Originally Posted by
gimmick
Yea they didn't dig dirt on him. The guy wrote it all by himself to a public forum.
Oh the humanity that anyone would be held responsible for their own words.
And besides it's not like CNN was prowling in the vicinity of the guys section 8 housing project to expose him. That would be just silly. All they had was a phone call to interview him.
No blackmail, No critique, SAD.
They did an extensive investigation which led them to his actual identity.
Then they contacted him, and apparently let him know they knew about both the GIF and his racist/anti-Semitic messages.
Knowing how fucked his life would be if this info got out (given the high public interest in the GIF), he panicked, apologized, and begged them not to identify him.
CNN then published a front-page, lead-story article bragging about how they identified him, and included a threat to reveal his identity if he doesn't behave going forward.
Explain how this is okay.
Explain WHY they researched this guy in the first place. Why did it even matter who made the GIF?
WHY did they release a front-page article gloating about finding him, and making it clear they'll only keep his identity secret if he stays in line?
This is a horrible look for a major news organization.
They're basically saying, "If you criticize us, we will unearth your skeletons, and you will be sorry."
And why was this front-page, top-story news?
"How CNN found an internet troll who made a GIF making fun of us!"
Yeah, nothing more important going on this planet today than that, huh?
And regarding the release of his identity, it should either be appropriate or inappropriate to do so, with no middle ground. If CNN feels the public should know who he is, they should release it. If they feel he's a private citizen and shouldn't deserve such a fate, then they shouldn't release it. There should be no blackmail/conditions put upon his future behavior. They aren't his parents, they aren't a judge, and they aren't his parole officer.