# DEA Agent Creates Fake Facebook Page **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 15, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404 "2014-10-15T14:39:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/21 "2014-10-16T00:51:01Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > What about them? The police had the legal right to use the pictures they lawfully seized from her phone. Wrong. Even if the police had in fact legitimately obtained the pictures, reckless endangerment and copyright infringement are serious offenses. > [@Smapti](#): > > Well, yes. That’s how crimes generally _work_ - they have to happen before they can be considered crimes. The reckless endangerment and copyright infringement have already occurred; please try to keep up with the class. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/22 "2014-10-16T00:58:49Z")
Really? This is what your hate-boner for all things related to law enforcement has reduced you to? _Copyright infringement?_ Please, _do_ tell me how many years in prison you feel is an appropriate sentence for reposting a photograph on the internet without the photographer’s permission. Surely, the FBI will be so busy putting the entire population of 4chan behind bars, they’ll have no time to impersonate people on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/23 "2014-10-16T01:20:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Please, _do_ tell me how many years in prison you feel is an appropriate sentence This is above my pay grade, so I’ll just have to take a leaf out of your book and robotically accept [the decision handed down from our governing betters](http://www.bloomu.edu/technology/copyright_penalties): > [@](#): > > Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/24 "2014-10-16T01:23:13Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > This is above my pay grade, so I’ll just have to take a leaf out of your book and robotically accept [the decision handed down from our governing betters](http://www.bloomu.edu/technology/copyright_penalties): And is that what you agree is right? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/25 "2014-10-16T01:24:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And is that what you agree is right? “I’ll just have to take a leaf out of your book” means “For the moment, I’m doing it your way” (i.e. “right” and “wrong” do not enter into it; what the government says, goes). PTtKUWtC. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/26 "2014-10-16T01:36:03Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > “I’ll just have to take a leaf out of your book” means “For the moment, I’m doing it your way” (i.e. “right” and “wrong” do not enter into it; what the government says, goes). PTtKUWtC. So you believe lawbreakers should be punished by _my_ standard. Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/27 "2014-10-16T02:13:45Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So you believe lawbreakers should be punished by _my_ standard. This is an example of _reductio ad absurdum_ (demonstrating that the opposition position leads to an absurd result, and is therefore untenable, and/or – well, “and” in this case – that the opposition position is being applied in a hypocritically inconsistent manner, and is therefore is not to be taken seriously). PTtKUWtC. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/28 "2014-10-16T02:20:03Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > This is an example of _reductio ad absurdum_ (demonstrating that the opposition position leads to an absurd result, and is therefore untenable, and/or – well, “and” in this case – that the opposition position is being applied in a hypocritically inconsistent manner, and is therefore is not to be taken seriously). PTtKUWtC. So do you believe reposting a photo someone else took warrants prison time, or not? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/29 "2014-10-16T02:49:52Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > What about them? The police had the legal right to use the pictures they lawfully seized from her phone. Just because something’s _legal_ doesn’t make it _ethical_. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Those kids didn’t do anything wrong – why should their rights be violated, just because their mother committed a crime? (Especially since one of them isn’t even her kid!) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/30 "2014-10-16T03:24:04Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Just because something’s _legal_ doesn’t make it _ethical_. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Those kids didn’t do anything wrong – why should their rights be violated, just because their mother committed a crime? (Especially since one of them isn’t even her kid!) Because the gummit knows better than we. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/31 "2014-10-16T14:12:46Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Just because something’s _legal_ doesn’t make it _ethical_. That opens another can of worms – besides the civil and criminal offenses already noted, there’s the question of violating the code of professional ethics to which agents are (supposedly) bound. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/32 "2014-10-16T14:35:21Z")
Guys, I know you’re all smart. You’re not all a bunch of morons. So how is it that it seems like I’m the only one who’s put **Smapti** on ignore? He’s the dumbest little fascist troll I’ve ever seen. Remove him from your life and your life will be better. (Plus, added bonus: I won’t see people quoting his posts.) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/33 "2014-10-16T14:43:06Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > That opens another can of worms – besides the civil and criminal offenses already noted, there’s the question of violating the code of professional ethics to which agents are (supposedly) bound. Surely you jest. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/34 "2014-10-16T16:58:39Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Guys, I know you’re all smart. You’re not all a bunch of morons. So how is it that it seems like I’m the only one who’s put **Smapti** on ignore? He’s the dumbest little fascist troll I’ve ever seen. Remove him from your life and your life will be better. > > (Plus, added bonus: I won’t see people quoting his posts.) Personally, I dislike the idea of avoiding opinions I don’t agree with, although of course my sanity requires I do it to some extent. I’d rather learn the self-control to read things I disagree with without necessarily getting drawn in. That might take some time, though… Besides, **Smapti** got my _Sweet Seymour Skinner’s Baadasssss Song_ reference the other day. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/35 "2014-10-16T17:07:53Z")
I saw the so called “skimpy attire” pics. Hardly.:dubious: Shorts. No big deal as far as that goes. Nothing you wouldnt see at a mall. Not “racy” at all. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/36 "2014-10-16T17:41:41Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > Personally, I dislike the idea of avoiding opinions I don’t agree with… I do too. But after 12 years, the camel’s back finally broke and I had to figure out how to add people - well, a person - to my ignore list. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/37 "2014-10-16T17:58:18Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Guys, I know you’re all smart. You’re not all a bunch of morons. So how is it that it seems like I’m the only one who’s put **Smapti** on ignore? He’s the dumbest little fascist troll I’ve ever seen. Remove him from your life and your life will be better. Better, maybe, but less amusing. I’ve developed a pattern for how to treat him (30% serious, 70% mock) that balances pontification and recreation. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/38 "2014-10-16T19:34:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I do too. But after 12 years, the camel’s back finally broke and I had to figure out how to add people - well, a person - to my ignore list. Yep. I can tolerate wingnuts, trolls, conspiracy theorists, racist dickheads, gibbering loons, all-around fucktards— hell, even **brazil84** — but there comes a limit. I don’t need to hear the same note over and over, and especially when it’s the brown note. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/39 "2014-10-16T19:41:33Z")
Back on topic: the idea that police can “lawfully seize” intellectual property strikes me as a novel one. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404/40 "2014-10-16T19:49:48Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Guys, I know you’re all smart. You’re not all a bunch of morons. So how is it that it seems like I’m the only one who’s put **Smapti** on ignore? He’s the dumbest little fascist troll I’ve ever seen. Remove him from your life and your life will be better. > > (Plus, added bonus: I won’t see people quoting his posts.) I agree. Obviously the ones who have not put him on ignore are not smart. If they were they would have put him on ignore, right BPC? Why they must be down right retarded morons to not put him on ignore like us smart people, right BPC? I just hope that some time in my lifetime we can wipe out all thought that does not conform to the designated acceptable thoughts as dictated by the Supreme Thought Court. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dea-agent-creates-fake-facebook-page/701404.md?page=3)