# Would this be blackmail? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029 "2014-12-12T14:32:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/21 "2014-12-12T17:24:35Z")
So, I’m not an employer. But if I were, and if I came across a website where someone (let me choose my words carefully) had spent four years harassing a child over where he’d gone to school, and I were considering this kid, now grown, as an employee, I can’t imagine it’d make me unfavorably disposed toward the kid. If I were considering any social interaction with the website designer, well, that’s a different story entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/22 "2014-12-12T17:27:52Z")
The Straight Dope: Ruining Peoples Lives Since Some Kid Was In High School. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/23 "2014-12-12T17:34:54Z")
Are the 99’ers going senile or something? Time to retire from the internet guys. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/24 "2014-12-12T17:36:51Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Failing a link to the website, I’m not sure I believe this story. I’m positive the site exists as I was able to track it down. I won’t link to it because I don’t want to increase its ranking in Google at all. Also, doing so wouldn’t just be increasing the potential harm to the student mentioned in the OP: the site details multiple students believed to be “illegally” attending the school district. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/25 "2014-12-12T17:39:23Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > I’m positive the site exists as I was able to track it down. I won’t link to it because I don’t want to increase its ranking in Google at all. Also, doing so wouldn’t just be increasing the potential harm to the student mentioned in the OP: the site details multiple students believed to be “illegally” attending the school district. So the OP is on a mission, huh? ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/26 "2014-12-12T17:44:22Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > I’m positive the site exists as I was able to track it down. I won’t link to it because I don’t want to increase its ranking in Google at all. So, just mangle the link and include it here as text. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/27 "2014-12-12T17:45:07Z")
Back in 2012, **bizerta** [posted](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=653646) about this, indicating that he had been on the case for 18 months at that point. While I can see that the school district would have an issue with providing services to out-of-district residents, I think maybe you’re taking this a bit far. It sounds like you’ve raised the issue to the relevant authorities. Maybe you should move on to other issues at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/28 "2014-12-12T17:47:44Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > So … Is it blackmail if I ask her to reimburse our town the $40k she stole (my opinion, of course) before I remove the web page? Would you consider negotiating an alternative arrangement, such as her agreeing to not put up a “ **bizerta** is a dick” web site? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/29 "2014-12-12T17:49:48Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > I’m positive the site exists as I was able to track it down. I won’t link to it because I don’t want to increase its ranking in Google at all. Also, doing so wouldn’t just be increasing the potential harm to the student mentioned in the OP: the site details multiple students believed to be “illegally” attending the school district. Give a man a hint? I can’t seem to find it. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/30 "2014-12-12T17:51:12Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > But the OP isn’t demanding the money for him/herself, but for the school district. I think that makes it not blackmail… Of course that doesn’t make it not blackmail. If it was that easy, blackmailers would have an absurdly easy loophole ( **JimBob:** I won’t tell anybody about your intimate encounter with a goat if you give BillyRay $10k; **BillyRay:** I won’t tell anybody about your squirrel porn collection if you give JimBob $10k). ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/31 "2014-12-12T17:51:28Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > So, just mangle the link and include it here as text. I think it also gets one too close to personally identifying the OP. I now regret even bringing it up for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/32 "2014-12-12T17:55:45Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Here’s Massachusetts law: > I am not a lawyer, but it seems very clear to me that the OP is: (1) accusing someone of a crime or offense; and (2) intending to compel an act against the other person’s will. The only ambiguity in my mind is whether the OP’s actions meet the legal definition of “maliciously” accusing someone of a crime. If I were a juror, I’d probably vote to convict. The word you’re missing from the quoted law is “threatens”, as in “…threatens to accuse…”. The OP is not threatening anything, the “offense” is already posted. I agree with **Gary T** ’s assessment. > [@Shakes](#): > > Are the 99’ers going senile or something? > > Time to retire from the internet guys. > 😛 Hey! You take that back or I’ll…um…wait, what was the question? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/33 "2014-12-12T18:08:15Z")
Maybe not quite legally blackmail but by now something of a dick move, and I’m not sure if OP would maybe be incurring in “false assumption of public authority” or something of the sort by taking it upon themselves to make a collection demand on behalf of the school district. No need to remove the shaming site if it’s factual, but if the district settled informally, then what’s it to anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/34 "2014-12-12T18:12:57Z")
Why won’t those poor people just let their kids have a shitty education! OP, this kid would probably not even be going to college if it weren’t for your school district. The benefit to our society as a whole to have this person graduate college and enter the workforce is worth way more than a few tens of thousands of dollars you think they owe your town. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/35 "2014-12-12T18:47:41Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Back in 2012, **bizerta** [posted](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=653646) about this, indicating that he had been on the case for 18 months at that point. While I can see that the school district would have an issue with providing services to out-of-district residents, I think maybe you’re taking this a bit far. It sounds like you’ve raised the issue to the relevant authorities. Maybe you should move on to other issues at this point. On the case for 18 months and considering protesting at graduation. :rolleyes: OP never made it back to that thread so I wouldn’t hold my breath for any sort of further participation in this one, either. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/36 "2014-12-12T19:04:01Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > So … Is it blackmail if I ask her to reimburse our town the $40k she stole (my opinion, of course) before I remove the web page? You’re asking the wrong question here. The question you should be asking is, “Why is my fixation on pursuing this issue so much more important than not potentially ruining this kid’s life, who was presumably innocent of the actions taken by his parents?” ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/37 "2014-12-12T19:51:16Z")
You are quite the crusader, making the world better for everyone. Or at least for the “I got mine” crowd. I don’t think you could be prosecuted for blackmail, but if you are, think of it as an act of civil disobedience. Like Rosa Parks, you should be willing to face arrest in your fight against the tyranny of the middle class. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/38 "2014-12-12T19:57:47Z")
Are you a school employee whose job it is to ferret this sort of thing out, or just someone who hates “other people” coming into his neighborhood? I can’t imagine why anyone would even care so long after the fact. I’m feeling very thankful for our area’s Open Enrollment Act. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/39 "2014-12-13T00:18:57Z")
If not blackmail, I would think it could still count as harassment, or possibly stalking. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Joker_and_the_Thief)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029/40 "2014-12-13T03:14:44Z")
I understand that people find what the OP is doing unacceptable, but if we allowed anyone to go to whatever schools they wanted, we’d have a free rider problem since there isn’t enough money to give everyone a first class education. Though their motives are understandable, the parents who are doing this are committing theft, and their actions are not justifiable. By the way, I found the site too. I’m confident that anyone reasonable skilled could do so as well, if they want. Its not very interesting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-blackmail/707029.md?page=3)