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The Human Flesh Search Engine

forbes.com — A human flesh search engine is where thousands of volunteer cybervigilantes unite to expose the personal details of perceived evildoers and publish them on the Web. The consequences for those on the receiving end often transcend the virtual world and can include loss of employment, public shaming, even imprisonment.

Who dugg this? Made popular Nov 30, 2008

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  • jonglebeats, on 11/30/2008, -3/+65Crap like this is what's going to get the internet censored.
  • Seaton, on 11/30/2008, -0/+47I totally thought this was going to be something different when I clicked it.
  • JakeBC, on 11/30/2008, -0/+27Reminds me of the Digg lynch mob a few months back when that guys Xbox got stolen.

    http://xboxmoron.wikidot.com/
  • Oxyacanthous, on 11/30/2008, -0/+23She crushed a kitten under her heel? What the...?
  • buffyangel108, on 11/30/2008, -1/+24An online DNA database, which volunteers can edit. What could possibly go wrong?
  • honestmonkey, on 11/30/2008, -4/+26Heh heh, heh heh, they said "photographs of Wang". Heh heh.
  • DeathJux, on 11/30/2008, -2/+22Let's get all the top-level Scientology bastards on that thing.
  • Elderon, on 11/30/2008, -1/+20Even people we see as criminals have the right to privacy. stuff like this just populates the whole guilty until proven innocent line of thinking. People that do that make me sick. Sometimes it works out for the good, but what's to say the stories and information that incites this mob retaliation is even true?

    Whats to stop people that just generally dislike you for no reason from digging into your life and posting stuff on here? Boom, now you can never get a job.
  • jeddyftb, on 11/30/2008, -1/+19I see no potential problems with this system.
  • eminn3m, on 11/30/2008, -0/+15You posted the exact link that you did in the submission, why the correction?
  • Branchex, on 12/01/2008, -0/+15A system that combines anonymous accusations, no chance to defend yourself and mob mentality is just asking for trouble.
  • ileftfark, on 11/30/2008, -0/+15This should end well.
  • B3000, on 11/30/2008, -1/+12Hooray for lynch mobs!
  • brainnovate, on 11/30/2008, -9/+20Correct link, http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/21/human-flesh-searc ...
  • Djustme, on 11/30/2008, -1/+12That's really creepy. It's like the Salem Witch Hunts. If you don't like someone, you can lie about them only now, it's on the Internet, so strangers can attack them as opposed to Christian nut jobs hanging you so the guy next door can have your land...

    How many people in that story had the name Wang?

    I do hope though, the Kitten crusher got what was coming to her by way of the law.. if China even has one for animals..
  • DeathJux, on 11/30/2008, -1/+11The brain damage that comes from constantly digging/shouting stories.
  • whatthefu, on 11/30/2008, -0/+10Who decides what's "evil"?
  • Firespray1138, on 12/01/2008, -1/+10This sounds like 4chan to me.
  • parawing742, on 11/30/2008, -3/+12...and the consequences for those who post the personal information can result in massive legal trouble. I got felony charges last year for posting a thief's email and phone number on digg. The story has since been removed, but you can see the followup details at this link:
    http://rudygreene.blogspot.com/

    DON'T EVER POST SOMEONE'S CONTACT INFORMATION ONLINE IN THE UNITED STATES. YOU CAN GO TO JAIL FOR IT EVEN IF THE INFORMATION IS COMPLETELY PUBLIC ALREADY.
  • nebben, on 11/30/2008, -0/+7Heh, don't bother reading the article. It's just like Gattica. LOL
  • haikuFU, on 12/01/2008, -1/+8Yeah, I started getting hungry also.
  • DUNKELKAMMER, on 11/30/2008, -0/+7Grab a rope and hang 'em high!

    Remember the police use the internet like this also. A couple of years ago INTERPOL unscrambled the picture of a man who was sexual abusing young boys and posted the picture all over the internet. Within a few days the man was found and arrested. Before the picture was released the police had no idea of the whereabouts of this criminal.

    LINK: http://scaredmonkeys.com/2007/10/09/hunt-for-suspe ...
  • Yond, on 12/01/2008, -0/+6I am not comfortable knowing that a website like this can be very damaging to a person's life, and that people are ready to ruin other people's lives without making sure beyond a reasonable doubt that they are really guilty, or without understanding all sides of the full story.

    I prefer freedom of speech and privacy, because I don't like the idea of internet lynch mobs threatening us all. Things like this can easily be misused and people are easily tricked which can lead to the spread of evil, that is people thinking they are doing good when they are really doing bad. This is one of the traps of revenge and underscores one reason why forgiveness is superior to revenge.
  • ABadPerson, on 11/30/2008, -1/+7It'll be just like the Wikipedia! WONDERFUL!!!
  • olenick, on 11/30/2008, -0/+5I remember the Amanda and the camcorder case; thought the outcome was garbage and the EFF and ACLU should have come to your rescue; of course, the former doesn't seem to notice the existence of non-coastal states and the latter has turned into a joke. My thoughts back then was the prosecutor was overreaching, reckless and should have suffered the same fate as Michael Nifong.
  • Djustme, on 12/01/2008, -0/+5OMG! I just read your blog.. I cannot believe how bad things got for you. She stole your camcorder. Does no one understand this? How is she able to get away with what she's done? The Police and the courts are a joke! One day, devildolphin8064 will get hers, I'm sure of that. Karma will haunt her for what she has done. As for the medication and therapy? Really, I think she needed this long before she stole your camcorder. Sorry but she sounds like a total nut to me...

    How did Texas get into this, I must have missed something, I'll have to go back and read it again.

    I'm wicked sorry for all that happened to you because of a crazy person and stupid cops!
  • minnasouljah, on 11/30/2008, -1/+6Didn't I tell you to ***** off already?
  • UNL1M1T3D, on 12/01/2008, -0/+5That was rather awesome.
  • DeLtAIjK, on 11/30/2008, -1/+6Isn't this exactly what US "anonymous" does (i.e. in cases like the woman who faked a myspace account to cause a teenage girl to commit suicide)? I seem to remember that people uncovered the story and started harassing her.

    Maybe it's the fact that the culture is different in China because they have different views on privacy. Even so, I am glad that they have some outlet for freedom of speech - perhaps the Chinese government need only punish those who cross the line in doing illegal acts that hurt the said people... because you have to agree, the woman who crushed the kitten's skull with her high heels probably deserved to be humiliated.
  • ZigVicious, on 12/01/2008, -0/+5The Wikipedia? Is that connected to The Google?
  • middlecon, on 11/30/2008, -0/+4The same thing had been going on Perverted Justice in the US. Now sure those guys were having chats that could be crimes but they weren't cooperating with law enforcement at the time so the internet 'lynch mob' mentality went to work. The Perveted Justice site has been clean for 2 or 3 years now but I'm sure it goes on at countless other US internet sites.
  • univerio, on 11/30/2008, -0/+4You should get that phlegm of yours checked out.
  • Plasmodia, on 11/30/2008, -1/+5Hey, lets feed this guy to the flesh engine!
  • cjfjcjfjc, on 11/30/2008, -2/+6an online DNA database that could be edited would be edited by hackers so nobody knows who they are. everything could go wrong.
  • YourDoom123, on 12/01/2008, -0/+4yea, the description sounds just like a raid...
  • Spoomeister, on 11/30/2008, -1/+5Buried as inaccurate. Not about searching human flesh at all. Damn you, submitter!
  • SexyFarts, on 11/30/2008, -1/+5If this article was true, why does Bush still have a job?
  • fieldgreen, on 12/01/2008, -0/+4Is that creepy looking dude in the picture the writer of the article or a member of the perv database?
  • shaunj66, on 11/30/2008, -0/+3In other news, an Elf has been found writing articles for Forbes. Answers to the name Chris.
  • wunksta, on 11/30/2008, -3/+6haha was only a matter of time.
  • Foamator, on 12/01/2008, -1/+4We are the Human Flesh Search Engine.
    We are legion.

    Nope, doesn't have the same ring to it. :S
  • Jeffler, on 12/01/2008, -1/+4Normally I'd say bring it on, but I figure it would take you guys 15 minutes to destroy my life anyway
  • kakwakas, on 12/01/2008, -0/+3Consider this a reminder to keep your various online identities isolated from your real self. One or two can be fine, but in 'seedier' communities where you might piss people off, definitely keep your distance...
    It's stupidly easy to track people. I showed my brother one day just for the hell of it. I took a random Gaia user (they're usually not the brightest) and within 15 minutes had a full name, address, and phone number. With more time, it would probably be pretty easy to find even more info.
  • Lunarbunny, on 12/01/2008, -0/+3[Citation needed]
  • roblub, on 12/01/2008, -0/+3It's already censored in China, where Wang, a victim of the human flesh search engine, lives.
  • Seaton, on 12/01/2008, -0/+3Hannibal is that you?!?
  • UNL1M1T3D, on 12/01/2008, -0/+3And I love how she can't even take responsibility for it and blames it on her failed marriage.
  • Br3ach, on 12/01/2008, -0/+2On title alone I thought this would be like, Google for zombies
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