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by johansch 3621 days ago
a) Sensationalist headline - something that seems amazing to someone who is not e.g. russian - but the person is actually russian

b) Outing the photo of a cute 18 yo girl "who just got raped"

Yes - an interesting story - but this is extreme clickbait likely for profit. And problematic in other dimensions. This guy is an opportunist who does not seem to care about other people.
3 comments
drpp 3621 days ago
A) This was a pretty unusual experience for me. And I think it is unusual for the readers.

B) I can see your point. She did ask me to take photos and to tell her story. I have not been in touch with her in a while. I will deliberate for a bit and consider taking down her photos.

There is no profit motive. I am not paid for this story.

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CamperBob2 3621 days ago
Irlan (left) wouldn’t let me take pictures, but occasionally I’d sneak one in.

I'm not sure what to think about this. Corruption is bad. But this particular official's heart seemed to be in the right place, and he treated you with respect, honesty, and generosity, even when he didn't have to. He doesn't seem to have been repaid in kind.

I want to say something like, "Hopefully Irlan isn't on the wrong side of the courtroom as a result of your story," but on the other hand... corruption is bad, and I don't want the legal system in my own country to work this way.

So, did you do a good thing by exposing Irlan and his colleagues, or a bad thing by betraying them? I honestly don't know. You made me empathize with someone I wouldn't ordinarily empathize with, and then you stuck a knife in his back. Which is interesting.

Parenthetically, if you're a US citizen, you're subject to the FCPA, which can potentially be a pretty big deal. Google it if you're not familiar with the acronym. I don't know if the FCPA's reach extends to bribing low-level immigration officials, but it's worth looking into if you plan to leave the article up.

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vkou 3621 days ago
IANAL,

Is the FCPA applicable outside the context of business transactions?

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CamperBob2 3621 days ago
Dunno. However, the Feds have a long history of defining "business transactions" in whatever terms suit their purposes at the moment. (Wickard v. Filburn comes to mind, for one thing.) And certainly export regulations don't make a distinction between commercial and private transactions.
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vkou 3621 days ago
Did you change the names of the officials involved in this story?
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deepinthewoods 3620 days ago
Op hasn't answered any of the comments asking this. I'd like to know if he even bothered changing the name and location of the rape victim.
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johansch 3621 days ago
> There is no profit motive. I am not paid for this story.

There's building your personal brand and/or company. You know, that startup you're the CEO of.

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justinlardinois 3621 days ago
Which would be the case for anything he writes and publishes under his own name. Your point?

It's clear that he was saying that no one's paying him to write this political reasons.

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anotheryou 3621 days ago
b) is really bad

also I'd be so grateful for the boys, I'd least make some effort to repay all the beers :)

about a) i liked it. It builds a expectation that is completely shattered by the "but i got treated so well". He lures you in to thinking a little racist and than disproves it :)

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otl1248 3621 days ago
Yeah, absurd that people are glossing over the fact that he outed (with photos for chrissakes) a rape victim.
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Mithaldu 3621 days ago
She asked him to take photos (unless he's lying). While not stated, there's a good chance he asked her if he could post them online.
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deepinthewoods 3620 days ago
> and asked me to take lots of pictures of her for my memory

For his memory. Clearly it wasn't a "tell my story!" Kind of moment. Even if it was, she'd been raped the day before then tried to flee the country with no money, got arrested and thrown in prison. She was clearly in a very vulnerable state and the writer was the first friendly face she'd seen. He admits he didn't contact her before posting her face all over the internet. The pictures have been taken down now btw.

Edit: OP says she asked him to tell her story. I still think he should have asked her at a time when, you know, she wasn't at the lowest point in her life.

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