[mehwoot]

This is what Ross Ulbricht described his goal as on LinkedIn: "I want to use economic theory as a means to abolish the use of coercion and aggression amongst mankind." Is that clear enough? The guy studied organic solar cells and EuO thin-film crystals for 5 years as a grad student, describing his goal then as to expand the frontier of human knowledge.

And then twice paid money to (what he believed) have somebody killed that was causing him a problem.

[Exenith]

Would you end 2 lives if it saved millions in the future? Someone concerned with direct empathy wouldn't. Someone concerned with the human condition might.

Anyway, I'm not saying that it was right, because that holds the assumption that he 100% would be helping people. What if you're wrong? What if there's a better way? 2 lives gone and nothing to show for it. In reality, it's pretty likely that he just went a bit fucking crazy. The point is that the creation of Silk Road was likely with the goal of changing the world for the better, and I can absolutely see that happening.

[fabulist]

This was my immediate reaction as well.

But upon further contemplation, maybe there was more wisdom behind donning the name Dread Pirate Roberts than Ulbricht realized. Power is a corrupting influence, and theres the old saying about what happens to those who fight monsters.

But ultimately, such corruption was his downfall, and delivered him into FBI custody. Now theres not only a new DPR, but a slew of new Silk Roads to replace him.

[anonbanker]

I still use reiserfs on my drives, ever after knowing Hans Reiser is a murderer. Doesn't make his contributions any less valid.

[mehwoot]

Yes, but the comment I replied to claimed he was "ultimately concerned with the total human condition." I'm saying he isn't, or is at minimum a hypocrite.