[tzs]

Then why did you say "RIP free speech"? Convicts generally either lose most of their rights, or have them severely restricted.

She is a convict. The only reason she was not in jail (where she would have had no access to Facebook or Twitter or other social media) was because they had a shortage of space so were letting her stay out until space opened up.

There is no free speech issue here.

[Natsu]

You're arguing that this is legal. They're arguing that this is wrong.

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hume%27s_Law

[tzs]

I took "RIP free speech" to imply that he thinks that this case marks some sort of change in how free speech is handled, which it does not.

If he was instead trying to make a general argument that convicts should not have their rights restricted while they have not completed their term, or if he was arguing that prosecuting someone for massive willful copyright infringement is a violation of their rights, then I misunderstood.

[nicki_easy]

She ;)

I think the whole thing is disgusting and wrong. And I think that she was railroaded off because of the views she expressed post-sentencing--they were trying to make an example of her and "send waves through this community"* and she was standing up and taking it while disagreeing instead of bending over and whimpering with remorse. It's cruel, disproportionate, unjust and, frankly, mentally ill. This is not what our justice system is for at all, either prosecuting her in the first place or silencing her by whisking her away prematurely.

*"One of the reasons we targeted Ninja Video was because it had such a strong social element," says Kevin Suh, senior vice president of Internet content protection at the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). "We wanted to send waves through this community." http://prospect.org/article/ninja-our-sites

[tzs]

Have an up vote (Natsu too) because you are both getting grayed out, even though your responses to mine are perfectly civil and reasonable.

I wish people would reserve down votes for comments that are expressed offensively or are blatantly off topic.

[Natsu]

Thanks.

I also want to thank you for registering disagreement even when HN leans the other way. A critical voice helps you see what parts of your arguments are weak or which need to be rethought entirely.

[nicki_easy]

Thanks. I agree.

[Natsu]

I don't think it was an argument so much as a way of registering her frustration.

After all, while convicts may, in general, have their rights restricted, it's not clear what state interest is being advanced by hurrying someone off to prison for making jokes on their Facebook page.