[amyjess]

It's also well-known that he would hit on any woman who moves. When conference organizers finally told him to stop coming up to women and asking them out, he started printing out "pleasure cards" with his contact information and an invitation to fuck on them and wordlessly handing them out to women instead.

In order to ward off his advances, women faculty at MIT have taken to taking advantage of his phobia of plants. They decorate their offices with as many plants as they can and have even taken to wearing plants just to keep him from hitting on them.

This is not and should never be acceptable behavior.

[pvaldes]

> his phobia of plants

Taking in mind that there are dozens, maybe thousands of photos of him on internet smiling near flowers, pots, pots over tables, cut flowers, taking photos of wild flowers, or posing relaxed on several jungles and forests, my congratulations to Mr Stallman for having overcomed his botagnuphobia so well.

This is not what you would expect from a real phobic person IMHO, so I wouldn't discard still that is just another stupid rumour (or perhaps some female students are overreacting badly to a rumour?).

[u801e]

> he started printing out "pleasure cards" with his contact information and an invitation to fuck on them and wordlessly handing them out to women instead.

Did anyone ever report this behavior to law enforcement? Did anyone try to obtain a restraining order against him?

[dragonwriter]

> Did anyone ever report this behavior to law enforcement?

It is not illegal to invite (adult) people to have sex with you, orally or in writing, so there is nothing for law enforcement to do.

> Did anyone try to obtain a restraining order against him?

Offering sex to other adults isn't illegal, so there would be no basis for a restraining order.

[bethly]

He was creepy and unprofessional, not a criminal. “Be fired” is the proportional and appropriate response.

[bandrami]

To my knowledge that's not a crime. However, it is creepy and unprofessional, and the sort of thing that gets you fired (unfortunately not quickly enough)

[EForEndeavour]

Wow... This makes RMS sound like a Batman villain who never quite made it big.

[api]

Epstein has always reminded me of someone Batman would fight. He even had henchmen and an island lair.

A while back some friends and I came up with his super-villain name. Batman had The Riddler, but Epstein would be... drum roll... The Diddler! Now roll that into one of those old campy Batman episodes from the 60s and you'd have a hell of a skit.

All I can do is laugh at this stuff sometimes. The alternative is to get depressed about the lack of judgement that seems to be routinely shown by otherwise very bright people who should know better. People seem to be such suckers for these charismatic psychopath types and their "energy."

[Endy]

In one (mostly non-canon-ish) novel, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The_Ultimate_Evil , he did take on a guy who was terrifyingly like Epstein; among others.

[pvaldes]

"I fear plants; my enemies will share my fears, because I'm Potman!"

I hope he never has the occurence to disguise as Poison Lenny in the next halloween, My poor heart couldn't afford more jump-scares.

[api]

> his phobia of plants.

> They decorate their offices with as many plants as they can and have even taken to wearing plants just to keep him from hitting on them.

I used to live and work around MIT and I'm trying to decide if this equals or exceeds the ludicrous batshit insane ass clowning that I witnessed. I'm not sure.

My stories don't involve Stallman, but... well... I'll just say "tech weenie weenie" and anyone around MIT who knows will know.

Mahketing mahketing! (maniacal clap)

In any case I'm not at all surprised that someone like Epstein would be sleazing around MIT.

I need to shut up now.