A fun little exercise

[TheRedMan]

Do the following:

Ask yourself: If the government decided to <I>detain</I> me, as we now say in a nice manner, what could they tell the media to make me look evil?

Rules:
1. You are not allowed to say anything false. I know the government can, but if we start exagerrating, this gets out of hand in a hurry.
2. Posting on DU is assumed, and you don't need to list it.

The point of this is to address those who don't worry about the infringement of civil liberties because it doesn't affect them, because they don't do anything wrong. My point is you don't HAVE to do anything wrong, it can still nail you.

For instance, this is me:

Well, I'm a research engineer. I possess and control a lot of chemical used in making bombs (I have made several pyrotechnic devices in the normal course of my job), I have ordered several chemical precursors to methamphetamines (and this is documented with the FBI, as they are controlled substances) that I used in the synthesis of polymers. I have blueprints to several major military platforms, and maps to many military bases in this country, also through the course of my regular job.

Outside of my job, I have built a range of launching devices for explosives (potato guns, trebuchets, and the like), engaged in a host of gambling activities (ran pub poker tournaments) with possible connections to organized crime (the guy that owned the company was Italian).

And, at no point in time have I exagerrated any aspect of my life, or lied. If you assume that whoever leaks to the media is tolerant of embellishment of falsifying, you can have a really good time.

[craychek]

1. wow

that's actually an eye openner... Good job on this one =D

[BlueEyedSon]

2. And you can bet the first targets of the NSA spying was the congressmen

that might possibly investigate it.

[sui generis]

3. heh

edited because I lost temporarily lost my mind. I've found it again. Please move along. Nothing to see here.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I am a Muslim

do I really need to say more? :)

I'm also an environmentalist, and have taken part in non violent environmental actions. I am a member of a peace group and a group interested in political reform. Pretty dangerous character, wouldn't you say?

[Earth_First]

5. Seems to me that if I were the OP or reply #3...

I wouldn't feel comfortable divulging this sort of information publicly...

Interesting tales, however!

[sui generis]

6. yeah, I realized I'd said something stupid

too much coffee: sometimes silence is the better part of valor here. Now I just hope google didn't crawl it.

[TheRedMan]

9. Well, I've already been investigated out the yin-yang

I have several security clearances, so I pretty much assume I have been investigated pretty thoroughly. Plus, I am registered with the FBI as an authorized buyer of some of those chemicals I mentioned.

But, it is still a useful thought experiment. For instance, now I can sprinkle in my history of foreign travel (to Germany, no less) and my taking karate into "trained self as Neo-Nazi operative."

[sui generis]

10. I thought the baked potato franchise cover was excellent

if I say so myself. Order up a spud for the evening. Sometimes I crack me up.

:rofl:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=48950&mesg_id=49816

[AnneD]

12. was that spud

or scud. I'll take 2 all the way please;)

[Vanje]

7. Code-named, "The Red Man"......

Code-named, "THe Red Man", the suspect was known to have made explosive devises, and has a history of possesing other unconventional weapons. During securing of his premises,bomb-making materials were found, as well as detailed maps and blueprints to major military bases. There was also strong evidence of involvement in trade of controlled substances for production and sale of methamphetamine drugs.
"The RedMan" funded his activities through connections with illicit gambling.

[sui generis]

8. also funded activities as a

Messieur of a high end international male prostitution ring cleverly disguised as a fast food baked potato operation.

Clients would call and order a "spud" for the evening.

}(

edited to add: ba doom tish!

[AnneD]

11. Dang,

I am a real threat.
Terrorist materials...maps of cities and countries, farmers almanacs, etc
Bomb making...have material available,fertalizer, lighter fluid.
Weapons construction...trebuchets, LAWs (taped alum. cans to shoot off tennis balls) etc and knowlege of chemistry and physics and Al'Gebra, and Biology and Microbio.
Medical knowlege...Nurse, anatomical info, drug knowlege.
Suspicious travel...hubby a touring musician, frequent trips to Europe and India with suspicious stopovers in Mid East countries.
Suspicious associates and business dealings...hubby frequently preforms for Moslem weddings and I get to eat free. Has been know to attend Peace rallies, was at Cindy Sheehan's Camp Casey.
Military experience... was in psychological warfare operations unit. Qualified sharpshooter, grenade tosser.
Gee...am I ever SCREWED.

[sweetheart]

13. swiftboating only works if you're famous

I have no public repuation to protect, and am open to every allegation in the
universe, though i have committed no crime (discounting cannabis prohibition and
some speeding now and again).

But there is no bottom to the swiftboating chasm. The bottom is only probed by
the depth of hte hatred of hte opposition... pretty deep that... but i'm a ghost
on the web, and what is a reputation to an anonymous ID.

I am a buddhist. I've been in several countries conincidentally when major
changes have happened. Every day i was in russia, the currency plumeted its
full limit in 98. Right after i left mexico in 94, the peso collapsed. Not
long after leaving korea, the korean won collapsed. In kashmir in 88, zia al-haq
was killed whilst i was in srinigar and ever since then an intensive civil war
has killed 10's of thousands. In nepal 96, i had some trouble with maoist thugs
in pokhara, that since have come to be quite the problem since. So, since i've
passport tracks to what could be CIA actions, i could be framed as a CIA operative,
that has helped to initiate overthrow of power in several countries instead
of using overt war.

Heck, they could make up anything if they wanted to swiftboat bad enough. I've
not lived my life to defend myself from such accusations, nor have i ever been
party to such evil shit... i feel rather an accidental witness, who was lucky
to not be killed in 9/11 with my other collegues in the banking/finance community.

I think the best protection from such public defamation is to
live in a place where that is illegal... it is illegal here.

[linazelle]

14. Hmmmm.... I frequent a far left internet site called DU where known

kooks lurk. :sarcasm:

I have made derogatory remarks about the "pResident." That should get me a year or two dentention.