Cringely Looks at the WikiLeaks Debacle

dtwood writes "Infoworld's Cringely has an interesting take on the Julius Baer bank trying to silence WikiLeaks.org — and how stunningly stupid they've been. 'But the bank's solution is so mind-bogglingly stupid, you have to wonder if these guys need help getting their pants on each morning. First, this is exactly the kind of story bloggers and Net-centric journos crave. Big nasty corporation stomps all over plucky public-serving underdog. Who can resist that plot line? Second, the equation Bank Julius Baer = Money Laundering is now firmly cemented in the minds of everyone who has encountered this story, regardless of whether it's true. Trois: The documents in question, which might have been quickly forgotten alongside the 1.2 million others on the site, are now hotter than the Paris Hilton sex video. Dozens of mirror sites have sprung up, and Cryptome.org and PirateBay have squirreled away copies of the docs for any interested parties. "

Sizzling!

[Anonymous Coward]

are now hotter than the Paris Hilton sex video

That's a pretty fancy way of saying "ice-cold".

First, Second, Trois?

[spun]

Cringely, you pretentious twit. You're just not going to have a menage a trois, no matter how much you fantasize about it.

Cringely

[Anonymous Coward]

The documents [...] are now hotter than the Paris Hilton sex video.

Whatever floats your boat Cringely...

Re:Who is stupid?

[flyingsquid]

Perhaps it's all a fiendishly clever ruse. By coming across as incredibly, phenomenally, mind-blowingly stupid, people will automatically assume that these guys can't possibly be intelligent enough to be laundering money. It's a classic Stupidity Defense. It's really quite devious, when you think about it.

Re:First, Second, Trois?

[wall0159]

Didn't you know everything sounds more sophisticated in French?

Je suis un cheval.

I rest my case ;-)

Re:I can assure you

[Quiet_Desperation]

would rather see a Paris Hilton sex video.

I've seen it. That bank documents are more arousing.

Re:Copy/pasted from the NYTimes

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry, I'm never going to a site registered in the .cx domain ever again.

Re:Hardly surprising

[pipatron]

At my university a kid got b&

Makes me wonder what kind of university that was... University of Text Messaging for Minors?

Re:Streisand

[jollyreaper]

I think this is called the Streisand Effect.

Robert Smith is our only hope!

With regard to point 2...

[exploder]

the equation Bank Julius Baer = Money Laundering is now firmly cemented in the minds of everyone who has encountered this story, regardless of whether it's true.

If it is true, and if they can continue to get away with it, then that's some great advertising.

Re:Streisand

[oneplus999]

As Ms Streisand's lawyer, I demand that you cease and desist using my client's likeness in your wiki articles and comments.

First Among Equals

[Anonymous Coward]

Bank Julius Baer = Dirty Money Laundering

Paris Hilton = Money. Dirty Laundry

Re:Hardly surprising

[Pope]

He learned a valuable lesson; when you cross the mob, you get the b@.

Re:Streisand

[Plaid Phantom]

Hold on, let me set up my mirror first.

Re:Sizzling!

[mawhin]

Ice cold!!

You mean there are 2 Robert X. Cringely?

[Skapare]

You mean there are 2 Robert X. Cringely? What are the odds of there being two of them AND both writing major blogs?

Re:Who is stupid?

[lgw]

What, the Reagan era is not "modern times"?

Nope, you're old. Kids in college now were born after Reagan left office. Those very same kids should GET OFF MY LAWN!