Edward Snowden Hero or Villain?

[Achas Veachas]

What is the opinion of the esteemed members of DDF?

[ChAiM'l]

What is the opinion of the esteemed members of DDF?

Poll?

[Ergel]

Neither. Who cares

[moko]

Q:
Edward Snowden
1. Hero?
2. Villain?
3. Attention monger?

A:
3.
ding ding ding
we have a winner

[Steven]

Q:
Edward Snowden
1. Hero?
2. Villain?
3. Attention monger?

A:
3.
ding ding ding
we have a winner

+ an idiot.. gonna get himself locked up for good if they can get him. He must have some real issues. Always blows my mind how these young twerps get under the radar

[PlatinumGuy]

Attention/hero

[Achas Veachas]

Poll?

Done

Q:
Edward Snowden
1. Hero?
2. Villain?
3. Attention monger?

A:
3.
ding ding ding
we have a winner

There are better ways to get attention than ruining your life and becoming a fugitive.

Neither. Who cares

So I guess you don't mind if some snoop in the NSA has access to anything in your Google account?

[Ergel]

So I guess you don't mind if some snoop in the NSA has access to anything in your Google account?

A. They don't
B. Not really. Who cares.

[meshugener]

Attention seeker.

But I couldn't understand why would a young man ruin his life for that?

[Dan]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/11/opinion/brooks-the-solitary-leaker.html

[ChAiM'l]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/11/opinion/brooks-the-solitary-leaker.html

Great article.

[yehuda S]

Who presents a great threat to individual liberty? The people that the NSA are using this program to 'protect us' from, or an all seeing, all knowing government?

I think history shows us that abusive and unaccountable governments have caused far more harm than individual terrorists ever could do.

I don't think this program is the only way to protect us either.

Given a choice, I think I'd take my chances with the lone wolf criminal rather than the anonymous all-knowing government bureaucrat.

[yehuda S]

The fact that you have to think for a second before posting a reply should indicate how troubling it is.

[Achas Veachas]

Attention seeker.

But I couldn't understand why would a young man ruin his life for that?

Which is precisely why I find it hard to believe that all he wanted was attention.
Has it occurred to you that maybe he did it because he felt it was the right thing to do (even if in your opinion he was misguided)?

Given a choice, I think I'd take my chances with the lone wolf criminal rather than the anonymous all-knowing government bureaucrat.

Especially since it hasn't protected us from any lone-wolf criminals yet...

[Moshe123]

Which is precisely why I find it hard to believe that all he wanted was attention.
Has it occurred to you that maybe he did it because he felt it was the right thing to do (even if in your opinion he was misguided)?
Especially since it hasn't protected us from any lone-wolf criminals yet...

It caught Zazi.

[springles]

personally I believe he did it because he believed it was the right thing to do. 
However, it is always tough for one person to decide what is in the best interest of everyone else, and no one elected him to make that decision.  Just because he believed it to be wrong doesnt mean that it is or that informing everyone will be beneficial. Therefore I dont think he is a hero.  He isnt a villain either because he did something he believed to be correct and it doesnt seem like it will cause much harm to US other than mistrust from its citizens and maybe some allies.  I also dont think he did this just for attention, there are easier and safer ways to get attention for yourself if you really want and it seems as if he is smart enough to have thought up some other way to gain fame/notoriety. 

[Steven]

Great article.

+1
Exactly why I ask how the govt didn't see this coming. The techies are good at what they do but are very often introverts. Not a great comparison but the newton shooter comes to mind. (Obviously he much more issues than this guy)

[churnbabychurn]

Why the ---- is he in China?

[yehuda S]

+1
Exactly why I ask how the govt didn't see this coming. The techies are good at what they do but are very often introverts. Not a great comparison but the newton shooter comes to mind. (Obviously he much more issues than this guy)

Way to go lumping in all techies with the Newton Shooter.

[yehuda S]

Now maybe he's gone too far.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/snowden-wants-people-of-hong-kong-to-decide-my-fate/2013/06/12/a69e94ee-d370-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story.html?hpid=z1