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Originally Posted by Seltius
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Sorry wasn't really interested in getting involved in the drama in this thread but I wanted to point something out to you. There is currently a court case in the US where someone is actually being prosecuted for exactly what you did here in this thread. They allegedly encouraged their boyfriend via text, messages, and over the phone to commit suicide. If the person you posted this directed at does commit suicide then you could legally be prosecuted for this post. Before you say they cannot find you your IP address is traceable and the fact that your probably doing so across state lines more than likely violates other laws.
Please think of the mental state of some of the people on these forums before posting things like this.
It is one thing to troll someone it is entirely something else to encourage suicide even if meant in jest.
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I personally wouldn't tell anyone to kill themselves, in person or online, but it's ridiculous to suggest it's illegal for someone to say "kill yourself" in an essentially anonymous petty argument on the internet. I took 10 seconds to google the case you're mentioning, and the Washington Post article states
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According to prosecutors, Carter relentlessly pressured Conrad Roy III to kill himself in the days before his July 12, 2014, death. She allegedly calmed his fears; helped him research suicide methods; cajoled him to go through with his plans when he got cold feet and lied to police, family and friends in order to enable the 18-year-old’s final act.
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The difference is pretty clear, and even this extreme case could be struck down at the appeals level. Don't worry, our right to be distasteful on the internet is firmly couched in the 1st amendment.