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I recently challenged a friend who expressed outrage that a woman was blackmailing his (crooked lawyer) friend by threatening to reveal the friend's misconduct to authorities.
I said, "So what? She isn't lying, is she?"
He answered "No. But it's BLACKMAIL and it's illegal!"
I answered, "Then she should just THREATEN him with blackmail, as that's NOT illegal!
So, why, in this case, is it illegal to threaten to do something legal (snitch).. but it is LEGAL to THREATEN to do something ILLEGAL (blackmail) ??
I am not concerned with extortion, which is a threat to do something illegal, like burn your house down.
When you lay down with dogs you're gonna get fleas...
If the lawyer never did anything illegal or unprofessional she wouldn't be able to blackmail him.
It should be self explanatory why, in general, blackmail isn't encouraged. I don't really have much to add on this, but I would think that the guy has an option here. He could let her tell, which she is supposed to do, or bribe her not to. Pretty sure most of us would want people to come forward in a situation like this.
Prosecutors will offer lighter sentences to criminals in order to gain information for their cases - not exactly the same thing, I know.
Lying is not encouraged either, but, except for official docs and under oath, it is not against the law.
And? As I said, I really don't have a lot to offer here. The lawyer messed up and she knows it would be worth his while to offer her incentive to keep quiet, hence, the blackmail. It is illegal, as far as I know. He could tell the D.A., but then he has to face the consequences of his actions as would she.
It's all relative, if he committed rape or murder it would be best to just pay her off, but she can always go the D.A. and snitch on him. Shoplifting, on the other hand isn't quite as serious.
I recently challenged a friend who expressed outrage that a woman was blackmailing his (crooked lawyer) friend by threatening to reveal the friend's misconduct to authorities.
I said, "So what? She isn't lying, is she?"
He answered "No. But it's BLACKMAIL and it's illegal!"
I answered, "Then she should just THREATEN him with blackmail, as that's NOT illegal!
So, why, in this case, is it illegal to threaten to do something legal (snitch).. but it is LEGAL to THREATEN to do something ILLEGAL (blackmail) ??
I am not concerned with extortion, which is a threat to do something illegal, like burn your house down.
Shouldn't blackmail be legal?
threatening to reveal someones illegal activities for personal gain is blackmail, and it is the personal gain part that is illegal. its like finding out that you committed a crime, pick one any one it doesnt matter, and then telling you that i will report your crime unless you pay me money, or other compensation, to not reveal your crime.
if i just went to the authorities and told them you committed a crime, that is not blackmail, even if i told you i would do it, as long as i didnt require payment from you.
I recently challenged a friend who expressed outrage that a woman was blackmailing his (crooked lawyer) friend by threatening to reveal the friend's misconduct to authorities.
I said, "So what? She isn't lying, is she?"
He answered "No. But it's BLACKMAIL and it's illegal!"
I answered, "Then she should just THREATEN him with blackmail, as that's NOT illegal!
So, why, in this case, is it illegal to threaten to do something legal (snitch).. but it is LEGAL to THREATEN to do something ILLEGAL (blackmail) ??
I am not concerned with extortion, which is a threat to do something illegal, like burn your house down.
Shouldn't blackmail be legal?
Yes, blackmail should be legal if you believe we should allow profit or personal benefit from illegal activity to simply be shifted from one undeserving party to another. But in either case, a party actively sought to benefit from the misconduct while making no attempt to stop it, and that's why they're both contemptible in the eyes of the law.
I think the sentence for blackmail should be automatically the same as for the crime or offense that is the object of the blackmail (if there is a crime or offense, that is). I guess that would discourage serious blackmail quite a bit.
Sometimes when I see movies or TV series where someone is blackmailing someone else, I don't know whom I hate more. The blackmailer or the person being blackmailed, the latter usually not because of the reason for the blackmail, but because of their weakness that feeds the blackmailer.
I recently challenged a friend who expressed outrage that a woman was blackmailing his (crooked lawyer) friend by threatening to reveal the friend's misconduct to authorities.
I said, "So what? She isn't lying, is she?"
He answered "No. But it's BLACKMAIL and it's illegal!"
I answered, "Then she should just THREATEN him with blackmail, as that's NOT illegal!
So, why, in this case, is it illegal to threaten to do something legal (snitch).. but it is LEGAL to THREATEN to do something ILLEGAL (blackmail) ??
I am not concerned with extortion, which is a threat to do something illegal, like burn your house down.
Shouldn't blackmail be legal?
Yep. blackmail should definately be legal. No reason in the world it shouldn't.
Read Defending the Undefendable by Dr. Walter Block. He writes an entire chapter on why we would all be better off if blackmail were legal. And why blackmail is perfectly moral. They got it on Amazon. Fascinating book. Should be required reading of every high school kid in Amerika.
Seriously people, who would you rather deal with, a blackmailer or a gossip? I'll take a blackmailer anyday.
I think the sentence for blackmail should be automatically the same as for the crime or offense that is the object of the blackmail (if there is a crime or offense, that is). I guess that would discourage serious blackmail quite a bit.
Sometimes when I see movies or TV series where someone is blackmailing someone else, I don't know whom I hate more. The blackmailer or the person being blackmailed, the latter usually not because of the reason for the blackmail, but because of their weakness that feeds the blackmailer.
Blackmailing someone because they committed a crime should always be illegal.
Blackmailing somone because they committed adultery, things of that nature, should be legal.
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