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Simplepowa
In Pursuit of Knowledge


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 4,310
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Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press?
#18749273 - 08/23/13 10:02 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Dread Pirate Roberts a real-life libertarian hero to the drugs community, but to the law enforcement agencies he's the mastermind behind a global drugs trafficking website
Posted on Wednesday 21 August 2013 16.14 BST The Guardian
Name: Dread Pirate Roberts.
Age: Unknown.
Appearance: Unknown.
Oo, I know! I know! He's the masked, blousoned crusader of the high seas who underneath looks a lot like Cary Elwes! In The Princess Bride! It's not that one. We're talking about the owner of the two-year-old Silk Road website who has just given his first major interview to Forbes magazine.
What have pirates got to do with what is presumably an online resource for fans of ancient trade routes? Actually, Silk Road is an online black market in drugs. You pays your Bitcoin and you takes your vacuum-packed, discreetly labelled, standard US postal service-delivered choice.
Oh. Well, yes, that does make the whole thing a bit more piratical. As the fictional Dread Pirate is a persona handed down through generations, the name has excited the Silk Road community, which thinks it suggests that the current boss inherited the title from another founder and/or that he is not one man but many.
Hearing other people's drug-fuelled conspiracy theories is almost as boring as hearing about their dreams. Truly. Mr D P Roberts, however, describes himself or himselves as a radical libertarian revolutionary and a "centre of trust" for all Silk Road's otherwise decentralised operations.
What a nice way of putting it. Tell me, is the online drugs trade as lucrative as its real-life counterpart? Silk Road is estimated to have an annual revenue of $30m-$45m through its 10% commission on sales. What the profits may be on the amount of Bitcoin it has amassed – the online currency has appreciated nearly 200-fold against those moribund greenbacks – nobody knows.
Once again, I find myself in the wrong – legal, reputable – job. Dread Pirate Robert believes himself engaged in the entirely reputable – nay, noble – business of empowering citizens.
Oh yes? "The people can now control flow and distribution of information and the flow of money," he says. "Sector by sector, the state is being cut out of the equation."
I believe that is just what the average crackhead is jonesing for. And is this how US drug and law enforcement agencies feel about him too? No. They are trying to find him and shut the site down, but so far both have remained too well hidden.
Do say: "Chillax, bro."
Don't say: "It's The Wire(less broadband)!"
http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2013/aug/21/dread-pirate-roberts-silk-road
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Carl Sagan - "Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people." --- Robert Pirsig - "When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion." --- Brian Cox - "[One] problem with today’s world is that everyone believes they have the right to express their opinion AND have others listen to it. The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense."
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Futuresight
Mind Mage



Registered: 01/19/13
Posts: 1,188
Loc: The Candy Kingdom
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Simplepowa]
#18749341 - 08/23/13 10:19 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Is anyone else concerned that the minds behind Princess Bride will sue this man for copyright infringement? Like how Al Capone was caught because of his not paying taxes.
Edit: That sounded serious, I wasn't being serious.
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Ogla



Registered: 02/16/04
Posts: 11,320
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Futuresight]
#18749817 - 08/24/13 12:42 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Kudos Dead pirate roberts.
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Simplepowa] 3
#18749910 - 08/24/13 01:35 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Whoever wrote this article can eat a bag of dicks
It really irks me that so many humans are completely opposed to freedom, what is wrong with our species?
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dokunai
Cactus, Cannabis, Cubensis

Registered: 01/31/10
Posts: 1,878
Loc: Hyphal Heights, USA
Last seen: 7 years, 1 month
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Ogla]
#18749922 - 08/24/13 01:38 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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BMR, Atl, etc. are all heavily marketing. DPR is a businessman first and foremost. He didn't assume control of SR to make it a second-rate marketplace or not make money for his trouble.
I really hate how these marketplaces are becoming mainstream, because I believe it will do nothing but attract the attention of drug-war-zealot pigs. But, just like any specific set of RCs (say for example the 2C-X chems), or any specific vectors for acquiring novel intoxicants (say for example spice JWH-018 and the first gen synthetic cannabinoids), eventually these methodologies will come to the attention of law enforcement and spur the mainstream-accepted prohibitionist-zealot responses that "responsible citizens" demand from our righteous crusader drug warriors. No possible consequences, like murdering someone's grandpa and dogs, is too high of a price to pay to make sure Americans can't get fucked up, all at the behest of citizens who see nothing wrong with drinking a 12-pack of corona and smoking a pack of Marlboro cancer sticks. Because Christ loves corona and Camel 100s.
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nooneman


Registered: 04/24/09
Posts: 14,608
Loc: Utah
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Simplepowa]
#18750052 - 08/24/13 02:50 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Because he's a badass, that's why.
Terrible article.
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gulper2323
Unknown Landscape Climber



Registered: 06/17/12
Posts: 1,282
Loc:
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: nooneman]
#18750075 - 08/24/13 03:04 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Wow, what a shit article
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GrimTroll
Cultural Terrorist



Registered: 10/15/06
Posts: 1,255
Loc: Canada
Last seen: 5 days, 4 hours
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Repertoire89]
#18750101 - 08/24/13 03:18 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Repertoire89 said: Whoever wrote this article can eat a bag of dicks
It really irks me that so many humans are completely opposed to freedom, what is wrong with our species?
Ah-fuckin'-men
-------------------- Now pick me up night and whirlwind and let me ride with you to peace of mind and nothing to rebel...
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banjofraz



Registered: 04/04/13
Posts: 78
Loc: Scotland
Last seen: 5 years, 11 months
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: gulper2323] 1
#18750115 - 08/24/13 03:23 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Agreed, that was moronic
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Nature Boy
Stranger than most



Registered: 07/09/07
Posts: 8,245
Loc: Samsara
Last seen: 13 hours, 59 minutes
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Simplepowa]
#18750200 - 08/24/13 04:45 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I am a staunch libertarian. I think pretty much anybody should be allowed to do anything so long as no one else's rights are infringed.
OTOH, I think the Dread Pirate Roberts made a BIG mistake. I'm sure he was making plenty of money while simultaneously staying relatively low key. Sure, the powers that be knew of his existence, but this arrogant publicity stunt will prompt them to redouble their efforts to capture his ass and bring down the SR empire.
I've never done business with SR and never will. I know that if (when?) SR falls, there will be three more "deep web" sites that will spring up, just like what happens on local street corners. Still, if/when it happens there will be more (perhaps many more) victims of the drug war incarcerated for no particularly good reason, and maybe someone will even get killed in the raids that bring folks down, and that pisses me off.
N.B.
-------------------- All submitted posts under this user name are works of pure fiction or outright lies. Any information, statement, or assertion contained therein should be considered pure unadulterated bullshit. Note well: Sorry, but I do not answer PM's unless you are a long-time trusted friend. If you have a question, ask it in the appropriate thread.
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jtronique
Stranger



Registered: 02/22/12
Posts: 67
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Nature Boy]
#18750317 - 08/24/13 06:49 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Terrible article. Counted two "Oh"s and one "Oo." Kind of reminds me of that false bravado dance one does to try to start a fight. In the 1980s we had a word for it, "hype!"
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lessismore
Registered: 02/10/13
Posts: 6,268
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: jtronique]
#18750356 - 08/24/13 07:13 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Had it not been for SR I would probably never have found real L
had tried everywhere
Weed, Heroin no prob, Cocaine cut to 10% pure, or amphs 5% pure or so no prob at every street corner
But no L or shrooms :-) you get your ass kicked for asking about that without buying anything
the one time i found someone selling it, it was a DOx or such seller said it lasted 2 days lol, and $30 a hit initially lol
SR is pretty nicely coded and trustworthy it seems, beeen there a few times I'm sure whoever coded it are pretty good coders :-) So either they're 12, or 35 or so :-)
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Toe_Jam
Bluefoot Bandit



Registered: 04/15/10
Posts: 3,693
Loc: Around some corner...
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Simplepowa]
#18750417 - 08/24/13 07:52 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Simplepowa said: "Sector by sector, the state is being cut out of the equation."
Yeah, I'd like to see a practical application of this.

What will you do when your group is physically threatened? You'll have to create some sort of fighting group... an.... an army?
And now that you are creating the rules and have an army, doesn't that make you the state?
Not saying I enjoy our current big brother police state shit going on, but as far as "cutting out the state", that guy is an idiot.
A rose by any other name.
-------------------- God lay his finger at the Mouth of the Serpent March 1984   A pleasing land of drowsy head it was, Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye, And of gay castles in the clouds that pass, For ever flushing round a summer sky. -Castle of Indolence
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Maharishi_2_U
Opt Out Super Fag


Registered: 10/21/09
Posts: 6,316
Loc: The Streets
Last seen: 8 years, 11 months
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Toe_Jam] 1
#18750436 - 08/24/13 08:06 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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LMAO @ all of you elitist hipster kids! The man is a genius; the whole idea of the SR is to make things "mainstream". Stop trying so hard and pay respect to a man helping keep things safe and real; not everyone has a dependable substance vendor...... Be well Stay safe Love each other :-)
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Toe_Jam
Bluefoot Bandit



Registered: 04/15/10
Posts: 3,693
Loc: Around some corner...
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Maharishi_2_U]
#18750449 - 08/24/13 08:12 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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EDIT:
Forgot where I was for a second.
Nvm.
-------------------- God lay his finger at the Mouth of the Serpent March 1984   A pleasing land of drowsy head it was, Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye, And of gay castles in the clouds that pass, For ever flushing round a summer sky. -Castle of Indolence
Edited by Toe_Jam (08/24/13 08:16 AM)
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Atrium
Cunt Tickler

Registered: 08/18/13
Posts: 1,284
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Toe_Jam]
#18750687 - 08/24/13 09:26 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yeah, I'm a firm believer in SR and the competitors (won't say the name since nobody else did). I'm a psych major but I really want to go all the way to Ph.D, for multiple reasons. Anyways, I hope it still exists when I graduate. I, as well as probably a few of you, believe that things on this site are medicine which cannot be found in purity or even true form. I support this guy(s). Let 'em take the extra money. They're fleeting prosecution constantly.
-------------------- The only thing about Chemistry I like is all the psychedelics that come from it. The only reason I study Psychology is to have a legitimate excuse to enjoy Chemistry.
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lessismore
Registered: 02/10/13
Posts: 6,268
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Maharishi_2_U]
#18751183 - 08/24/13 11:53 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Maharishi_2_U said: LMAO @ all of you elitist hipster kids! The man is a genius; the whole idea of the SR is to make things "mainstream". Stop trying so hard and pay respect to a man helping keep things safe and real; not everyone has a dependable substance vendor...... Be well Stay safe Love each other :-)
I could code something like SR but I have been programming everyday for past 18 years
And I think the way they coded it is brilliant Definitely good coders
Seems programmers and sysadms like drugs too like everyone else Not only whiskey
Weed is best for coding but alcohol is good too Cant code or use pcs on Lsd
But its about more than drugs its about freedom
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Nature Boy]
#18751833 - 08/24/13 02:36 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Nature Boy said: I am a staunch libertarian. I think pretty much anybody should be allowed to do anything so long as no one else's rights are infringed.
OTOH, I think the Dread Pirate Roberts made a BIG mistake. I'm sure he was making plenty of money while simultaneously staying relatively low key. Sure, the powers that be knew of his existence, but this arrogant publicity stunt will prompt them to redouble their efforts to capture his ass and bring down the SR empire.
I've never done business with SR and never will. I know that if (when?) SR falls, there will be three more "deep web" sites that will spring up, just like what happens on local street corners. Still, if/when it happens there will be more (perhaps many more) victims of the drug war incarcerated for no particularly good reason, and maybe someone will even get killed in the raids that bring folks down, and that pisses me off.
N.B.
In my opinion what he did was a good thing, not for him but for the whole anti-prohibition movement. More of the public are now confronted by how much of a failure the drug war is. The deep web is particularly safe, even if the feds focused 100% on it they would do less damage than they do on the streets. Thats the way it appears to me at least
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notanumber
Thick as a brick



Registered: 08/16/12
Posts: 581
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: Repertoire89]
#18755293 - 08/25/13 02:07 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Look, it's the supposed owner of the Silk Road talking about how secure the Silk Road is on Forbes.
I guess I shouldn't worry about the Silk Road being compromised. . . Despite all this talk about how seemingly secure locations on the internets are increasingly compromised... if the infamously secretive and careful anonymous person who claims to be the owner but whose identity is in no way otherwise verifiable claims that it's secure in a mainstream magazine with a very wide readership, I guess that means it is.
Edited by notanumber (08/25/13 02:08 PM)
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Repertoire89
Cat



Registered: 11/15/12
Posts: 21,773
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Re: Why is the man behind the Silk Road drugs website speaking to the press? [Re: notanumber]
#18755570 - 08/25/13 03:09 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
notanumber said:
Despite all this talk about how seemingly secure locations on the internets are increasingly compromised...
SR hasn't been compromised in the slightest, one guy was arrested in Australia and a pedophile was picked up somewhere. They hype that shit up because that's all they have.
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