California man arrested for threatening to kill FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's family over net neutrality
A 33-year-old resident of Norwalk, California was arrested today for sending threatening emails to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai last year, according to the US Department of Justice. The threats, sent by an individual named Makara Man, were made primarily in the second of three messages sent to Pai's official FCC email accounts in late December, just days after the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality protections.
The first email allegedly accused Pai of causing the suicide of a teenager through his actions that led to the net neutrality vote. The second email contained an explicit threat against members of Pai's family, as well as a listing of three locations in and around Arlington, Virginia where Pai is said to live. The third email allegedly contained a photo of Pai and a separate photo of Pai and his family.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by lentilla on Monday July 02 2018, @12:13AM (1 child)
Being taken seriously is an essential human need. When someone makes a threat they are telegraphing a critical need to be taken more seriously. This need can be met in a variety of ways: submission ("oh my God, please don't hit me!"), escalation ("fuck you, motherfucker, I'm gonna fuck you up real good!") or compassionate hearing ("I sense you are angry about the situation - would you be able to describe how you feel?"). All three of those responses meets that need to be taken seriously, and ironically; the third response; the only one that has a chance of a lasting accord; is the hardest to deliver.
Unravelling needs from threats isn't always easy, or exactly clear-cut. There will be many times when there is no middle ground - but when both parties feel they have been listened to respectfully and their needs heard, they are in a far better position to negotiate a solution or even to accept a loss.
(Score: 4, Informative) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday July 02 2018, @02:29AM
Actually, violence (escalation) has been the means to most lasting resolutions throughout history. It's just not PC to say so anymore.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.