Comments on: Aspergers Does Not Make Computer Hacking Acceptable http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/ The Aspergers And Autism Web Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:08:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carl http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-15343 Carl Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:10:08 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-15343 I agree that Gary should not be sent to prison for the rest of his life just because he did something stupid. Americans are paying way too much for all the number of arrests being made this day. Some federal laws are even so ambiguous that most people can't even understand them without having to consult a lawyer. Instead of focusing on the REAL criminals (rapists, murderers, etc.), the government each day makes up new nifty laws to gain the "favor" of the American people and make them believe they are making the justice system better. source: http://www.economist.com/node/16640389 Besides, even if a mental disability is no excuse for committing an outright crime, this guy didn't even steal or make do anything malicious. One would think they'd rather apprehend him some other lesser way as misconduct and make him receive appropriate treatment but noooooo, instead the government decides to send this mentally disabled person to prison FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. Welcome to the American justice system. I agree that Gary should not be sent to prison for the rest of his life just because he did something stupid. Americans are paying way too much for all the number of arrests being made this day. Some federal laws are even so ambiguous that most people can’t even understand them without having to consult a lawyer. Instead of focusing on the REAL criminals (rapists, murderers, etc.), the government each day makes up new nifty laws to gain the “favor” of the American people and make them believe they are making the justice system better. source: http://www.economist.com/node/16640389

Besides, even if a mental disability is no excuse for committing an outright crime, this guy didn’t even steal or make do anything malicious. One would think they’d rather apprehend him some other lesser way as misconduct and make him receive appropriate treatment but noooooo, instead the government decides to send this mentally disabled person to prison FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. Welcome to the American justice system.

]]> By: James http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-14939 James Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:53:44 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-14939 "irregardless"? “irregardless”?

]]> By: Jane Ashes http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-14915 Jane Ashes Fri, 28 May 2010 22:54:04 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-14915 This article is very misleading - Gary McKinnon didn't even know he had Asperger's syndrome and he never used it as an excuse to gain unauthorised access into NASA and Pentagon computers (he didn't hack - there were no passwords - they were blank - and anyone could have done it) McKinnon's lawyers however did rely on the experts' testimony that McKinnon's undiagnosed and unsupported Asperger's and severe depression exasperated obsessive behaviour, i.e. repeated access to sites that HAD no passwords - to look for information that morally, US has no right to hide from the people of this planet. Nobody ever suggested that because of Gary's Asperger's (that by the way I also have - I was officially diagnosed in 2006 by top autism specialist) he shouldn't be prosecuted. The author of this 'article' is missing the point and I hope he's not using his AS as an excuse for not understanding the issue, because being autistic myself I have no problem reading and understanding things. Gary's lawyers are arguing that he has the right to be tried in UK because being autistic he will suffer in the abusive prison system in US where he WILL be bullied (Autistics are bullied everywhere, anyway. But being a non-US citizen in a US prison, accused of leaving anti-US gov. messages - McKinnon will be a target by the American home-bread bullies in prisons, both guards and prisoners. He will not have any support for his depression and paranoid delusions - he's scared of being tortured by aliens which he believes are running the US gov. And McKinnon is not the only one to believe in the Lizard conspiracy, by the way - loads of people all around the world do, but they are not facing the red-necks in US prisons who don't care and don't want to understand anyone with mental health issues - they just bully and destroy. Gary is very likely to be male raped and beaten up and even killed for being 'weird' and for being perceived -anti-American. You must be aware how brainwashed the ignorant people in society are and I doubt many among prison population are from educated liberal left side of the political spectrum. If they were - they'd not end up in prison). Gary did find evidence, by the way, of extra-terrestrial fleet (which didn't specify if they were human or alien in origin but the documents were titled 'extra-terrestrial fleet of officers') and a foto of cigar-shaped UFO taken from spacestation, with earth visible in background what things like that are doing on government computers and why is it a secret to the rest of us? why are we being treated like children and not told the truth? Breaking the law is only when the purpose is malicious and involves personal gain which there was none in McKinnon's case - he's just a maverick who tried to uncover the truth to benefit humanity. He didn't hurt anyone, he didn't steal anything. Those other guys did, but Gary is not even a criminal in a true sense of the word. What he did is misdemeanor because he's left anti-US gov. messages and that's what they are trying to put him away for 60 years for. Apparently, freedom of speech has no meaning any more (and what Gary said was true, anyway - the US military were being the aggressor of the world - murdering millions of Iraqis was a nasty thing to do. US military should be ashamed of themselves This article is very misleading – Gary McKinnon didn’t even know he had Asperger’s syndrome and he never used it as an excuse to gain unauthorised access into NASA and Pentagon computers (he didn’t hack – there were no passwords – they were blank – and anyone could have done it)

McKinnon’s lawyers however did rely on the experts’ testimony that McKinnon’s undiagnosed and unsupported Asperger’s and severe depression exasperated obsessive behaviour, i.e. repeated access to sites that HAD no passwords – to look for information that morally, US has no right to hide from the people of this planet.

Nobody ever suggested that because of Gary’s Asperger’s (that by the way I also have – I was officially diagnosed in 2006 by top autism specialist) he shouldn’t be prosecuted. The author of this ‘article’ is missing the point and I hope he’s not using his AS as an excuse for not understanding the issue, because being autistic myself I have no problem reading and understanding things.

Gary’s lawyers are arguing that he has the right to be tried in UK because being autistic he will suffer in the abusive prison system in US where he WILL be bullied (Autistics are bullied everywhere, anyway. But being a non-US citizen in a US prison, accused of leaving anti-US gov. messages – McKinnon will be a target by the American home-bread bullies in prisons, both guards and prisoners. He will not have any support for his depression and paranoid delusions – he’s scared of being tortured by aliens which he believes are running the US gov. And McKinnon is not the only one to believe in the Lizard conspiracy, by the way – loads of people all around the world do, but they are not facing the red-necks in US prisons who don’t care and don’t want to understand anyone with mental health issues – they just bully and destroy. Gary is very likely to be male raped and beaten up and even killed for being ‘weird’ and for being perceived -anti-American. You must be aware how brainwashed the ignorant people in society are and I doubt many among prison population are from educated liberal left side of the political spectrum. If they were – they’d not end up in prison).

Gary did find evidence, by the way, of extra-terrestrial fleet (which didn’t specify if they were human or alien in origin but the documents were titled ‘extra-terrestrial fleet of officers’) and a foto of cigar-shaped UFO taken from spacestation, with earth visible in background

what things like that are doing on government computers and why is it a secret to the rest of us?

why are we being treated like children and not told the truth?

Breaking the law is only when the purpose is malicious and involves personal gain which there was none in McKinnon’s case – he’s just a maverick who tried to uncover the truth to benefit humanity.

He didn’t hurt anyone, he didn’t steal anything.

Those other guys did, but Gary is not even a criminal in a true sense of the word. What he did is misdemeanor because he’s left anti-US gov. messages and that’s what they are trying to put him away for 60 years for.

Apparently, freedom of speech has no meaning any more

(and what Gary said was true, anyway – the US military were being the aggressor of the world – murdering millions of Iraqis was a nasty thing to do. US military should be ashamed of themselves

]]> By: Alexa http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-14497 Alexa Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:25:53 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-14497 "I am hugely dismayed at my fellow Brits’ paranoia and double standards. This man was diagnosed with aspergers AFTER he committed the act – highly convenient. He claimed to be looking for UFOs but deliberately left anti-war messages, threatened to hack and disrupt again and also maliciously deleted files..." Sounds to me like he *doesn't have Asperger's.* When someone does bad stuff [like hacking into and deleting someone else's files, sexually harassing coworkers, stealing a bus, leaving clues all over a murder scene, throwing someone through a window, etc.] and his or her sympathizers go "he or she can't help it, he or she has Asperger's, he or she needs to stay as free as he or she was free to do this stuff before!!!" it's really horrible for people who *do* have Asperger's because it scares other people away from people with Asperger's (like "since she has Asperger's she can get away with hitting me, so she's more likely to hit me than someone else who would be punished for hitting me, so if I don't want her to hit me it's my job to stay away from her..."). I bet it even scares some people with Asperger's away from other people with Asperger's! “I am hugely dismayed at my fellow Brits’ paranoia and double standards. This man was diagnosed with aspergers AFTER he committed the act – highly convenient. He claimed to be looking for UFOs but deliberately left anti-war messages, threatened to hack and disrupt again and also maliciously deleted files…”

Sounds to me like he *doesn’t have Asperger’s.*

When someone does bad stuff [like hacking into and deleting someone else's files, sexually harassing coworkers, stealing a bus, leaving clues all over a murder scene, throwing someone through a window, etc.] and his or her sympathizers go “he or she can’t help it, he or she has Asperger’s, he or she needs to stay as free as he or she was free to do this stuff before!!!” it’s really horrible for people who *do* have Asperger’s because it scares other people away from people with Asperger’s (like “since she has Asperger’s she can get away with hitting me, so she’s more likely to hit me than someone else who would be punished for hitting me, so if I don’t want her to hit me it’s my job to stay away from her…”). I bet it even scares some people with Asperger’s away from other people with Asperger’s!

]]> By: Colin http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-12760 Colin Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:57:51 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-12760 After reading this article. Im sorry to say but im against EVERYTHING you have mentioned. I myself has asperger syndrome, at age of 21 i was very fortunate to have been diagnosed at age of 5 and got help and support, if i hadnt been diagnosed at an early age my condition would no doubt be more advanced than it is today. I can understand what your trying to say, the fact that you don't want people with asperger's getting away with everything, of course not, but you have to remember Gary McKinnon is a man age of 43, and he was only diagnosed a year ago, people diagnosed at that age is kind of a blow as asperger's can take years for a person control, everyone is different. I agree that mckinnon should serve his sentence but at the same time get support for his condition and give him help, however i am defiently against the idea of him being sent to the USA, the americans could not be more bitter than they are about the situation and thats despite doctors and psychiatrists explaning the condition and the consequences of mckinnon if he was to be sent. Its disgusting treatment if you ask me. People who are diagnosed with the condition must be given support all they can to help lead themselves to a life with very little pressure compared to what it used to be. I take it that you were diagnosed with the condition at a young age? well count yourself fortunate like i was because i think mckinnon wouldnt have done what he did if he was diagnosed at a young enough age. If you seriously think gary being sent to america will make things better...well im sorry it wont After reading this article. Im sorry to say but im against EVERYTHING you have mentioned. I myself has asperger syndrome, at age of 21 i was very fortunate to have been diagnosed at age of 5 and got help and support, if i hadnt been diagnosed at an early age my condition would no doubt be more advanced than it is today. I can understand what your trying to say, the fact that you don’t want people with asperger’s getting away with everything, of course not, but you have to remember Gary McKinnon is a man age of 43, and he was only diagnosed a year ago, people diagnosed at that age is kind of a blow as asperger’s can take years for a person control, everyone is different. I agree that mckinnon should serve his sentence but at the same time get support for his condition and give him help, however i am defiently against the idea of him being sent to the USA, the americans could not be more bitter than they are about the situation and thats despite doctors and psychiatrists explaning the condition and the consequences of mckinnon if he was to be sent. Its disgusting treatment if you ask me. People who are diagnosed with the condition must be given support all they can to help lead themselves to a life with very little pressure compared to what it used to be. I take it that you were diagnosed with the condition at a young age? well count yourself fortunate like i was because i think mckinnon wouldnt have done what he did if he was diagnosed at a young enough age. If you seriously think gary being sent to america will make things better…well im sorry it wont

]]> By: Jerry http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-12304 Jerry Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:03:07 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-12304 I am hugely dismayed at my fellow Brits' paranoia and double standards. This man was diagnosed with aspergers AFTER he committed the act - highly convenient. He claimed to be looking for UFOs but deliberately left anti-war messages, threatened to hack and disrupt again and also maliciously deleted files. If this was an American so many Brits would be up in arms and demanding his trial here in Britain. Zach is absolutely right - a thief that enters your property and smashed it up cannot use the excuse that it was unlocked and then blame the victim. Stop whining and send this man off to what will undoubtedly (thanks to the ridiculous amount of coverage it has received) be the fairest trial in history. I am hugely dismayed at my fellow Brits’ paranoia and double standards. This man was diagnosed with aspergers AFTER he committed the act – highly convenient. He claimed to be looking for UFOs but deliberately left anti-war messages, threatened to hack and disrupt again and also maliciously deleted files. If this was an American so many Brits would be up in arms and demanding his trial here in Britain. Zach is absolutely right – a thief that enters your property and smashed it up cannot use the excuse that it was unlocked and then blame the victim. Stop whining and send this man off to what will undoubtedly (thanks to the ridiculous amount of coverage it has received) be the fairest trial in history.

]]> By: Zach http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-12296 Zach Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:09:05 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-12296 @kermit: So if i leave the keys in my car while its unlocked and running, are you allowed to drive off with my car? @kermit:

So if i leave the keys in my car while its unlocked and running, are you allowed to drive off with my car?

]]> By: kermit http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-12294 kermit Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:58:05 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-12294 McKinnon only hacked computers where the administrator hadn't gotton around to changing the id from "admin" and the password from "password". If these machines truly contained valuable info that threatens millions of americans if in the wrong hands it's not McKinnon who deserves prosecution The protests about extradition are also much about the very one sided treaty Blair signed up to. The US doesn't have to provide evidence, just claim someone is a terrorist - not so for the UK, we would need to provide evidence. The treaty even uses American spellings, so it is obvious who drew it up. McKinnon only hacked computers where the administrator hadn’t gotton around to changing the id from “admin” and the password from “password”. If these machines truly contained valuable info that threatens millions of americans if in the wrong hands it’s not McKinnon who deserves prosecution The protests about extradition are also much about the very one sided treaty Blair signed up to. The US doesn’t have to provide evidence, just claim someone is a terrorist – not so for the UK, we would need to provide evidence. The treaty even uses American spellings, so it is obvious who drew it up.

]]> By: Pat http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-12288 Pat Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:08:07 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-12288 Well in fact if you do have Aspergers Syndrome then in fact you do know that others are not as fortunate as you. Some do not have the same resources you have had. Not everyone is like another in the spectrum and you should at least respected that. I also think the US government should give him a job. If he is that good, looking for aliens and so on to crack this national security info then they should hire him to fix the security problem. I do not believe he should be tried any form of autism could be lack of self control. No harm No fowl Well in fact if you do have Aspergers Syndrome then in fact you do know that others are not as fortunate as you. Some do not have the same resources you have had. Not everyone is like another in the spectrum and you should at least respected that.
I also think the US government should give him a job. If he is that good, looking for aliens and so on to crack this national security info then they should hire him to fix the security problem.
I do not believe he should be tried any form of autism could be lack of self control.
No harm No fowl

]]> By: Zach http://www.aspieweb.net/aspergers-does-not-make-computer-hacking-acceptable/#comment-12286 Zach Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:38:36 +0000 http://www.aspieweb.net/?p=100#comment-12286 Actually I have Aspergers Syndrome. Thanks for asking. Actually I have Aspergers Syndrome. Thanks for asking.

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