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NovemberWhiskey | on: Ross Ulbricht granted a full pardon
Pray tell, what is the difference between operating an electronic market where people can buy drugs and operating a physical one (say, a street corner) where people can do the same?
starspangled | parent | next
Operating a street corner? You mean like in the capacity of a city municipality, providing sidewalk, road, drainage infrastructure, perhaps some street lighting.
itsoktocry | parent | next
Is this a serious question?

What does it mean to be "operating an electronic market"? Are you under the impression he was physically intermediating these transactions in some way? That the drugs passed through his hands?

That's one difference.

lucb1e | root | parent
> What does it mean to be "operating an electronic market"?

Ask Ross Ulbricht

> Are you under the impression [...] That the drugs passed through his hands?

They never said that, and it doesn't have to for being partially responsible. The Pirate Bay didn't host any copyrighted material, but the founders "were found guilty in the Pirate Bay trial in Sweden for assisting in copyright infringement and were sentenced to serve one year in prison and pay a fine." Hosting the website where the issue is rampant is sufficient; no infringing material (drugs or movies) have to pass through your hands

But I think we might be in agreement here since you said above that Ross had some responsibility. I also don't think it's the same as handing out the drugs yourself

vasilipupkin | parent | next
huge difference. People can sell drugs on facebook marketplace but that doesn't mean that Zuckerberg is a drug dealer. The difference is you bear responsibility for what you do.
lucb1e | root | parent
> People can sell drugs on facebook marketplace but that doesn't mean that Zuckerberg is a drug dealer

In our legal system, they are in fact partially responsible if they don't disallow it and don't act upon reports. I'm not sure there is a difference whether it's physical or digital

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akudha | parent | next
Isn't scale a difference? How much damage can one guy do from a street corner VS the other guy operating a large marketplace where anyone can buy anything from anywhere?
lvass | parent | next
Are you saying people who lay paving blocks or asphalt on a street should be guilty of drug dealing?
plorg | parent
One is the capital class, the other is not.