# 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:** 4\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/61 "2006-01-02T17:33:42Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > C’mon, **Squink**. What’s the most likely explanation for his motives? He was trying to get out trouble for not turning his work in on time? Students often make up odd excuses. It’s not often that we see them engage in diabolical plots to undermine the president. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/62 "2006-01-03T02:35:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > This is idiotic. People can legitimately be assumed to intend the ordinary, forseeable results of their actions. Be careful what you say. That one has a good chance of being quoted back at you the next time you’re dreaming up some cockeyed apologia for this administration’s latest actions. > [@](#): > > What’s the most likely explanation for his motives? How about that a 22-year-old may very well still be immature enough to want to cause a fuss just for the fun of it? That college students are prone to bouts of self-importance as well? The degree to which his name has been publicized is equivalent to the effect of his prank on public discourse, which is to say none. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/63 "2006-01-03T15:40:01Z")
> [@Una Persson](#): > > **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? 😛 Hey, I’m 51, and have frequently refered to people older than 22 as “this kid”. At any rate, my point was that this 22-year-old voting, taxpaying adult should be held no more or less responsible for his sins than “senior administration officials” who commit similar sins. But it’s unfair to nail the powerless and give the powerful a pass. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077/64 "2006-01-04T02:50:40Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Hey, I’m 51, and have frequently refered to people older than 22 as “this kid”. It’s obviously the CONTEXT of the usage that is the issue. You get that, right? It seems rather apparent that people are referring to this 22 year old man as a “kid” or “poor goof” (and using words like “prank” etc…) to equate this with junior high school students asking for “Prince Albert In A Can” on the phone. It’s an obvious attempt to create sympathy for the “kid” because he can’t be fully responsible for his actions…because, you know…he’s a kid and all. I dunno, maybe “kids” really don’t have any business voting or driving dangerous automobiles or drinking liquor or… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mao-book-hoaxers-name-still-a-secret/337077.md?page=3)