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Cablegate, the Game

Posted by timothy on from the just-a-hopeless-semantic dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Cablegate: The Game is a game where players can read, tag and summarize the recently released US Embassy Cables. Points are awarded for finding the most tags in a cable." I wish this game were extended to more news sources generally — automated scans are nice, but can't (yet) make all the connections humans can.

23 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. What about tags in Assange's arrest records? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Lawyers cry foul over leak of Julian Assange sex-case papers

    Incriminating police files were published in the British newspaper that has used him as its source for hundreds of leaked US embassy cables.

    In a move that surprised many of Mr Assange's closest supporters on Saturday, The Guardian newspaper published previously unseen police documents that accused Mr Assange in graphic detail of sexually assaulting two Swedish women. One witness is said to have stated: "Not only had it been the world's worst screw, it had also been violent."

    Oh, the irony.

    1. Re:What about tags in Assange's arrest records? by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 5, Insightful

      One witness is said to have stated: "Not only had it been the world's worst screw, it had also been violent."

      It's clear to me that this statement and others like it made by the alleged victim are an insult to actual rape victims everywhere. It gets worse:

      According to her statement she "tried to put on some articles of clothing as it was going too quickly and uncomfortably but Assange ripped them off again". Miss A told police that she didn't want to go any further "but that it was too late to stop Assange as she had gone along with it so far", and so she allowed him to undress her.

      Too late to stop because she had gone along with it so far? And later she goes to lunch with him, and afterwards complains only that he was "the world's worst screw". Unbelievable.

      Without exaggeration: this statement reads like a stereotypical straw man argument trotted out by misogynists who deride and demean rape allegations. This woman did not even have the decency to simply add a line stating at the very least "I told him to stop and he didn't". Today alone, there are women who have arrived bruised and bloody into rape crisis centres, who have had their integrity questioned in court, who have to live with their attackers not only going free, but re-offending; I can't imagine how those women must feel about these patently ridiculous allegations being taken seriously.

      The impact of these farcical complaints in such a high profile sex-offence case is going to set back rape victims' rights by a decade or more. Expect to see the Sweedish Assange case trotted out in every sexual assault legislation debate for twenty years, as the foremost example of how rape allegations can be trivial and how rape victims' testimony is unreliable. I suspect quite a few "mens' rights" groups have made a song and dance over this already.

      Unfortunately, the biggest fallout from the entire Cablegate scandal is going to be in justice for rape victims the world over. So congratulations Miss A.; your actions have changed the world. I hope you're proud of yourself.

      --
      May the Maths Be with you!
    2. Re:What about tags in Assange's arrest records? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      What's with the implication that "men's rights" groups (scare quotes and all) are delighted about "injustice for rape victims"? Is your worldview so polarised?

    3. Re:What about tags in Assange's arrest records? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I suspect quite a few "mens' rights" groups have made a song and dance over this already.

      But have they?

      I find it ironic that our friends on the right, who have been warning for years of the dangers of allowing feminists near our rape laws (and I don't necessarily disagree), now have a concrete example of one of their predicted worst-case scenarios, --the (ab)use of the criminal law by women dealing with emotional disappointment --and all they are asking is that the man in question be executed.

      Just one of the many ways Assange seems to be separating the libertarians from the patriots.

    4. Re:What about tags in Assange's arrest records? by Shauni · · Score: 5, Insightful

      There is no "victim script" someone follows after a rape. Never. You watch too many Lifetime movies if you think that is so.

      They may turn up at a crisis center bloody. They may throw a party for their attacker. They may just cover their bruises and pretend it never happened. They may make a joke about it later. They may call it "bad sex" afterward. They may participate during the event, or stop resisting. They may have even agreed until a point, before withdrawing consent. They may do everything "right," and find out that it doesn't even matter.

      That is the nature of sexual abuse of all forms. Often there is an attempt to deny the assault after it happened, because admitting it happened would compel them to act on it. To go to a complete stranger, and relive the event, who more often than not will deride them, blame them, or mishandle their case.

      Then the second they stray from the Lifetime account, it provides a reason to take the man's side.

      The only way to escape the circle of injustice, just understand: no means no.

      Today alone, there are women who have arrived bruised and bloody into rape crisis centres, who have had their integrity questioned in court, who have to live with their attackers not only going free, but re-offending; I can't imagine how those women must feel about these patently ridiculous allegations being taken seriously.

      I would imagine what they feel is something like, "Hey, Glenn Beck sounds just like that asshole defense attorney, or my 'friend' who told me it wasn't a big deal." Alternatively, if they know a little more about the situation, "As usual, the only time a complaint gets taken seriously is when there's a bigger political motive."

      In fact, I don't have to imagine, as I have talked to several, including one about this very event.

    5. Re:What about tags in Assange's arrest records? by JumperCable · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The only way to escape the circle of injustice, just understand: no means no.

      It usually helps if the woman actually says no instead of bitching about it later after she discovers he has slept with another woman.

    6. Re:What about tags in Assange's arrest records? by definate · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You are correct, there is no script or formula which a victim follows. However, given there is no significant evidence to the contrary, we can not be expected to take someones word for it, given they essentially looked like anyone else would.

      If you do not agree with this, then you're essentially opening up anyone to put anyone else in jail for rape, as you're saying we require no substantiative proof, other than 'a participant said so a week later'.

      "no means no" is totally irrelevant here, and is just a strawman argument. The question is whether its reasonable to take only one persons word, later on, in the face of other evidence, as evidence with which to convict a man, and destroy his life.

      I don't think it is.

      I've been following this reasonably closely, and I don't believe there has been ANY other substantiative evidence, has there?

      --
      This is my footer. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  2. HONEY TRAP!!! by arcite · · Score: 5, Funny
    IF you play this game the CIA will record your IP and sexy left leaning Swedish intellectual feminists will pick you up in the bar for drinks then invite you to their house, let you have sex with them, cook you breakfast, and then accuse you rape a month later.

    They'll put out international 'red notices' for your arrest; Pursue you across international boundaries, and spread insidious false rumours of your poor performance in bed.

    1. Re:HONEY TRAP!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      You will also be guilty of some of those things.

    2. Re:HONEY TRAP!!! by Chucky_M · · Score: 2

      IF you play this game the CIA will record your IP and sexy left leaning Swedish intellectual feminists will pick you up in the bar for drinks then invite you to their house, let you have sex with them, cook you breakfast, and then accuse you rape a month later.

      They'll put out international 'red notices' for your arrest; Pursue you across international boundaries, and spread insidious false rumours of your poor performance in bed.

      Instead of waiting a month walk into the police station yourself the following morning and "ask for advice" while explaining that you wanted to keep the condom on but she intentionally ripped it by deviously moving during intercourse, it would be interesting watching Sweden attempt to extradite her from her new home near Langley, I wonder if it would be pursued just as vigorously after all there is this nasty setting a precedent thing.

  3. I heard the FBI gives freebies... by splerdu · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...for every article you tag "nothing to see here, move along"

  4. If you do exceptionally well by EnsilZah · · Score: 5, Funny

    You might win an all-expenses-payed trip to sunny Cuba.

  5. Don't Feel Comfortable Helping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    First, if Assange is being considered the most vile and evil person in the world for facilitating the release of this information (and yet commercial news outlets who work with him to do it and then publish it to a huge audience are *not* treated as evil and horrible or culpable at all), then I can only imagine what they might do to the average john Doe. After all, they could construe this as aiding and abetting "the enemy" (ie, terr'ists).

    More importantly, I work with the government through my company which fulfills certain technical contracts with them from a supporting end. I absolutely do not feel comfortable participating in this - as fun as it might be - for fear of it impacting my security clearance. Reading this slashdot article is about as far as I'm willing to push the limits.

    1. Re:Don't Feel Comfortable Helping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      Don't worry, there are another 5+ billion people out there who aren't US citizens and don't have to worry about intimidation by the feds. It may not be the best, and our government may be full of crazies too right now, but I'm proud to be Canadian anyway.

    2. Re:Don't Feel Comfortable Helping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually, I'm getting rather tired of the bias slashdot editors have shown for wikileaks.

      For those of us who do have to worry about clearances sticking a god damned link straight to the applet in the article is a bit too much. I'm fairly used to the lazy or awful links which are three sites away from the actual source. They finally get it right on the one material I don't to go anywhere near.

      It's just too much for me and if the point was to alienate those on the other side then job well done. Too bad I was actually a slashdot supporter and funded this horseshit. Thankfully everyone has choices and can choose where to provide support. For instance, I no longer choose to support this website and consequently I will not be renewing my subscription.

    3. Re:Don't Feel Comfortable Helping by billsayswow · · Score: 4, Funny

      We are saddened to hear about the loss of your support, Mr... Anonymous Coward.

    4. Re:Don't Feel Comfortable Helping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, I'm getting rather tired of the bias slashdot editors have shown for wikileaks.

      What bias? Slasdhot editors support Wikileaks. Show me one good reason why they shouldn't? It's not Slashdot's fault all the arguments for NOT supporting Wikileaks are shitty arguments. Doing what's right is not the same as showing bias.

      For those of us who do have to worry about clearances sticking a god damned link straight to the applet in the article is a bit too much...They finally get it right on the one material I don't to go anywhere near.

      How the fuck did you get US security clearance if you can't even use basic English?

      Too bad I was actually a slashdot supporter and funded this horseshit. Thankfully everyone has choices and can choose where to provide support. For instance, I no longer choose to support this website and consequently I will not be renewing my subscription.

      Liar.

    5. Re:Don't Feel Comfortable Helping by Serious+Callers+Only · · Score: 2

      Actually, I'm getting rather tired of the bias slashdot editors have shown for wikileaks.

      For those of us who do have to worry about clearances sticking a god damned link straight to...one material I don't to go anywhere near.

      When your government dictates that you actively avoid learning the truth, perhaps it's time to re-evaluate the demands made on you, rather than rail against others for inadvertently exposing you to it. Your life must be made very difficult by the mental gymnastics required in avoiding what are now commonplace discussions, and telling yourself that others must be 'biased' for exposing you to them.

      I hope you haven't been reading the New York Times either, or other international newspapers^^^^^^^^^^^^ terrorist journals, otherwise you might be guilty of learning the truth about your government and others around the world (many of which are far worse than the US government, if perhaps less hypocritical in their actions).

      Here's an apposite quote for you about attempts at censorship which I picked up on the internet, but be careful, because you never know the source of words, so you must carefully screen them for seditious content before reading:

      1. (C) CDA spoke by phone with XXXXXXXXXXXXX to discuss recent pressure by the Chinese government to censor the company’s Chinese website, accelerated perhaps by the approach of significant political anniversaries.XXXXXXXXXXXXX averred that the root of the problem was China’s Politburo Standing Committee member XXXXXXXXXXXXX who wants the company to remove a link to the uncensored google.com site from its sanitized Chinese version, google.cn. XXXXXXXXXXXXX said Google China has resisted that step as against company principles, though it has taken other smaller measures to try and placate the government. Thus far that tactic has been unsuccessful, and the government has already taken commercial steps against Google, including telling the three dominant SOE telecoms to stop doing business with the company. CDA and XXXXXXXXXXXXX discussed possible USG advocacy, including having imminent visiting Codels and possible Cabinet-level officials raise this directly. For the moment, Google does not wish to go public, preferring to see if current efforts produce results. End Summary.

      2. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXXX, CDA Dan Piccuta and XXXXXXXXXXXX talked XXXXXXXXXX about the increasing censorship pressure Google is facing.XXXXXXXXXXXX said Politburo Standing Committee member XXXXXXXXXXXX recently discovered that Google’s worldwide site is uncensored, and is capable of Chinese language searches and search results. XXXXXXXXXXXX allegedly entered his own name and found results critical of him. He also noticed the link from google.cn’s homepage to google.com, whichXXXXXXXXXXXX reportedly believes is an “illegal site.” XXXXXXXXXXXX asked three ministries (note: most likely the Ministry of Industry and Information Industry, State Council Information Office, and Public Security Bureau.) to write a report about Google and demand that the company cease its “illegal activities,” which include linking to google.com.

    6. Re:Don't Feel Comfortable Helping by clarkkent09 · · Score: 2

      I hope you haven't been reading the New York Times either, or other international newspapers^^^^^^^^^^^^ terrorist journals, otherwise you might be guilty of learning the truth about your government and others around the world (many of which are far worse than the US government, if perhaps less hypocritical in their actions).
       
      So reading New York Times = learning the truth, right? Just like when NYT was the leading voice in support of the invasion of Iraq in 2003 based on its own fabricated stories about WMD?

      --
      Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
    7. Re:Don't Feel Comfortable Helping by Serious+Callers+Only · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So reading New York Times = learning the truth, right?

      Wrong. Evidently, I'm not claiming the NYT has always and will forever print exclusively the truth, only that it did, along with wikileaks, and now Slashdot, reproduce the particular truths the grandparent is complaining about being exposed to (things that were said by American diplomats in cables). In those particular instances the NYT was reproducing the truth about the USG and its diplomats' views of the world - that was what I meant by 'learning the truth about your government'.

      I hope that puts your mind at rest as to whether I believe the NYT is eternally and universally true!

  6. Yea I'm a contractor too by arcite · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Working for the US gov, only I'm not a chicken-shit, brainwashed, sorry excuse for a human being who feels that the truth should be covered up. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

    If you really are working for the US Gov (and you're not just a simpleton soldier following orders) you have a responsibility to make the world a better place. Now, please go back to the safety of silence and obedience with the knowledge that your next pay-check from the good American People is on its way.

    1. Re:Yea I'm a contractor too by Duradin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

      Actually, if you're not part of the solution you are part of the precipitate. Saying someone is either part of the solution (x)or part of the problem ignores people that are completely neutral to the situation. Of course narrow-mindedness and binary thinking is the new enlightened so maybe I should just get with the times.

    2. Re:Yea I'm a contractor too by xavdeman · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If enough people are neutral a solution would never come to fruition. The saying holds as long as the proposed solution and problem are correctly defined.