# How can you cause harm without breaking US law? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 2, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-cause-harm-without-breaking-us-law/672939 "2013-11-02T19:20:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-cause-harm-without-breaking-us-law/672939/21 "2013-11-07T22:08:05Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I’m picturing the classic ‘blackmailer’ scenario, where the criminal patiently explains just how he could ruin your life unless you pay him to remain silent. > > Except he never actually gets to the part about hush money; he lays out what he’s learned, and how it would get you fired and break up your marriage and leave you bankrupt, at which point he pauses and blinks and heads out to relay some information. Something along these lines only instead of telling your …uh victim?..the perp?..what you’re going to do, you just do it. Like you have pictures of him in a public place making out with a hussy? You up and send it to the wife. Is it still invasion of privacy or something if he’s right out in the open? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-cause-harm-without-breaking-us-law/672939/22 "2013-11-07T23:38:59Z")
The best way to harm people legally is to get elected. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-cause-harm-without-breaking-us-law/672939/23 "2013-11-07T23:58:24Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > Something along these lines only instead of telling your …uh victim?..the perp?..what you’re going to do, you just do it. > > Like you have pictures of him in a public place making out with a hussy? You up and send it to the wife. Is it still invasion of privacy or something if he’s right out in the open? See, in mine that still happens, only you let the guy sweat a bit first – and right when he reaches the moment where he’d gladly pay you blackmail money, you avoid the crime by turning him down and pressing _‘send’_. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-cause-harm-without-breaking-us-law/672939/24 "2013-11-08T00:20:59Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > See, in mine that still happens, only you let the guy sweat a bit first – and right when he reaches the moment where he’d gladly pay you blackmail money, you avoid the crime by turning him down and pressing _‘send’_. But you haven’t actually asked for anything right? So basically, you’re not in any way threatening you just say something like “hey, by the way, I have these pics…” and then just let him hem and haw? Okay I see what you mean. 😃 Yeah, that could be more satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-cause-harm-without-breaking-us-law/672939/25 "2013-11-08T18:54:19Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > The problem is, in the eyes of the law, “Sorry, we just don’t need your help anymore” is “no reason at all”. But that’s what UI is for. … They don’t even have to state a reason, or the reason can be, “I dont like the color of your shirt.” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-cause-harm-without-breaking-us-law/672939/26 "2013-11-08T18:58:15Z")
The “best” one I know is - protesting military funerals with carrying signs about how “God Hates Fags.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-you-cause-harm-without-breaking-us-law/672939.md?page=1)