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Sunday, 20 February 2011

Anonymous vs. Westboro Baptist Church: Nobody's right when everybody's wrong

The hacktivist group Anonymous has issued its own brand of cease and desist against the controversial Westboro Baptist Church. In an Open Letter to Westboro Baptist Church, Anonymous delivers an ultimatum to WBC: shut down your web sites or we will do it for you, and then some. 

The Anonymous poster justifies its threat by claiming that WBC has "crossed the line which separates Freedom of Speech from deliberately utilizing the same tactics and methods of intimidation and mental & emotional abuse that have been previously exploited and employed by tyrants and dictators, fascists and terrorist organizations throughout history."

It's unimaginable that Anonymous really expects WBC to close shop. They've thrown the gauntlet with every expectation that WBC would take it up, and the congregation and pastor have issued their own Open Letter from Westboro Baptist Servants of God to Anonymous Coward Crybaby “Hackers” saying "Bring it". WBC will welcome the added publicity that attacks from Anonymous will bring.

HLIT

by H.L.I.T.

WBC warns Anonymous that "God will defeat your council; your efforts will fail". Perhaps they have some deity-based countermeasure that will protect their sites and sensitive data from attack.  HBGary sure wishes it had been so blessed. I'm skeptical.

Several lyrics from For What It's Worth (Stephen Stills, Buffalo Springfield) seem fitting here:

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
.
.
.
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side

No good can come from this, but the parties involved will get what they crave.

See also:
Anonymous claims WBC planted Open Letter
The Trouble with being Anonymous: the inconstant "we"

Posted at 10:42 AM |

Comments

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Anon threatening to silence a cult in the name of freedom of speech? You should have been more, er, skeptical about all this:
Turns out it's just WBC trying to light another fire.

Posted by: O | Monday, 21 February 2011 at 04:30 AM

the "middle-of-the-roader's" defense. Anyone taking action against the clearly loathsome that doesn't adhere to my rules for never offending anyone or rocking any boat is just as loathsome as the force they're addressing.

What Anonymous is doing is exactly what should be done when dealing with the irrational. Give them a chance to realize they're being irrational, then switch to a more direct language that can be understood. As for the WBC getting what they want, as much as they thrive on attention and conflict, I have yet to see a target of Anonymous enjoy the experience.

Posted by: vendorx | Sunday, 20 February 2011 at 02:40 PM

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