in most circumstances. It's rare I can indulge in anything outside of gas-station spice, and alcohol/caffeine/nootropic-type products) That said, I avoid several spots in my local area, because of a cop who clearly has a personal grudge with me, for reasons unbeknownst to me. While he's never done anything besides blatantly harrass me- ie, I've never actually been in trouble (ever, actually) - I cannot help but to be afraid of him. I avoid him, and "his area", with an aversion I didn't experience in ghettos at nighttime (I *was* into things I shouldn't have been, in the past)
It sickens me that this is a reality for me, while I'm in this area anyways. I feel the same way about drug possession in general, in that I believe I have every right to use what I choose, but in practice it is preferable to not live in fear that I can be caged, than to enjoy the substances I want. So I drink or smoke spice, and, occasionally, rarely, end up in a random circumstance where I consider it safe to indulge in something 'prohibited' (which, more often than not, is far safer than alcohol)

I'm glad I'm no longer dependent upon a product that virtually necessitates such involvement in 'the game', because many good people are involved who don't want to be in such risky scenarios, but do not have the strength/means/whatever to quit at the moment.

/end rant. Sorry, but it was nice getting that out :/

 

[velmwend]

Ross's parents sent him a book to read. I suppose if someone sends a thick book (1000+ pages) one of the pages could be dosed in acid (?)

 

[slimvictor]

^You don't need a thick book to dose one page. I don't get it.

I've never used SR, and am immensely thankful to whoever set it up.

Same. It's all about freedom.

 

[angeleyes]

Ross's parents sent him a book to read. I suppose if someone sends a thick book (1000+ pages) one of the pages could be dosed in acid (?)

^You don't need a thick book to dose one page. I don't get it.

He means that in a massive book containing thousands of pages, no one would think to look at the 869th page on the 3rd paragraph just below the weeping willow, there's a section that will contain 9,000ug of LSD, so the almighty DPR can trip balls where no man has tripped before and figure a way out of this cataclysmic situation with the hard working individuals who mercilessly hunted him down.



/ENDSCENE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THIS WILL BE AN EXCELLENT MOVIE ONE DAY, PLS DNT TAKE MY IDEA PLS PLS MR PLS