Edward Snowden

[Lalalablah 1,539]

What is your opinion on him: good guy or bad guy?

 

 

[Demyx. 10,064]

He's a dumbass. 

[Col.Random 3,683]

  On 7/19/2013 at 8:24 PM, Megaman X said:

He's a dumbass. 

I'm sure he's a nice guy if you got to know him.

[Demyx. 10,064]

  On 7/19/2013 at 8:26 PM, Col.Random said:

I'm sure he's a nice guy if you got to know him.

A pretty dumb guy.

[Col.Random 3,683]

But on a more serious note, I think it's good that he went ahead and exposed the NSA

[Ghost 1,857]

Could put his money to better use.

[Shana09 5,769]

You guys do know that there are people who gave their opinion about him, and if you side with him, you might have a chance of being a threat to the US. (been done before) 

[SHAZOW 269]

The US gov. has many problems/issues.

[AntonioKHT 449]

Good, or bad? They're a group of incomplete people who wish to be whole

Since the government is watching us, I'm really not gonna answer

Edited July 19, 2013 by AntonioKHT

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

well he admitted to deliberately getting hired just to steal this info so what does that say ? Also , he only exposed what everyone should've already knew based off the Patriot Act from YEARS ago..Then he ruins international relations by exposing additional secrets that have NOTHING to do with informing American citizens so what was the point of that ? Also, most countries spy on other countries.Then he runs to other countries like china and russia who violate their own citizens rights for refuge. How hypocritical is that ?  Seriously.

[Lalalablah 1,539]

  On 7/19/2013 at 8:48 PM, Flaming Lea said:

well he admitted to deliberately getting hired just to steal this info so what does that say ? Also , he only exposed what everyone should've already knew based off the Patriot Act from YEARS ago..Then he ruins international relations by exposing additional secrets that have NOTHING to do with informing American citizens so what was the point of that ? Also, most countries spy on other countries.Then he runs to other countries like china and russia who violate their own citizens rights for refuge. How hypocritical is that ?  Seriously.

Yeah so many people had no idea the Patriot Act permitted things like this, and when they heard of this they were like "wuut no way dis is not good how cud they do dat"

But seeing as how many people there were we didn't understand that, I think it's good he gave them a friendly reminder... lol

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

  On 7/19/2013 at 9:09 PM, Lalalablah said:

Yeah so many people had no idea the Patriot Act permitted things like this, and when they heard of this they were like "wuut no way dis is not good how cud they do dat"

But seeing as how many people there were we didn't understand that, I think it's good he gave them a friendly reminder... lol

 

Yeah but the way he went about it is beyond shady imo.

[Lalalablah 1,539]

  On 7/19/2013 at 9:14 PM, Flaming Lea said:

Yeah but the way he went about it is beyond shady imo.

For sure. But who knows maybe this is another revolution and history is repeating itself

[legendkiller222 22]

He did the right thing. Also, he didn't just work at the NSA to steal secrets. He had been working there since even before Obama was in office, but since Obama expanded the program Snowden decided to expose the program. THe FISA courts allowed the Patriot Act to be used in this matter and that was new to the citizens. This was evidence that the gov. was spying on its on citizens and the world unlawfully. We shouldn't defend a gov that is keeping secrets because they say we will be "safer". If Snowden was hungry for fame he would take interviews from the media, but hasn't. He is only out to inform the public. This was a clear violation of our basic rights. Nixon tapped two rooms and got impeached. What changes with Obama, when he mines data from all over the world?

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

  On 7/20/2013 at 1:08 AM, legendkiller222 said:

He did the right thing. Also, he didn't just work at the NSA to steal secrets. He had been working there since even before Obama was in office, but since Obama expanded the program Snowden decided to expose the program. THe FISA courts allowed the Patriot Act to be used in this matter and that was new to the citizens. This was evidence that the gov. was spying on its on citizens and the world unlawfully. We shouldn't defend a gov that is keeping secrets because they say we will be "safer". If Snowden was hungry for fame he would take interviews from the media, but hasn't. He is only out to inform the public. This was a clear violation of our basic rights. Nixon tapped two rooms and got impeached. What changes with Obama, when he mines data from all over the world?

 

Snowden admitted that he only took the job to gather info. His very own words .  

 

"My position with Booz Allen Hamilton granted me access to lists of machines all over the world the NSA hacked," he told the Morning Post in a June 12 interview that was published Monday. "That is why I accepted that position about three months ago."

In his interview with the Post, Snowden divulged information that he claimed showed hacking by the NSA into computers in Hong Kong and mainland China.

"I did not release them earlier because I don't want to simply dump huge amounts of documents without regard to their content," he said. "I have to screen everything before releasing it to journalists."

Asked by the Post if he specifically went to Booz Allen Hamilton as a computer systems administrator in Hawaii to gather evidence of surveillance, he replied: "Correct on Booz." Booz Allen spokesman James Fisher declined to comment on the report.

 

 

 

 

I don't agree that our government should be spying on us but at the same time people act like other countries aren't doing the same thing or worse. The Patriot Act isn't a new thing and I cannot believe people are even surprised about some of this info. What government doesn't keep secrets ? How did it help American citizens to create international relations issues ?That being said, our government and our elected officials need a huge overhaul bc I definitely don't think they are doing what we elected them for - especially obama.

Edited July 20, 2013 by Flaming Lea

[Lalalablah 1,539]

  On 7/20/2013 at 1:08 AM, legendkiller222 said:

He did the right thing. Also, he didn't just work at the NSA to steal secrets. He had been working there since even before Obama was in office, but since Obama expanded the program Snowden decided to expose the program. THe FISA courts allowed the Patriot Act to be used in this matter and that was new to the citizens. This was evidence that the gov. was spying on its on citizens and the world unlawfully. We shouldn't defend a gov that is keeping secrets because they say we will be "safer". If Snowden was hungry for fame he would take interviews from the media, but hasn't. He is only out to inform the public. This was a clear violation of our basic rights. Nixon tapped two rooms and got impeached. What changes with Obama, when he mines data from all over the world?

Nicely said! It bothers me the way he's viewed as such a criminal sometimes when the real criminals are in the gov.

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

  On 7/20/2013 at 1:26 AM, Lalalablah said:

Nicely said! It bothers me the way he's viewed as such a criminal sometimes when the real criminals are in the gov.

 

 If he had stopped at just informing American citizens he might have more credence.. But nope :

 

'Snowden revealed an NSA program that collected telephone records for millions of Americans and a separate operation that targeted the Internet communications of non-citizens abroad who were suspected of terrorist connections.'

 

Then he runs to China among others who we have a shaky relationship with :

 

The South China Morning Post reported that Snowden had provided information to show that the NSA had hacked into the Hong Kong system of Pacnet, which runs undersea telecommunications cables around the Pacific, and into 63 computers and servers at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China's most elite schools.

"The NSA does all kinds of things like hack Chinese cellphone companies to steal all of your SMS data," Snowden told the newspaper.

 

"My position with Booz Allen Hamilton granted me access to lists of machines all over the world the NSA hacked," he told the Morning Post in a June 12 interview that was published Monday. "That is why I accepted that position about three months ago."

In his interview with the Post, Snowden divulged information that he claimed showed hacking by the NSA into computers in Hong Kong and mainland China.

"I did not release them earlier because I don't want to simply dump huge amounts of documents without regard to their content," he said. "I have to screen everything before releasing it to journalists."

Asked by the Post if he specifically went to Booz Allen Hamilton as a computer systems administrator in Hawaii to gather evidence of surveillance, he replied: "Correct on Booz." Booz Allen spokesman James Fisher declined to comment on the report.

 

 

That's where one can question his true motives. That's why people think it's criminal.

Edited July 20, 2013 by Flaming Lea

[Lalalablah 1,539]

  On 7/20/2013 at 3:03 AM, Flaming Lea said:

 If he had stopped at just informing American citizens he might have more credence.. But nope :

 

'Snowden revealed an NSA program that collected telephone records for millions of Americans and a separate operation that targeted the Internet communications of non-citizens abroad who were suspected of terrorist connections.'

 

Then he runs to China among others who we have a shaky relationship with :

 

The South China Morning Post reported that Snowden had provided information to show that the NSA had hacked into the Hong Kong system of Pacnet, which runs undersea telecommunications cables around the Pacific, and into 63 computers and servers at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China's most elite schools.

"The NSA does all kinds of things like hack Chinese cellphone companies to steal all of your SMS data," Snowden told the newspaper.

 

"My position with Booz Allen Hamilton granted me access to lists of machines all over the world the NSA hacked," he told the Morning Post in a June 12 interview that was published Monday. "That is why I accepted that position about three months ago."

In his interview with the Post, Snowden divulged information that he claimed showed hacking by the NSA into computers in Hong Kong and mainland China.

"I did not release them earlier because I don't want to simply dump huge amounts of documents without regard to their content," he said. "I have to screen everything before releasing it to journalists."

Asked by the Post if he specifically went to Booz Allen Hamilton as a computer systems administrator in Hawaii to gather evidence of surveillance, he replied: "Correct on Booz." Booz Allen spokesman James Fisher declined to comment on the report.

 

 

That's where one can question his true motives. That's why people think it's criminal.

Ehh I don't really think the U.S. or Snowden are right here. We shouldn't be spying on them, and he shouldn't have told them that

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

  On 7/20/2013 at 3:07 AM, Lalalablah said:

Ehh I don't really think the U.S. or Snowden are right here. We shouldn't be spying on them, and he shouldn't have told them that

 

I never said the NSA was necessarily right, but Snowden definitely wasn't in the right either . He's no hero.

[legendkiller222 22]

  On 7/20/2013 at 1:24 AM, Flaming Lea said:

Snowden admitted that he only took the job to gather info. His very own words .  

 

"My position with Booz Allen Hamilton granted me access to lists of machines all over the world the NSA hacked," he told the Morning Post in a June 12 interview that was published Monday. "That is why I accepted that position about three months ago."

In his interview with the Post, Snowden divulged information that he claimed showed hacking by the NSA into computers in Hong Kong and mainland China.

"I did not release them earlier because I don't want to simply dump huge amounts of documents without regard to their content," he said. "I have to screen everything before releasing it to journalists."

Asked by the Post if he specifically went to Booz Allen Hamilton as a computer systems administrator in Hawaii to gather evidence of surveillance, he replied: "Correct on Booz." Booz Allen spokesman James Fisher declined to comment on the report.

 

 

 

 

I don't agree that our government should be spying on us but at the same time people act like other countries aren't doing the same thing or worse. The Patriot Act isn't a new thing and I cannot believe people are even surprised about some of this info. What government doesn't keep secrets ? How did it help American citizens to create international relations issues ?That being said, our government and our elected officials need a huge overhaul bc I definitely don't think they are doing what we elected them for - especially obama.

 

You are referring to why he took the promotion at the NSA. A job  that he had right before he left, but he was working for the NSA/CIA well before that. He didn't reveal vastly new info, but he added the needed evidence for someone to claim this was going on and to what extent. We cannot make him into a villain because he "threatens" our relationship with other countries. We use drone strikes and many other miltary tactics that are not moral all the time. This one incident is not the cause of anything more than knowledge to the American people. If we are to not say that he is patriotic or a hero then we are to say that people witnessing violations of rights and reporting them are wrong to. He only left the country because he did not want to get murdered and wants to spread this info. America has harbored other countries' whistleblowers. Now that America is the one with someone exposing the truth we are somehow suppose to hate him?

 

We cannot say that since governments keep secrets that it is okay to violate the Bill of Rights or for America to spy on its people so broadly. They set up info storage facilities. This causes an issue because it can hinder an uprising of justice when you have the ability to track all the info. This alone isn't terrifying, but with the NDAA, drone strikes, ever increasing dismantlement of individual rights it is terrifying. Our political climate needs to change because Obama is proof that either Republicans and Democrats end up doing the same thing or even worse that someone who seemed or may still be as genuine as Obama really cannot create change. 

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

  On 7/20/2013 at 4:19 AM, legendkiller222 said:

You are referring to why he took the promotion at the NSA. A job  that he had right before he left, but he was working for the NSA/CIA well before that. He didn't reveal vastly new info, but he added the needed evidence for someone to claim this was going on and to what extent. We cannot make him into a villain because he "threatens" our relationship with other countries. We use drone strikes and many other miltary tactics that are not moral all the time. This one incident is not the cause of anything more than knowledge to the American people. If we are to not say that he is patriotic or a hero then we are to say that people witnessing violations of rights and reporting them are wrong to. He only left the country because he did not want to get murdered and wants to spread this info. America has harbored other countries' whistleblowers. Now that America is the one with someone exposing the truth we are somehow suppose to hate him?

 

We cannot say that since governments keep secrets that it is okay to violate the Bill of Rights or for America to spy on its people so broadly. They set up info storage facilities. This causes an issue because it can hinder an uprising of justice when you have the ability to track all the info. This alone isn't terrifying, but with the NDAA, drone strikes, ever increasing dismantlement of individual rights it is terrifying. Our political climate needs to change because Obama is proof that either Republicans and Democrats end up doing the same thing or even worse that someone who seemed or may still be as genuine as Obama really cannot create change. 

 

You are completely missing my point . He took that position to purposely gather and expose secret info . He violated his oath and contract .It's not like he accidently came across this info and was like ' OMG " .He had NO right to tell other countries what we do either . How was that informing american citizens? If you think the US is the only one spying you are beyond naive . All these other countries do too but if it's the US only we are in the wrong ?. Every country keeps secret information for their own good and he had no right to tell other countries our info. Especially ones like China who themselves spy on us and aren't exactly the epitomy of preserving their own peoples civil rights. If you are gonna complain about peoples civil liberties being violated why seek refuge in countries with even less respect for their citizens liberties? That's very hypocritical to say the least . Point being , he crossed the line telling other countries what we do . If he had just tried to inform the american citizens it might be a different story but that's not what he did. Finally, I never said i thought our government was completely right either. Matter of fact, I said the opposite . Our government needs a total overhaul and we  need better elected people in office period. However , what snowden did was less than honorable and he's far from a hero. It's one thing to 'whistleblow' to better our country and another to give other countries info they should've never had.

[legendkiller222 22]

  On 7/20/2013 at 4:39 AM, Flaming Lea said:

You are completely missing my point . He took that position to purposely gather and expose secret info . He violated his oath and contract .It's not like he accidently came across this info and was like ' OMG " .He had NO right to tell other countries what we do either . How was that informing american citizens? If you think the US is the only one spying you are beyond naive . All these other countries do too but if it's the US only we are in the wrong ?. Every country keeps secret information for their own good and he had no right to tell other countries our info. Especially ones like China who themselves spy on us and aren't exactly the epitomy of preserving their own peoples civil rights. If you are gonna complain about peoples civil liberties being violated why seek refuge in countries with even less respect for their citizens liberties? That's very hypocritical to say the least . Point being , he crossed the line telling other countries what we do . If he had just tried to inform the american citizens it might be a different story but that's not what he did. Finally, I never said i thought our government was completely right either. Matter of fact, I said the opposite . Our government needs a total overhaul and we  need better elected people in office period. However , what snowden did was less than honorable and he's far from a hero. It's one thing to 'whistleblow' to better our country and another to give other countries info they should've never had.

 

But to say he took the job at the NSA to mainly reveal info to other countries is misleading and that is what you seem to be stating. He only took a promotion to be in the position to do something. I am not saying other countries do not have secrets or spy, but why there is outrage among people and countries is due to the extent that it happened and is happening. China is not being given classified information that will be detrimental to us as a country, if they received anything of merit at all. Snowden, as of now is stuck in Russia, and never intended to seek asylum in countries Russia or China in the first place. Also, people have tried to seek asylum in our country and now the shoe is on the other foot people act as though he is a national threat. I can understand you not wanting to say what he did is heroism, but what he did was the right thing. What Snowden is doing is not harmful to anyone except the people in power. Dismissing his attempt at bringing these programs to light because of potential fear that countries can use some information is playing into fear which avoids the true debate that is needed. The debate that is needed isn't if he is good or bad, but if the information given confirms our suspicions.  There needs to be evidence out there so we can confirm theories and there can be legitimacy to arguments made against the expansion of anti-terror programs that are just ways to make this country into a police state in a sense. 

[HarLea Quinn 26,501]

  On 7/20/2013 at 8:37 AM, legendkiller222 said:

But to say he took the job at the NSA to mainly reveal info to other countries is misleading and that is what you seem to be stating. He only took a promotion to be in the position to do something. I am not saying other countries do not have secrets or spy, but why there is outrage among people and countries is due to the extent that it happened and is happening. China is not being given classified information that will be detrimental to us as a country, if they received anything of merit at all. Snowden, as of now is stuck in Russia, and never intended to seek asylum in countries Russia or China in the first place. Also, people have tried to seek asylum in our country and now the shoe is on the other foot people act as though he is a national threat. I can understand you not wanting to say what he did is heroism, but what he did was the right thing. What Snowden is doing is not harmful to anyone except the people in power. Dismissing his attempt at bringing these programs to light because of potential fear that countries can use some information is playing into fear which avoids the true debate that is needed. The debate that is needed isn't if he is good or bad, but if the information given confirms our suspicions.  There needs to be evidence out there so we can confirm theories and there can be legitimacy to arguments made against the expansion of anti-terror programs that are just ways to make this country into a police state in a sense. 

 

I said that he admitted to deliberately taking his (at the time) current position to steal this info.He deliberately sought out that job for the sole purpose of gathering this info to steal. That is exactly what he did . Nothing misleading about that.He downloaded over 5 laptops worth of info and we don't know who has this and the extent of damage it could cause . This is a problem. You don't know who he's giving what to so i certainly question his motives. I despise the obama administration and feel like they are violating a lot of what our constitution stands for . But what Snowden did can potentially harm us a nation as well by having our secret info out there possibly in danger of falling into the wrong hands and none of these nations hes seeking asylum in have our best interests in mind .Ironically, all of them also are known to have violated their own citizens civil liberties so why offer asylum unless it's to gain something ? The first place he went was to hong kong and talked to the chinese press with info. Then he goes to russia for help when it serves him. So he sought help in countries that are the the epitomy of what he supposedly is against simply bc it serves him .  Based on this, I find what Snowden did a slippery slope. When you want to take risks to 'better ' a situation you must make sure the resulting consequences don't end up doing more damage than good in the process otherwise the whole thing was for nothing and just ends up causing more damage to the otherwise 'firetrucked up 'situation. Now snowden is basically running around with information that could possibly fall into the wrongs hands either voluntarily or involuntarily if other countries decide to pilfer this info for their own use. He's a marked man now and not just by our government. The way he went about everything is certainly questionable. I understand not completely trusting in the government but you also cannot afford blind faith that snowden is about 'doing the right thing'. Dismissing this potential fallout is dangerous .

Edited July 20, 2013 by Flaming Lea

[Ultima Spark 753]

  On 7/19/2013 at 8:31 PM, Shana09 said:

You guys do know that there are people who gave their opinion about him, and if you side with him, you might have a chance of being a threat to the US. (been done before) 

 

Everyone is a threat according to the US government.

 

[Amon 4,279]

I'd praise him if he revealed that the government was killing puppies and putting the fur in our food or something, but we all know the government has been spying on us.

 

If anything, this just proves that Obama is not the savior of humanity, well to the people who are still worshipping him after failing every promise other than nabbing Osama (Detroit just went bankrupt again, a fourth of Obama's re-election campaign were claims that he saved the auto industry)