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Geek Culture / What to do if you're in posession of a criminal's HDD?

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adr
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 16:25 Edited at: 28th Mar 2007 16:26
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A couple of months back, I purchased a 40GB HDD from a local computer shop, after the 5 year old 10GB failed.

After powering the newly kitted out laptop up, I didn't get the "Operating System Not Found" type message I was expecting - instead, Windows proceeded to boot up.

I double checked that the old hard disk was infact on the table in front of me. It's the sort of thing I'd do; crack open a laptop, remove the old hard disk, put the same old hard disk back in without realising... But no - this shop bought HDD had windows pre installed; "that's cool", I thought.

It started to get a little odd, when I realised the desktop was cluttered with icons - personal stuff....

This HDD belonged to someone

After a bit of investigation, the owner of the HDD is featured in a national newspaper...
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/investigates/tm_method=full%26objectid=17061892%26siteid=89520-name_page.html and http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/investigates/tm_method=full%26objectid=15761071%26siteid=89520-name_page.html

So, I have a con-man's HDD, in full working order. I did find other circumstancial evidence that this guy had worked his magic via eBay, but the page is now gone - I can't find it anymore

Anyway - long story short(er) I took the HDD to the police, they kinda cocked it all up (shop keeper very annoyed with me, prick) but there has been no criminal complaint against the man directly, therefore the police can't rummage through the HDD looking for suspect stuff.

Options:
1. Sell the HDD back to the newspaper for a follow up article ()
2. Try and get in touch with the original owner - he's a rich guy, he might be appreciative.
3. Format the HDD, and just live with this interesting story in my mind.

What do you reckon?


I'm superfly TNT
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Manic
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 16:31
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blackmail him.

only kidding. I'm surprised the police gave it you back, it might have come in handy if there's another investigation into the guy

I don't have a sig, live with it.
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adr
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 16:33
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I can either ask for it back, or leave it with police. It's actually currently still in their posession. But I just need to roll down to the police station and ask for it back...

Option #4 is get in touch with the Solicitor involved with the case this June - ... an option which I'm tracking down right now


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KeithC
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 16:34
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I'd sell it to the News people.



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Agent Dink
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 16:36
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For alot of money

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Ron Erickson
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 16:49
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See if you can find any of the people that he con-ed. If their contact info is still in tact, try to contact them, explain the situation, then maybe they CAN file a formal compaint against this idiot.

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Nicholas Thompson
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 17:03
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It all depends on your moral stance. The "selling it to a newspaper/owner" option isn't morally clean - but it is more likely to make you a few quid, as long as you're careful to make sure it doesn't look like extortion (maybe?).

The morally right thing to do would be either WOLF's suggestion or your option 4. There is likely to be less financial gain for you in these options - but it all runs down to whats important to you.

Concerningly, it seems the morals of this forum are concerningly low! lol.

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BatVink
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 17:16
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The guy is back in court, June 2007. Court case expected to last up to 6 weeks. His defence lawyer is Martin Taylor (http://www.rfqc.co.uk/html/tenants_profiles.asp?memberid=67), maybe he would be willing to pay to get it back. Just delete your "No Evidence" statement above, and Bob's your uncle.

I have no sympathy for crooks who deceive the average Joe on the street. Play big corporations at their own game, by all means, but not your average hard-working citizen.
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Ron Erickson
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 17:17
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Or... you can contact the media and ask THEM to contact the victims. I know I wouldn't be looking for any financial gain from this.

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KeithC
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 17:58
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I would definately use the Media's resources for this one though.

What's a moral?



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Matt Rock
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 21:05
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This hard drive might be considered evidence in the criminal's jurisdiction, and I'm pretty sure that knowingly having it in your pocession means you're withholding evidence from the courts. You might want to just hand it over to the police in the judicial jurisdiction of the criminal's case, or maybe contact the plaintiff party, to avoid getting in trouble. Maybe the local cops didn't believe it was serious, or maybe they were distracted with other stuff and didn't take it seriously... I dunno. But then the very little I know about law has been gathered from TV shows like The Wire, so don't listen to me .

I have absolutely no moral backbone. I say you sell it to the newspaper folks and rake in some quality notes .

Have you searched the drive for content? Make sure there's some dirt on this guy before you go selling it or using it to blackmail anyone, because if it doesn't have incriminating evidence, all you'll do is upset the person or party you sell the drive to, and in such an instance as a newspaper, they have a bad side you probably wouldn't want to be on .


"In an interstellar burst, I'm back to save the universe"
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Kieran
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 21:17
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Sell it to the Newspaper


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Kentaree
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 21:26
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Yep, media is your best bet. Then you'll get some dosh out of it (hopefully at least enough to buy another HDD), they'll pursue it, probably help out the victims and then everyone bar the criminal will be happy

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Matt Rock
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Posted: 28th Mar 2007 21:30
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No way... if you're selling this hard drive, don't take chump-change for payment. If they don't offer you a considerably large sum of money, shop the drive around. You have incriminating evidence against a criminal, and if you've got decent dirt on the guy, you should make at least 20% what the media organization is going to make out of it. I say you demand at least a few hundred for it... and if it has juicy info on it, then you should definitely demand thousands. And if the information the HD contains could dramatically alter the course of the criminal case... well, let's just say an extended vacation is in your future


"In an interstellar burst, I'm back to save the universe"
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DrewG
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 03:08
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Well the heck with Matt's idea.

However, if you get killed in whatever action you do take, because that guy comes looking for you, then, well, we learned from your mistake.

Have a great life.
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Steve J
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 04:39
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Go in a hole and die, your doing what you do everytime you come back SSS.

pleading and needing and bleeding and breeding and feeding exceeding..where is everybody? trying and lying defying denying crying and dying..where is everybody?
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DrewG
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 05:18
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Eee, someone criticizes me because I'm saying nothing to them. Sorry man.
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Steve J
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 05:26
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huh? What are you talking about? The fact that you continually are retarded and wont rest without proving the idea that Americans are hapless retards who lie constantly and are just annoying?

pleading and needing and bleeding and breeding and feeding exceeding..where is everybody? trying and lying defying denying crying and dying..where is everybody?
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dab
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 05:41
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If the guy really wanted it, how did it get out of his comp?

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DrewG
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 05:46 Edited at: 29th Mar 2007 06:20
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Quote: "hapless retards who lie constantly and are just annoying?"


Who's lying, and who is a hapless retard? It's debateable whether I'm annoying or not, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
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Zaibatsu
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 06:16
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Quote: "No way... if you're selling this hard drive, don't take chump-change for payment. If they don't offer you a considerably large sum of money, shop the drive around. You have incriminating evidence against a criminal, and if you've got decent dirt on the guy, you should make at least 20% what the media organization is going to make out of it. I say you demand at least a few hundred for it... and if it has juicy info on it, then you should definitely demand thousands. And if the information the HD contains could dramatically alter the course of the criminal case... well, let's just say an extended vacation is in your future "


something like what i would have said...

"I admire its purity, a survivor, unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality"

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Jeku
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 06:26
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Quote: "It's debateable whether I'm annoying or not"


Nooo... no it's not. You are annoying.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Back on topic:

Matt - You are acting like he has the unedited audio tapes from the Watergate scandal or something. I didn't see ADR say anything about having "incriminating" evidence like you suggest. Or maybe I read wrong?

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DrewG
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 06:32
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Why thank you for your opinion.


@ ADR
Hey, do you have absolute proof it's his? And not someone who planted that information on there. What exactly did you find on it?
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Kieran
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 11:08
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how delightful, another lovely post from SSS (sarcasm)


http://tree3d.co.nr
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adr
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 11:09 Edited at: 29th Mar 2007 11:11
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Quote: "I didn't see ADR say anything about having "incriminating" evidence like you suggest."

There was one piece of incriminating evidence, but I'm now missing the other piece; Some dude on the interweb was whinging on a forum because [man of same name] invoiced him for 500 iPods, but never sent them. This laptop has an invoice for 500 iPods.

I now can't find (via google) that forum where the guy was whinging.

Quote: "Hey, do you have absolute proof it's his? And not someone who planted that information on there. What exactly did you find on it?"

As jeku said, this isn't a Govornment Conspiracy - call off your Navy Seals. It's a relatively small time crook. I didn't scour the HDD - it was late at night. I'm not absolutely sure it's him, but it's a guy with the same name, and he's from the same place as those news articles so you can be reasonably sure it's him - the ipod thing clinched it for me. As for what's on there, read my very first post.... hmm .. yeah try that out.

@Batvink
Already mailed him. The person who answered the phone for the law firm was exceptionally unhelpful and snotty. Not even in an efficient manner. Just in a 16-year-old-answering-phones-don't-care kinda way.


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BatVink
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 11:27
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Steve J, SSS, please don't destroy other people's threads. If you have issues with each other, please take them off-line.
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The admiral
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 12:35
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Well if someone takes the harddrive from him i dont think its fair on him he paid for it someone should compensate him.

The admiral
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adr
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 12:42
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The admiral > that's not how it works. I turned the HDD into the police at the start of this year, and they don't give you anything. I can go and collect it now though... just need to find the hour or so in the day.


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MushroomHead
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 13:15
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Try News of the World, you might get a Sunday exclusive on the hard drive haha.
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Oneka
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 14:10 Edited at: 29th Mar 2007 14:10
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Thats pretty cool, I would ask the guy if he wanted it back lol

EDIT: After I dup the drive and find some evidence against him that could make me a rich man


Making better games everday!
Oh yeah and just so you know its Oh-nek-a not One-ka!
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UnderLord
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 15:28 Edited at: 29th Mar 2007 17:28
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Who's to say this "criminal" isn't dangerous too? If he runs around saying he has evidence against this guy, who says he isn't going to find out where you live? All in all I'd give it up to the defending party in court and hope that dude loses all the cash and pays for his crime with a little **************. Get me.

"I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road."
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Oraculaca
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 19:23
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1/ Copy the hard drive.
2/ Sell one to the media
3/ Sell one back to the con man

No.Art.Here
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Matt Rock
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 19:34
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Well, I did ask if he had incriminating evidence or not, I didn't know what the HD had on it or how big his case was. But he could still get a few hundred bucks out of it, I'm sure. A newspaper buying it would be buying evidence to support a criminal case and effect public opinion... if you took $50 or something, you'd be getting ripped off imo .


"In an interstellar burst, I'm back to save the universe"
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Phaelax
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Posted: 29th Mar 2007 19:51
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I like Wolf's idea. This sort of reminds me of the lab I have to do this week for forensics. I got a suspect's drive and I have to find out what's on it. Virii, hidden partitions, perhaps stuff hidden in the extra slack of some drive sectors. Who know's. (i dont, didn't do my lab yet)

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The admiral
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Yeah what I ment was people were saying its bad to try sell it but otherwise you will lose out unless you just keep it.

The admiral
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Xenocythe
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I incredibly love Oraculaca's idea.

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Agent Dink
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 02:17
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Quote: "1/ Copy the hard drive.
2/ Sell one to the media
3/ Sell one back to the con man"


Now that is definitely showing a lack of morals

I have no signature...
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DrewG
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 02:40
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Quote: "Quote: "1/ Copy the hard drive.
2/ Sell one to the media
3/ Sell one back to the con man"

Now that is definitely showing a lack of morals "


No It's perfectly smart in today's world. Money isn't going to fall from someone's pocket into your's. Y'gotta be smart like Oraculaca if you want to get anywhere in life.

-Drew
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Code Dragon
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Don't do anything stupid. I'd just let the police keep it, if you black mail him or sell it to the media and they publish something he might figure out who found it. If that happens...

By reading this sentence you have given me brief control of your mind.
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Zaibatsu
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 07:34
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Quote: "Quote: "Quote: "1/ Copy the hard drive.
2/ Sell one to the media
3/ Sell one back to the con man"

Now that is definitely showing a lack of morals ""


And when have morals ever mattered?

"I admire its purity, a survivor, unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality"

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Agent Dink
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 07:40
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Quote: "And when have morals ever mattered?
"


Comments like that help me to understand why the world is the piece of crap that it is.

I have no signature...
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Kentaree
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 14:16
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Morals only apply when dealing with people who have any

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PowerSoft
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Contact Jack Bauer...?

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Code Dragon
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Quote: "And when have morals ever mattered?"


This world is so messed up. If you were to take all the people in the world that have morals and place them in an alternate universe, they would prosper. But if you were to take all the people in the world that don't have morals and place them in an alternate universe, their society would fall to pieces. The world we're in is somwhere between the two...

By reading this sentence you have given me brief control of your mind.
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Screwed Over
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 22:33
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sss, seriously sthu or **** off.


back to the thread

Quote: "1/ Copy the hard drive.
2/ Sell one to the media
3/ Sell one back to the con man""



wouldnt you want to sell one to the conman before the media? i mean it would be worthless if he finds out that the world already knows whats on his hard drive. and then flee to a repectable, posh and fairly rich country, such as the uk! (not slaacking off anyone, i just think that the uk is a respectably rich and posh country) i'd be happy to help you disappear and live free, for a sum of the money of course!


^Check out my new site!^
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Benjamin
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 22:40
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Quote: "i just think that the uk is a respectably rich and posh country"



Tempest (DBP/DBCe)
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Chris Franklin_
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 22:49
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Quote: "i just think that the uk is a respectably rich and posh country"


0_o what? the uk sucks.

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David R
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 23:03 Edited at: 30th Mar 2007 23:11
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Quote: "0_o what? the uk sucks."


Yes Chris, I'm sure you'll enjoy time in Ethiopia much much more than in the UK. I mean, honestly,if you think the UK is crappy, why are you still here? You should feel lucky that you are not starving, and we have a government which can actually provide for the basic requirements of it's people.

Not to mention the myriad of 'extras' that the UK (and other countries) make available to their people - social security, health care. Obviously you have a somewhat deluded view of what makes a country 'suck'. I'd certainly rather be here than in Zimbabwe or Ethiopia for example


"History shall be kind to me, for I intend to write it" - Winston Churchill
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Peter H
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 23:08
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or haiti

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Oraculaca
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Posted: 30th Mar 2007 23:12
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Quote: "wouldn't you want to sell one to the conman before the media? "

Sorry, I wasn't too concerned with chronological order

On the subject of morals. I believe I have them by the bucket load, but if there is anyone that deserves a quick buck to be made out of them, its the media and conmen. In fact sometimes its difficult to see the difference between the two.

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