# Why is the Mao book hoaxer's name STILL a "secret"? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 24, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077 "2005-12-24T14:35:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/21 "2005-12-30T13:01:45Z")
> [@Steve MB](#): > > Did he cause a “ruckus” that diverted public safety officers from genuine problems? Nope. (Don’t bother to cite examples of public safety officers **voluntarily** taking time to argue a political issue to counteract the perceived effect of the story. That isn’t at all comparable to public safety officers being **impelled** to respond to a false alarm.) If I were a Special Agent in Charge of an FBI Field Office, and I heard that two of my agents were accused of making a visit to some kid because he asked for a Mao book from the library, I’d certainly follow up: at a minimum, I’d have a memo out telling any agent who was aware of this action to report to me, and possibily I’d even attempt to interview each of my agents briefly to determine if they were involved. Assuming that happened, does it change your mind? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/22 "2005-12-30T13:02:46Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Okay, I’ll tell you his name if you tell me the names of the White House leakers. Scooter Libby. OK. Let’s hear it. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/23 "2005-12-30T13:33:15Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > As far as I’m concerned, a 22 year old is old enough to take responsibility for his actions. He took an action of his own volition; he wasn’t a victim of outside circumstances. So I see no reason to protect him by withholding his name. I agree. If a sixteen year old can be charged as an adult in a murder, this little schmuck should be able to man up too. Twenty-two year old “kid” my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/24 "2005-12-30T14:19:34Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Scooter Libby. > > OK. Let’s hear it. You missed a couple of esses in **Ludovic** ’s sentence: name **s** , leaker **s**. You’ll need to supply the name of at least on more white house traitor to satisfy his condition. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/25 "2005-12-30T14:55:55Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > You missed a couple of esses in **Ludovic** ’s sentence: name **s** , leaker **s**. > You’ll need to supply the name of at least on more white house traitor to satisfy his condition. Wow, that’s like asking for the JFK assassins. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/26 "2005-12-30T15:03:59Z")
I think that if a source lies to a newspaper, the newspaper ought to ‘out’ that source. Exceptions? Only juveniles and the clinically insane. But I think that standard ought to be applied equally across the board. In particular, if the powerful aren’t being outed for their lies, then nobodies shouldn’t be either. All the time, “senior Administration officials” and the like tell whoppers to reporters, who dutifully transcribe their words and put them in the NY Times or the WaPo or wherever. When new facts come out, whether a day or a year later, that directly contradict what the senior official said, and show that the official knew what the truth was all along, then the paper ought to issue a correction, this time giving the senior Administration official’s name. This never happens. So we never know which ‘senior Administration official’ lies were Rove’s, which were Libby’s, which were Cheney’s, which ones were someone else’s. Until we do, I’d say we can live without knowing who this kid is. Fair is fair. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/27 "2005-12-30T15:58:20Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > You missed a couple of esses in **Ludovic** ’s sentence: name **s** , leaker **s**. > You’ll need to supply the name of at least on more white house traitor to satisfy his condition. What if Libby was the only one? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/28 "2005-12-30T16:09:56Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What if Libby was the only one? One for one, even swap. A name for a name. So who’s the Red Book guy? Fair is fair. I wanna know too. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/29 "2005-12-30T16:15:27Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What if Libby was the only one? You really think that’s likely? ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/30 "2005-12-30T16:24:01Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Okay, I’ll tell you his name if you tell me the names of the White House leakers. What does this have to do with anything? People who fuck up should be taken to task for it, regardless of their political ideology. And I don’t know who the White House leakers are. As a Democrat, I don’t get _the memos_. Keep working on **Bricker** , though. He knows. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/31 "2005-12-30T17:51:23Z")
_Originally Posted by Ludovic:_ Okay, I’ll tell you his name if you tell me the names of the White House leakers. This post has been Tu Quoqued by the Tu Quoquist! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/32 "2005-12-30T17:55:51Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You really think that’s likely? **Bricker** ’s a sunny optimist. Shame on you for trying to bring him down with your nattering negativism. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/33 "2005-12-30T18:07:50Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > Hey, I’m creeped out by this Patriot Act BS as much as anyone, but I think they should throw the book at this guy, including revealing his name. It’s akin to a woman falsely accusing someone of rape; it hampers the ability of those truly wronged to get justice. Plus, if they’re rough with him, it makes them look like jack-booted thugs. Bonus! If a rape victim turned out to have lied, would newspapers keep shielding her identity? Could she successfully sue if not? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/34 "2005-12-31T03:03:39Z")
> [@cthiax](#): > > Plus, if they’re rough with him, it makes them look like jack-booted thugs. Bonus! > > If a rape victim turned out to have lied, would newspapers keep shielding her identity? Could she successfully sue if not? Personally, I think rape should be a capital crime. Since I also think falsely accusing someone of a capital crime should be a capital crime, you can imagine how I feel about this. If she was _mistaken_ it’s a different matter entirely. But if she lied about having been raped to falsely accuse someone of that rape, she should face the same penalty she was willing to put someone else through. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/35 "2005-12-31T03:30:32Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Until we do, I’d say we can live without knowing who this kid is. Fair is fair. **22 year-old man, presumably a voting, taxpaying adult who should be forced to take responsibility for his actions and his misdeeds**. He’s not a “kid”. Unless you’re about 80 years old yourself and tend to call everyone “kid”, grandpa…maybe I need to put this in large font? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/36 "2005-12-31T04:04:29Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > _Originally Posted by Ludovic:_ > Okay, I’ll tell you his name if you tell me the names of the White House leakers. > > This post has been Tu Quoqued by the Tu Quoquist! ROFL! I shouldn’t have really done this as I am currently in another thread complaining about how everyone is always playing I’m-being-more-repressed-than-thou, but I couldn’t resist. Sure, it’s bleeding obvious his name should be revealed. If he had any money, which he probably doesn’t due to being in school, there should be a fine. Of course there are bigger names to reveal and penalize. Namely the White House leaker **s**. But it wasn’t really germane to the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/37 "2005-12-31T04:32:16Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > _Originally Posted by Ludovic:_ > Okay, I’ll tell you his name if you tell me the names of the White House leakers. > > This post has been Tu Quoqued by the Tu Quoquist! That was pretty funny - sort of a slow-burning laugh, and even the target appreciated the humour and took it well. Everyone wins. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/38 "2005-12-31T06:38:05Z")
This fellow (I’ll ignore the “kid” versus “adult” argument) has suffered enough for his misdeeds. Let’s move on. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/39 "2005-12-31T07:39:31Z")
What law did he break? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2005, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/40 "2005-12-31T07:57:58Z")
> [@Maeglin](#): > > What law did he break? Is being an idiot against the law yet? Darn. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077.md?page=3)