The only possible way it could ever be a crime is if diplomat1824 did kill himself. Unless that happens there is no crime, and even it it did good luck proving that the offhand remarks of a few people on an internet forum did it.

Stop being such a busybody, Maniac.

Guessing where I live should not be difficult.....

I was using the Model Penal Code as an example and I did say that it applied in most states not every state.

The link you posted (correctly IMO) dismisses the soliciting charge in the case they are considering as the suicidee (if that's a word) already suggested suicide prior to others egging him on, they did not plant the idea in his mind. In our example Diplomat1824 didn't consider suicide prior to others mentioning it (and probably still isn't considering it, but that isn't the point).

I never said Kestas has to follow any American law - i said in my opinion he has responsibility / duty to report it. Kestas may wish to consider his own countrys laws to determine if he has to report an alleged crime.

@ DrOct if I was on holiday in Zimbawe and saw someone climbing out of a window with a TV I would consider it a crime and report it. If it turned out to be the owner's TV but they couldn't get their door open, then that is for others to decide. I genuinely believe that what was said could be a crime, i do not have to be certain that it is - only have a reasonable suspicion that it is. If I'm wrong then so be it.

@Invictus - if you copuld provide me with a list of crimes you think i should ignore and which by reporting makes me a busybody I would be obliged.

Well dang. I went on a three day trip and diplomat is still headed out.

oi mapleleaf go kill yourself/rob a bank/murder someone :p

Maniac, if you threaten me with "the authorities" one more time, I'm going to report you to Sicarius.

Hey, what If I told maniac to kill Diplomat?

lol

what would happen if i encouraged myself on this forum to commit a crime

There is nothing wrong with him threatening to report you to the authorities what you said was quite rude even as a joke. There is a line where things cease to be appropriate and that was beyond it. All he was really saying was reporting you to Kestas for being so rude as it isn't all that appropriate for a forum. He just wanted to make you aware of that I presume.

But meh, I find that internet forums are pretty silly and immature anyways so it doesn't surprise me to find such a comment as yours Mapleleaf.

I think there may be a serious problem with civil society when poor taste results immediately in serious calls for recourse to strong-handed legal measures.

And Maniac, specifically - am I to take it that you believe that legal authorities are under obligation to use no personal discretion, to enforce every law to its letters and in its full extent, and that furthermore, that these enforcement agencies are disposed to judge every situation equally?

What do you think any authority would even do if they were emailed with a report that someone had "encouraged" somebody else to commit suicide on a website?

lmao this thread is off-topic

Not really, a lot of people would be glad if diplomat comitted suicide, and now we're discussing the ethics of it... I think...?

For the record, I do not want diplomat to kill himself; he's one of my favorite phpdiplomacy members.

Wow. I'm not even close to considering it. Who do you think I am? I have so much to live for.

You do!

You might graduate high school one day. Then who knows? You might even get an actual PhD.

See? Not even close. No one was serious, anyone with any experience with people in general, could tell it was a joke, even if not funny or in bad taste. Even if you brought this thread in as evidence, the jury would dismiss it, realizing the context almost immediately.
And Damian, there is nothing wrong with reporting crime to authorities. CRIME. Snitching out anybody who says something you find distasteful is another. If I snitched on anyone who offended me, the legal system would be a lot more bogged down than it is already, getting in the way of what is actually important, and what actually needs to get done.

It's a good idea not to tell people to kill themselves over the internet, but not ever good idea need be a law.

Looking at my post I can see where it may not have demonstrated the intent I wished to convey. What I meant to say is it isn't very appropriate for the site and that I'm sure Kestas doesn't appreciate having such content on his site. I'm not saying I'm going to go report it to the authorities or anything I'm just saying it's a good idea to be nicer and more polite even though this is a internet forum. Can't we just get along a be a friendly community without people telling each other to go die. That's simply not funny as a joke and not appropriate otherwise.

Now I'm going to return to lurking and leaving the forums alone.

@Maniac

"I genuinely believe that what was said could be a crime, i do not have to be certain that it is - only have a reasonable suspicion that it is. If I'm wrong then so be it."

All I'm saying is I find it amazing that you genuinely believe that that was likely to be a crime.

I would do the same thing in the situation with the TV, but I think that's a much clearer situation in which it looks like a crime is being committed.

If you honestly believe it was a crime, then I guess you can go ahead and try to find someone to report it to, though I have no idea who you think that would be, but I don't think anything even close to a crime was committed here, and I'm really genuinely surprised that you do.

Maniac.... relax .
I don't wish to judge you because for all we know you may have had a suicide recently in your family or circle of friends and might feel(quite rightly) sensitive about suicide. but to suggest a "crime" has been committed and the relevant authorities need to be alerted, beyond belief.

Are you going to suggest we all go to sensitivity training?

If I told someone 'go fuck your mother', would you call the authorities because incest was about to be committed? If I told you to 'bite me', should '*I* call the cops because I fear I'm about to be assaulted?

Haha, I would love to hear the response from the police for that last one!

mapleleaf and Onar I do not intend to sit as judge and jury on either of you - I found your remarks offensive and believed you had crossed the line into criminality. If a person suspects someone of a crime the correct thing to do (in my opinion) is to report the matter and let any prosecuting authority take any action they deem appropriate.

I do not pretend to know the law inside out, but I don't have to. The person who reports a suspected crime is entitled to ask people who have investigative skills and a sound knowledge of the law to decide if the incident has breached any law and to use their discretion as to whether a prosecution is in the public interest.

Now some people may argue with laws inciting or soliciting suicide over the internet shouldn't exist because they inpinge on a person's freedom of speech. They are entitled to that opinion, but laws cannot be broken merely because people disagree with them. People cannot be allowed to murder if they disagree with the laws on murder, or steal if they disagree with the laws on stealing.

Earlier I cited an American Law which, in my interpretation, you had broken.

In Australia where (Kestas is based) it is illegal to use a carriage service [such as the internet] to publish material which incites a person to commit suicide or promote a particular method of committing suicide. Onars comment suggesting hari-kari may fall under the later rule.

You are quite free to call me a wanker or a busybody etc etc, but you are also quite free to question my interpretation of the law, which no-one seems willing to do up to now.

mapleleaf - you have also questioned Diplomat's age and gender. For all you know Diplomat could be a vunerable 13 year old girl. Regardless of the law, I think you should be a little more compassonate to someone who you share a hobby with.

Never attempt any further communication with me, you filthy rat.

fuck. the. police.

wheres your self reliance? somethings wrong so you call the police no matter the insignificance?
would you call the bank if you found a quarter?
would you call the fire department if you seen a smoker?

get some confidence

Sic, that's not what this is about.

Maniac, I'm glad you have a strong sense of civil duty, but honestly...? This would be a waste of time for any appropriate authority, and for most anybody. There are always situations that call for discretion and common sense above literal judicial adherence. mapleleaf was clearly not serious.

mapleleaf, free speech, blah blah, that's all good. If you're being a dick, expect people to reprimand you. Yeah, you hate it when they do that, but you invite it when you make offensive remarks. Not everyone is going to laugh and applaud at how you've once more belittled the community punching bag.

Yes, we give you all free reign to say offensive and downright stupid things, but we hope you'll have the common sense and decency to keep it to a hilarious minimum. Otherwise, carry on. =)