# Theodore 'Ted' Kaczynski, known as the 'Unabomber,' has died in federal prison **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 10, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294 "2023-06-10T17:26:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/41 "2023-06-11T20:12:30Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve wondered it Ted did anything positive in prison. Maybe teach basic math or other activities. People sentenced to the highest security level at [Florence Supermax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADX_Florence) do not have an opportunity to teach anything to anyone else in prison. They spend 23 hours a day alone in their cells. They get let out, one by one, for some exercise and personal hygiene. That’s it. Not sure if Kaczynski was at max level security or not, but it wouldn’t surprise me. On the other hand, if he behaved himself he could earn some small privileges. According to his wiki entry Ted became friends with [Ramzi Yousef](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramzi_Yousef) and [Timothy McVeigh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh) which implies some contact between the three. Then again, inmates are quite clever at communicating with each other despite the efforts of prisons to prevent such communications. And all of those guys were fairly to very smart. Oddly enough, Florence is one of the few prisons in the system that are NOT overcrowded and in fact has never reached full capacity of inmates. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/42 "2023-06-11T20:32:40Z")
The part I remember about the case was that before he was caught, there was a “police sketch” circulating of what he was supposed to look like, that was just some random unidentifiable person in a hoodie, with the face completely shaded by the hood. Why even bother with a picture like that? And then when he was caught, and looked completely different even from what little features were seen in the police sketch, the news kept on fading back and forth between the sketch and actual pictures of him, as if to show off how spot-on the sketch was. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/43 "2023-06-11T20:34:33Z")
Not just the hoodie. The sketch also showed him with big sunglasses on. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/44 "2023-06-11T20:34:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Why even bother with a picture like that? Someone might have remembered seeing him at the time of that bombing and had new information which could have led to his arrest. Didn’t turn out that way, but it was worth trying. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/45 "2023-06-11T20:43:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Someone might have remembered seeing him at the time of that bombing and had new information which could have led to his arrest. I’m sure plenty of people saw someone who looked like they could be the person in that picture, if they were wearing sunglasses and a face-covering hood. Which still doesn’t make the picture at all useful. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/46 "2023-06-11T20:57:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m sure plenty of people saw someone who looked like they could be the person in that picture, if they were wearing sunglasses and a face-covering hood. Which still doesn’t make the picture at all useful. In (I think) a Don Martin strip in MAD magazine, a police sketch artist is shown working with a robbery witness. The witness describes the suspect as the artist puts the sketch together. Finally, the witness exclaims, “Yep! That’s HIM!”. The sketch is of a guy wearing a fake nose and glasses. Unrelated: Walter’s White’s appearance in the final season of Breaking Bad was based on Kaczynski’s post-arrest appearance. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/47 "2023-06-11T21:00:33Z")
How many would remember seeing someone matching that description proximate to the time and place of a bombing? That picture would have been created for that limited purpose. It was widely circulated by the press because it was the only description available. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/48 "2023-06-11T21:10:51Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > In (I think) a Don Martin strip in MAD magazine, a police sketch artist is shown working with a robbery witness. The witness describes the suspect as the artist puts the sketch together. Finally, the witness exclaims, “Yep! That’s HIM!”. I remember that comic. I think of it every time I see a police sketch. Usually so _pro forma_ as to be largely useless. I suspect that back in the era of small towns with few strangers, and people owning very few clothes, a sketch could be pretty generic and still serve to remind the folks down at the General Store about like this: > [@Elvis Presley - Cold Kentucky Rain](#): > > Showed your photograph to some old gray-bearded men > Sitting on a bench outside a general store > They said, “Yes, she’s been here” > But their memory wasn’t clear > Was it yesterday? > No, wait, the day before Maybe I’m a sap, but that song always gives me the shivers. He was good. Anyhow, nowadays in metro areas of millions and media with nationwide reach, the value of an “anyman” sketch is darn close to zero. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/49 "2023-06-11T23:00:41Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > But the self-inflicted death of another high-profile inmate, four years after the accused sex offender Jeffrey Epstein hanged himself at a Manhattan federal detention center, is certain to raise fresh questions Pretty wildly false equivalency, IMHO, and I agree with **Procrutus** , a 1/4 century is enough. I wouldn’t have let him out or anything, but he hardly cheated retribution. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/50 "2023-06-11T23:26:19Z")
It was reported he had stage 4 cancer (can’t remember where I read it). ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/51 "2023-06-12T02:12:39Z")
Roast in piss. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/52 "2023-06-12T03:02:58Z")
That makes sense, if they went to the trouble of transferring him to a prison hospital in North Carolina. His father also died by suicide, after discovering that he had terminal cancer. Not uncommon, sadly. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/53 "2023-06-12T04:42:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And then when he was caught, and looked completely different even from what little features were seen in the police sketch, the news kept on fading back and forth between the sketch and actual pictures of him, as if to show off how spot-on the sketch was. IIRC, the sketch wasn’t even of him. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/54 "2023-06-12T13:22:07Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Roast in piss. This has always bugged me. Roasting needs a dry heat. You’re talking about a braise. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/55 "2023-06-12T13:36:08Z")
Anyone ever read Kaczynski’s manifesto where he argues how human potential and freedom have been increasingly limited by industrialization and technology? From academic accounts, he makes some valid criticisms. But then there’s the whole killing innocent people with bombs thing that kinda branded him for life. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/56 "2023-06-12T13:54:26Z")
I think that’s part of the problem. Charles Manson, for example, when interviewed often made some good points, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t also a psychopath, a paranoid schizophrenic anti-social con artist. He really is fun to listen to, and by many accounts very persuasive. In another life he may have been successful. I’m sure Kaczynski’s epic manifesto is some good reading too, at times. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/57 "2023-06-12T14:01:49Z")
“But you fuck _one_ sheep…”. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/58 "2023-06-12T14:07:23Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Anyone ever read Kaczynski’s manifesto where he argues how human potential and freedom have been increasingly limited by industrialization and technology? From academic accounts, he makes some valid criticisms. Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/59 "2023-06-12T14:29:09Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > Anyone ever read Kaczynski’s manifesto where he argues how human potential and freedom have been increasingly limited by industrialization and technology? From academic accounts, he makes some valid criticisms. [Elon Musk agrees with him](https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattnovak/2023/06/10/elon-musk-suggests-unabomber-may-have-been-right-about-technology/?sh=5c2683b20bf2). ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294/60 "2023-06-12T18:30:49Z")
I think he actually just published a book this year. Maybe there’s some footnotes out somewhere. I’ve browsed his Manifesto and it seemed pretty reasonable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theodore-ted-kaczynski-known-as-the-unabomber-has-died-in-federal-prison/985294.md?page=4)