# Julian Assange (remember him?) update **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 5, 2016, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210 "2016-02-05T07:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![williambaskerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/21 "2016-02-05T14:26:19Z")
If Assange is being detained, then so was Homer Simpson when he wouldn’t let go of the chocolate in the vending machine. ---
**Author:** ![Anarcho\_Liberalist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Anarcho\_Liberalist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anarcho_Liberalist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/22 "2016-02-05T14:33:15Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > From what I’ve read, Assange is basically a professional freeloader, living with whoever will take him (…) That would be my assessment too. But this doesn’t mean that a) WikiLeaks didn’t do a good thing or b) he raped two women c) he didn’t rape two women. Is there some general anti-Assange sentiment on this MB I’m not aware of? ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/23 "2016-02-05T14:33:57Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The only potential issue I see here is that Sweden may have been pressured into laying bogus charges, perhaps by the US, but that’s not what this panel is addressing. The whole thing is bizarre. I don’t see how this would have taken any pressure. Our government would jump for joy at being able to do the US a favor… ---
**Author:** ![Anarcho\_Liberalist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Anarcho\_Liberalist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anarcho_Liberalist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/24 "2016-02-05T14:41:29Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > I don’t see how this would have taken any pressure. Our government would jump for joy at being able to do the US a favor… LOL. Where do you live? I live in a country with a government like that, but part of the game is not being found out or at least not let any definite proof come to light. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/25 "2016-02-05T14:59:05Z")
I liken Assange to that other upright world citizen, Roman Polanski. Use the system to get bail and then run like a coward when you realize that you might face some time for your crimes. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/26 "2016-02-05T14:59:14Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > **Northern Piper** they have a [search function for documents,](http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/04/what-happen-julian-assange-detention-ruling-officially-announced) but its worse then fucking LexisNexis was. There’s a link to the [full decision](http://www.headoflegal.com/2016/02/05/the-un-working-groups-assange-opinion/) in this commentary piece. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/27 "2016-02-05T15:01:05Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > The charges are rotten as hell… then I have no doubt that this investigation into what appears to be a couple of consensual sexual relationships No, the charges are rape, not some weird concoted thing that’s hard to comprehend. If there’s really nothing to the charges, then he should have responded to the prosecutor instead of fleeing the country. Calling a rape a ‘consensual sexual relationship’ is common among rape apologists, but ignoring the victim’s description of the relationship isn’t exactly a valid line of argument. I don’t get what the US even has to do with it - his extradition would be to Sweeden, who’s shown no interest in sending him to the US, and the US isn’t involved with any of the legal maneuvering. There’s a lot more direct stuff the US could be doing if they really wanted to get their hands on him. Leaking government secrets doesn’t give you a license to commit lesser crimes, especially crimes against other people, under the guise of ‘if you prosecute me, it means you’re a tool of the government I leaked secrets from’. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/28 "2016-02-05T15:37:54Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > There’s a link to the [full decision](http://www.headoflegal.com/2016/02/05/the-un-working-groups-assange-opinion/) in this commentary piece. The gist seems to be that he is being detained because the UK won’t let him travel from the Ecuadorian embassy in London to Ecuador itself. It’s more than faintly ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/29 "2016-02-05T16:51:02Z")
> [@Anarcho\_Liberalist](#): > > LOL. > Where do you live? > > I live in a country with a government like that, but part of the game is not being found out or at least not let any definite proof come to light. Oh! I thought that was clear; I live in Sweden. And yes, definite proof is probably hard to find. (Of course, Assange _may_ actually be guilty of rape or sexual assault; let’s not forget that possibility!) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/30 "2016-02-05T18:02:11Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > I don’t get what the US even has to do with it - his extradition would be to Sweeden, who’s shown no interest in sending him to the US, and the US isn’t involved with any of the legal maneuvering. There’s a lot more direct stuff the US could be doing if they really wanted to get their hands on him. Leaking government secrets doesn’t give you a license to commit lesser crimes, especially crimes against other people, under the guise of ‘if you prosecute me, it means you’re a tool of the government I leaked secrets from’. The US is just a boogeyman in this case. Assange needs a bad guy (other than himself) to be the secret mastermind of his troubles. We’re involved because Assange’s story requires us to be. > [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > The gist seems to be that he is being detained because the UK won’t let him travel from the Ecuadorian embassy in London to Ecuador itself. It’s more than faintly ridiculous. Way more than faint. It’s pretty silly to claim he’s being detained, when in fact he’s avoiding detention. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/31 "2016-02-05T18:09:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The gist seems to be that he is being detained because the UK won’t let him travel from the Ecuadorian embassy in London to Ecuador itself. It’s more than faintly ridiculous. Yes, its outright preposterous to basically conclude that someone has a right to declare asylum from criminal investigations in a particular country while physically in that same country. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/32 "2016-02-05T18:17:03Z")
In my view, the Ecuadorians are detaining him by not providing him with a teleporter to leave the UK without having to pass back in to its jurisdiction. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/33 "2016-02-05T18:55:31Z")
Why can’t Ecuador provide some kind of “Ecuadorian Caper” like Canada did with those Iranian hostages in 1979? ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/34 "2016-02-05T19:00:23Z")
I wouldn’t want to be released into Swedish custody either on (assumedly) trumped up charges, considering that the Swedish government has already handed over people illegally for torture to the US. Also, if I recall the story correctly, he’s basically accused of tricking a woman into having unprotected sex by removing his condom during intercourse or something like that. I don’t recall there being any violence involved. So… a) Wikileaks did an awesome job and jerk or not, Assange is a hero. b) He might be guilty of some sexual shenanigans, probably nothing too serious. c) Whether he is or is not, he’s smart to stay the hell away from Sweden considering our record ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/35 "2016-02-05T19:23:29Z")
Well, shoot, Assange should just go around robbing banks if his “hero” status renders him above the law. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/36 "2016-02-05T19:35:51Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > I wouldn’t want to be released into Swedish custody either on (assumedly) trumped up charges, considering that the Swedish government has already handed over people illegally for torture to the US. Why assume that they’re trumped up? Do you just dismiss rape charges because, hey, boys will be boys? > [@](#): > > I don’t recall there being any violence involved. Violence is not required for a rape to have happened. > [@](#): > > b) He might be guilty of some sexual shenanigans, probably nothing too serious. So if ask a guy to screw you without a condom, you’d be fine with that and figure it’s ‘nothing too serious’? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/37 "2016-02-05T20:22:17Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > I wouldn’t want to be released into Swedish custody either on (assumedly) trumped up charges, considering that the Swedish government has already handed over people illegally for torture to the US. > > Also, if I recall the story correctly, he’s basically accused of tricking a woman into having unprotected sex by removing his condom during intercourse or something like that. I don’t recall there being any violence involved. > > So… > > a) Wikileaks did an awesome job and jerk or not, Assange is a hero. > b) He might be guilty of some sexual shenanigans, probably nothing too serious. > c) Whether he is or is not, he’s smart to stay the hell away from Sweden considering our record It’s because Assange is a postmodern who is the on the 69th suprasexual level according to the Inturdgral theory something something where giving a middle finger to the US government outweighs rape and the rest of us are silly moderns and premoderns who actually raise a fuss over that crime, amirite? It’s a pity that Assange-sex criminal and traitor to the West-hasn’t yet to be reduced to a smoking hole in the ground on the orders of the President. Hopefully at the least, eugenics legislation in Sweden will be briefly revived to ensure his sterilization and chemical castration. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/38 "2016-02-05T20:26:38Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Why can’t Ecuador provide some kind of “Ecuadorian Caper” like Canada did with those Iranian hostages in 1979? Probably because the Ecuadorians don’t really care. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/39 "2016-02-05T20:32:14Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > Why assume that they’re trumped up? Do you just dismiss rape charges because, hey, boys will be boys? Yeah… because I think Assange’s charges may be trumped up, I of course dismiss all rape charges. Just as if I were to say “I don’t believe person X murdered person Y” that would mean I would dismiss ALL Murder charges… > [@Pantastic](#): > > Violence is not required for a rape to have happened. Actually in Sweden either violence, threats or drugs are needed for it to be classified as rape. > [@Pantastic](#): > > So if ask a guy to screw you without a condom, you’d be fine with that and figure it’s ‘nothing too serious’? If you feel attracted to me, there are much better come ons than that. No need to make up hypotheticals. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210/40 "2016-02-05T20:34:54Z")
> [@Stoneburg](#): > > Yeah… because I think Assange’s charges may be trumped up, I of course dismiss all rape charges. Just as if I were to say “I don’t believe person X murdered person Y” that would mean I would dismiss ALL Murder charges… And your “evidence” for this lies in? > [@](#): > > Actually in Sweden either violence, threats or drugs are needed for it to be classified as rape. And you think none of those are applicable because…? > [@](#): > > If you feel attracted to me, there are much better come ons than that. No need to make up hypotheticals. You make Carly “that face” Fiorina look like Elle Fanning in comparison. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/julian-assange-remember-him-update/745210.md?page=3)