How Not To Innovate: Trying To Create An Exact Replica Of Another Service

Charles Carreon Stops Digging, At Least For The Moment: Dismisses His Lawsuit [Updated]

from the put-down-the-popcorn dept

Tue, Jul 3rd 2012 4:45pm — Mike Masnick

Well, we may have found at least a temporary answer to the question of "just how far will Charles Carreon dig?" According to Mark Lemley, one of the lawyers representing IndieGoGo against Carreon, Charles Carreon has just dismissed his lawsuit. One hopes this means that he's finally realized that this entire process was a mistake. A broad apology for massive overreaction after massive overreaction from Carreon (and his wife who apparently referred to us at Techdirt as a "nazi scumbag") might be nice, but if it's just a general admission that he had gone too far, that seems good enough. Of course, given how far he went, and his repeated insistence on not giving up, I do wonder if this is really the end of all of this. Somehow I doubt it. This is a voluntary dismissal, which means he could refile. But, for a brief moment, it appears that he's stopped digging.

Update: Carreon is apparently declaring victory, claiming that the lawsuit gave him what he wanted. Uh, yeah. He sued to make sure that Matthew Inman and IndieGoGo did exactly what they said they were going to do... and then when they did exactly what they promised to do, he claims that's a victory? At best, he did two things: had Inman limit the donations to just two charities rather than four, and made Inman take some of his own money out of the bank to photograph it (as promised) for Funnyjunk, rather than use the actual money raised during the IndieGoGo campaign. If his goal there was to force that to prevent embarrassment I don't see how that's a victory. Does anyone honestly believe that Carreon came out of this with a better reputation than if he'd just let the original plans happen? Carreon could still face requests for legal fees from those he sued, though it wouldn't surprise me if they all just dropped it. Carreon seems to think the newfound attention he's received is a good thing, which just shows how completely out of touch he is. As Ars Technica notes:

But if the defendants pursued attorney's fees, the attention might be worth it for Charles Carreon. After asking for comment on his voluntary dismissal of charges, Carreon lilted over the phone, "I'm famous, I'm notorious." Which, from the looks of it, is exactly what he wants.

There are times that it's worthwhile to be notorious. And there are times that it's not. This is the second one.

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Filed Under: carreon effect, charles carreon, digging, dismissal, matthew inman, the oatmeal
Companies: american cancer society, indiegogo, national wildlife foundation

63 Comments

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STStone, 3 Jul 2012 @ 4:47pm

My god, he showed a trace of sanity.

Somebody revoke his law license!
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Cory of PC (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 4:59pm

Yeah, and somehow Tara also called you Mike "Retarded" in one of her posts on her website. ... Honestly I'm not going to forgive them that easily, considering that they have said some really nasty stuff about all of us, even if they could get away with it and some of the people on the Internet talk just like them.

It's going to be a LOOOOOONG time before they could redeem their former image. Until then... wait, what are we going to do now? Wait for the next idiotic lawyer to come and mess with the Internet? Gah, that seems sooo long!
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khory, 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:02pm

I wouldn't be surprised if he just makes some changes to suit whatever scenario he's got cooking and refiles.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:05pm

I think his mommy said , "You Get A Time Out"" such a child.
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Bill W (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:06pm

Sanity?
Has he showed a glimpse of sanity?

Somehow I doubt it.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:32pm

He is just getting a break to restart digging at a later time when he is rested LoL

Once you are afflicted by the China Syndrome you can't stop that easy.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:34pm

Shall we start a pool?
1. He'll quietly go away
2. He won't refile, but will make loud noises about how he was bullied by internet vandals and had to stop for fear of his life.
3. He'll refile and continue his lunacy.

If betting here, please post your wager in internet points, and when it will occur. Whoever guesses the correct action and date wins the pot.

I'm putting 2000 internet points on option 2, starting the afternoon of July 5th, 2012.
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Al Bert (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:34pm

Imagine the struggle
Came to his senses? Maybe.
Maybe he's just so far gone, he's retaliating even against himself.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:35pm

Re:
Exactly. It was not dismissed by the court "with prejudice" so he can refile at any time.

His filing:
http://ia600809.us.archive.org/8/items/gov.uscourts.cand.256114/gov.uscourts.cand.256114.30 .0.pdf

I truly hope he is not let off the hook that easily. Others have racked up attorney's fees for his frivolous actions and those costs should fall on him as well as court costs. Both the bar and the court need to seriously take a look at his unethical behavior as well.
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That One Guy (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:42pm

Re: Shall we start a pool?
Can we place bets on multiple categories? Personally I'd bet 1000 points on 2 for now, then after he thinks the public is distracted enough by something else(in say half a month at most) 3.
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Anonymous Lying Little Bitch, 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:42pm

@Anonymous Coward

I'm also betting on option 2 on July 5, but starting the morning sometime. I'm putting up FIVE BAJILLION INTERNET POINTS.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Jul 2012 @ 5:54pm

Re: Re: Shall we start a pool?
Go right ahead - just be sure to include a time with your wagers.
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techinabox (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 6:14pm

Comedy
When someone heckles a comedian and the comedian slaps them down the crowd cheers the comedian and boos the heckler. Apparently the Carreon's believe it should be the other way around.
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Get off my cyber-lawn! (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 6:23pm

Someone lit a candle in the midnight black landscape of his mental instability
and reminded him that his other court filings, appearances, etc will be badly affected by this ongoing stupidity.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Jul 2012 @ 6:31pm

I wonder, is this pause because he thought ahead and decided to learn Mandarin, or just because he needed to change drill bits?
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Nom du Clavier (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 6:39pm

Re: Re:
Evidently he's refiling suit against the internet at large. Serving notice on all internet users takes time, so much so he dismissed this case to free him up.

It's one of many illogical explanations. *nods* True story.
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Pixelation, 3 Jul 2012 @ 6:42pm

Aww crap, now what am I going to do with all of this popcorn I made?
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Cory of PC (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 6:45pm

Re: Re: Re:
... Let me guess, it's going to really crash and burn big time if that happens, right?

If that happens, screw the popcorn. I'm going into the marshmallow business!
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alanbleiweiss (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 6:51pm

Re: Shall we start a pool?
I'm putting 5,000 points on #3 under the presumption he'll include Vint Cerf and DARPA in the next version since it was clearly their responsibility to have created a mechanism to police Internet bullies when they first invented the interwebs. And hedging my bet by placing another 5,000 points on #2 with the condition that he would then likely file a complaint with his local police department as well as the FBI and insist on witness protection. Or possibly seek out a restraining order that states the interwebs is not allowed to come within 500 feet of his place of abode.
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alanbleiweiss (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 6:52pm

Re: Re: Shall we start a pool?
and I waive my right to place a time frame on either outcome. Clearly you do realize that IS my right? Because if you think it's a term or condition I am obligated to comply with, I'll just hire Charles Carreon to sue your ass. :-)
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 6:57pm

Re: Someone lit a candle in the midnight black landscape of his mental instability
This is a really good question...
does he have any other cases moving forward right now?
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Atkray (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 7:03pm

Re: Re: Re: Shall we start a pool?
1000 points (all in) on #3 shortly after lunch on July 5 2012, unless of course he blows some fingers off playing with fireworks. Then it will take an extrs 4 day.
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Lurker Keith, 3 Jul 2012 @ 7:25pm

Maybe I'll have the time to get stuff done again...
...But I doubt it. Calm before the storm & all that.
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Justin Olbrantz (Quantam), 3 Jul 2012 @ 7:45pm

Reason Goes Where?
How does this even make sense at this point? He's basically destroyed his public image, credibility, and possibly legal career, he'll be a laughing stock and target of internet and possibly real-life hate for for years to come, and even his friends and coworkers are stumped by his temper tantrum. What does he have left that could possibly be more important than the revenge he's sacrificed everything to obtain?
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Dreddsnik, 3 Jul 2012 @ 7:51pm

Re: Shall we start a pool?
I'll match your 2000 points ...

Option 2 August 9, 2013

He'll wait at least a year, from he's openly stupid threat letter ..

" That I have the known capacity to litigate appeals for years (check my Westlaw profile, and of course, the drawn out history of Penguin v. American Buddha, now in its third year, having passed through the Second Circuit and the NYCA, and still hung up in personal jurisdiction in the SDNY). "

He will spend a year searching for any legal theory that will help his case, also watching for the passage of any new law that he can use ( TPP, SOPA like ). He's already mentioned he's got the cash, I think he also has the patience of the 'Weapon Grade Crazy'.
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Dreddsnik, 3 Jul 2012 @ 7:53pm

Re: Re: Shall we start a pool?
Durrr. I meant option 3 August 9, 2013

( Dyslexic )
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Josh (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 7:59pm

He only stopped so he could go get a bigger shovel.
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BeeAitch (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 8:20pm

Re:
If you need a fix Steve Gibson might be just the thing. ;)
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 8:23pm

Re: Reason Goes Where?
he Googled revenge and discovered it was best served cold. Expect him to pop up once he thinks the pot has cooled off.
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BeeAitch (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 8:24pm

Re:
To be fair, it's hard to keep digging when you haven't shored up what was dug before, and it keeps collapsing on you. I'm not surprised he had to take a break.

I fully expect he'll return to digging once he's had a brief respite.
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BeeAitch (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 8:27pm

Re: Shall we start a pool?
I'll put 9001 (over 9000) internet points on 3, starting Monday, July 9, 2012.
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Anonymous Coward, 3 Jul 2012 @ 8:58pm

Carreon Claims Victory
Many predicted he would do this.

"But while it may look like Carreon has come to his senses, Ars called Carreon to comment, and found him declaring the lawsuit a success. "Mission Accomplished," Carreon announced on the phone with Ars. We've heard that somewhere else before.

------------------------

But if the defendants pursued attorney's fees, the attention might be worth it for Charles Carreon. After asking for comment on his voluntary dismissal of charges, Carreon lilted over the phone, "I'm famous, I'm notorious." Which, from the looks of it, is exactly what he wants."

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/07/carreon-claims-victory-drops-his-lawsuit-again st-the-oatmeal-et-al/

Yes he is. He's now a notorious douchebag, famous for filing frivolous lawsuits. The world has had a long hard look at his bully tactics and past behavior, and will for a long time to come any time his name is Googled. He's gotten a righteous smackdown from the EFF and one is underway from Public Citizen, and what did he accomplish? Absolutely nothing. Inman did what he said from the beginning he would do. Just waiting for that money shot now...

2 weeks ago he said this in an interview:

"Carreon tells Comic Riffs one of his goals is to become the go-to attorney for people who feel they have been cyber-vandalized or similarly wronged on the Internet."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/funnyjunk-lawyer-suing-the-oatmea l-cartoonist-inman-over-indiegogo-charity-drive/2012/06/18/gJQAbZhDlV_blog.html

Somehow I think he's being overly optimistic.

Anyways, Happy Fourth everyone! Enjoy the fireworks!
Or make your own...

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/guy/fireworks/index.htm
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[citation needed or GTFO], 3 Jul 2012 @ 9:45pm

Re:
Urinate in it as "special movie butter" and send it to Carreon with warm regards. :)
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techflaws (profile), 3 Jul 2012 @ 10:10pm

(and his wife who apparently referred to us at Techdirt as a "nazi scumbag")

Could there be any higher praise from a nutjob like her?
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Mike Masnick (profile), 4 Jul 2012 @ 12:16am

updated
Updated the post with the details of Carreon claiming victory...
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 12:47am

Carreon lilted over the phone, "I'm famous, I'm notorious." Which, from the looks of it, is exactly what he wants.

Yup. Everyone is now familiar with Charles Carreon, "that crazy lawyer guy that made a bunch of half-baked legal attacks on the American Cancer Society". The perfect guy to hire if you want a judge to drop your claims fast enough to break the sound barrier.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 1:05am

Re: updated
The update needs a picture Mike. Credit goes to M. at Popehat for the photo work.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/deepskyblues/aircraft-carreon.png

Not much of a looker is he?

A good read from Adam Steinbaugh too:

"And, so, with the judge about to dismiss his TRO application as legally pointless, and just as the big guns come out, Carreon packs away his water pistol and declares victory on behalf of a public that didn�t want or need his help � and having accomplished nothing but provide them with entertainment at the expense of valuable public and charitable resources � and rides into the sunset. We call this cowardice."

Read the whole thing here. It's a good recap:

http://adamsteinbaugh.com/2012/07/03/carreons-pyrrhic-victory-isnt-over-yet/
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 1:13am

lawl yeah right
If Charles Carreons definition of victory is making a complete fool of yourself then he was very very very victorious.
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Cixelsid (profile), 4 Jul 2012 @ 2:34am

Well
If in Carreon's world losing means winning then he's the biggest winner of us all!
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Lawrence D'Oliveiro, 4 Jul 2012 @ 3:19am

Keep Calm And Carreon
Am I really the first to say that?
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 3:34am

Re:
See, that's the problem. Carreon's victory was getting everyone to make popcorn for his sake, which will now go to waste. Won't someone please think of the corn farmers?
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 4:08am

Well, that was a Shocking Swerve. (warning: TVTropes link)
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 4 Jul 2012 @ 4:27am

But hey at least now his Wikipedia page might not be flagged for deletion any more.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 4:38am

Re:
Along with "cyber-vandalism" and other sorts of wrong-doing on the Internet, he's your go-to guy for all things nasty on the Internet!

... Excuse me, I'm going to laugh in the corner over there.
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Minimum Wage Shill, 4 Jul 2012 @ 6:14am

"Carreon seems to think the newfound attention he's received is a good thing"

all publicity is good publicity. i don't care if us shills look retarded, looking retarded and sounding like a moron gets us more publicity and that's always a good thing.
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alanbleiweiss (profile), 4 Jul 2012 @ 6:18am

Re:
Yeah I actually built my reputation within my industry on the notion that I rant. Ceaselessly. And use the words asshat, asshattery, asshattish all the time when describing others I find in my crosshairs. So even if WE think Carreon is a fool (and believe me, no so many counts he really is an asshat), there are probably a lot of companies and individuals who would fall for his marketing spin.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 6:29am

Re:
You could try reading this

This crazy train just doesn't stop!
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alanbleiweiss (profile), 4 Jul 2012 @ 6:37am

Re: Re:
OMG people have GOT to read that! Gino Romano is like Charles Carreon on meth. :-)
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Dreddsnik, 4 Jul 2012 @ 10:58am

As I have no life, I've been giving quite a bit of thought to the name 'Carreon Effect'. I think it's a bit off. Like the' Streisand Effect' it seems to point to the Internet community's reaction to his asshattery, rather than the Asshattery itself. IMO, the 'Carreon Maneuver' is more appropriate as it refers to the actions themselves rather than the reaction. I would have used 'Gambit' but I personally have already given that to Dan Glickman's 'Glickman Gambit' for sneaking work for hire language into an unrelated bill, thus guaranteeing himself a place in infamy ( and the RIAA ). But it appears that the Greater Internet has spoken, and the Carreon Effect lives. :)

Yes I am a sad, strange little man. ;)
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alanbleiweiss (profile), 4 Jul 2012 @ 12:39pm

Re:
The Carreon Maneuver does sound appropriate regarding his asshattery. However that effort clearly caused the Carreon Effect, which itself has grown to epic proportions accordingly.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 1:20pm

Re: Re: Re:
I've got a game people can play. Check out this docket report from one of Gino Romano's former lawsuits. Read out loud the list of defendants. Remember that this is all in one lawsuit. Whoever can go the longest without peeing their pants in laughter is the winner.
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 1:46pm

Re: Re:
I guess one might still be able to make "Effect" fit.

The Streisand Effect is the effect that occurs when an attempt to remove or hide information causes that information to become more widely publicized.

So, you could say that the Carreon Effect is the effect that occurs when an attempt to advise someone that their position is untenable causes them to double and quadruple down on said position.
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alanbleiweiss (profile), 4 Jul 2012 @ 2:31pm

Re: Re: Re:
"So, you could say that the Carreon Effect is the effect that occurs when an attempt to advise someone that their position is untenable causes them to double and quadruple down on said position."

And which results in further piling on of the obvious across the interwebs, thus bringing even more attention to the dubiousness of said Maneuver.
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That One Guy (profile), 4 Jul 2012 @ 6:01pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Holy crap... I was chuckling for a bit, but when it listed the Pope and just went crazier from there... I'm so bookmarking and saving that thing for when I need an almost-pass-out-from-laughing level laugh.
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That One Guy (profile), 4 Jul 2012 @ 6:13pm

Real motives perhaps?
So given the "I'm famous, I'm notorious." line, am I the only one who now sees him as not so much a bully, but rather a poor little man-child who basically just threw a tantrum to get attention, not realizing that there's a difference between good attention and bad?
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Anonymous Coward, 4 Jul 2012 @ 8:35pm

Re: Well
What Carreon did was jump on his tricycle to engage in a game of "Chicken" but then quickly jumped out of the way when he saw the 18-wheeler coming at him. He then made the front page of the paper, because of his stupidity, and claimed he somehow won and that he's famous. All while the rest of the world is pointing at him and hysterically laughing their asses off at the douchebag.
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AB, 4 Jul 2012 @ 9:29pm

Re: Re: Re: Re:
Wow, he's crazy enough that I could actually believe he realy is Careon's brother! Maybe he's Careon's wife's brother too...
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drew (profile), 5 Jul 2012 @ 12:31am

Re: Shall we start a pool?
I only have 25 internet points left (after being unable to point people to a working internet site on another thread) so I'm going to place them all on a combination of all three.
To whit, he'll quietly go away for a while, will then start making noises about being bullied and then, after the passing of a convenient law, will start all this shite again.
What odds will you give me?
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Ahzirr Durrarriss, 5 Jul 2012 @ 1:06am

Re: Carreon Claims Victory
"Many predicted he would do this."

It's not like that would have been very hard. Denial is the easiest human behavior of all to predict. To be honest I haven't really paid much attention to this whole didactical narrative. It all just seemed too puerile to be of much interest. The "Nazi" comment Tara made caught my eye though, being directed at all of us as it is, so I decided to read up a bit on what all the fuss is about.

Each comment of hers caused the same visual to repeatedly pop into my head; one of a five year old child throwing a temper tantrum in a crowded shopping mall, something I'm sure most of us have seen at one point or another during our lives. Much of what she's been quoted as saying blows my mind! Does Tara truly believe she and her husband are walking the high road in this whole affair?

I've been an internet user since it's inception (BBS prior to that) and have never seen anyone as crazy or deluded as she is. Yes I have encountered some pretty crazy folks in my time, but nobody that bonkers. She appears to be guilty of much of the same childish behavior she rails against too. Does she have a history of mental illness or was she just raised that way? I can't help but wonder. If sympathy and support is what she's after, she's definitely going about it the wrong way. Perhaps it's more about attention seeking than anything else? I know people will do all kinds of questionable things for just that alone. What a sad life she must lead.
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Dreddsnik, 5 Jul 2012 @ 7:14am

Re: Real motives perhaps?
" am I the only one who now sees him as not so much a bully, but rather a poor little man-child who basically just threw a tantrum to get attention, not realizing that there's a difference between good attention and bad? "

More like the 12 year old kid who crashes his bike into a tree, and insists 'I meant to do that'.
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Tex Arcana (profile), 8 Jul 2012 @ 8:16pm

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Carrion:

You have been found in violation of Genetic Patent #D265,936,067,174,935.d, The Human Stupidity Gene. You are hereby ordered to pay a fine not less than $34,856,927.23; watch 17 random, specially-selected Disney indoctrination films; and report to the nearest detention center for removal of said patented gene and any growths, alterations, or mutations arising thereof.

Thank you, and have a nice day!
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Rex Tex, 9 Jul 2012 @ 1:36pm

Larry Page is a 39 year old "has been." The gray haired voiceless wonder, we are told, has thyroid cancer. Isn't this poetic justice, that this promoter of "free speech" on the internet can't speak a single word? Me thinks there is a God! Let's hope that Larry Page permanently retires to a rest home, where he can contemplate how God took his voice away from him. Maybe his co-hort Sergey Brin will contract the genetic disease he inherited -- Parkinson's disease. Then he and Larry can play Mah Jong together until they are both incontinent and senile.
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alanbleiweiss (profile), 9 Jul 2012 @ 2:56pm

Re:
wishing ill will on any human being who has done you no harm is just over the top and uncalled for. Do you live for the sole purpose of pretending to be a superior human being? disgusting.
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