Crowdsourcing Failed In Boston Bombing Aftermath

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Crowdsourcing Failed In Boston Bombing Aftermath

Posted by timothy on Tuesday April 23, 2013 @02:06AM from the well-not-entirely dept.

Nerval's Lobster writes "With emotions high in the hours and days following the Boston Marathon bombing, hundreds of people took to Reddit's user-generated forums to pick over images from the crime scene. Could a crowd of sharp-eyed citizens uncover evidence of the perpetrators? No, but they could definitely focus attention on the wrong people. 'Though started with noble intentions, some of the activity on reddit fueled online witch hunts and dangerous speculation which spiraled into very negative consequences for innocent parties,' read an April 22 posting on Reddit's official blog. 'The reddit staff and the millions of people on reddit around the world deeply regret that this happened.'"

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Early Crimefighting Crowdsourcing in Salem by xxxJonBoyxxx · 2013-04-23 02:10 · Score: 5, Funny

>> crowdsourcing
Why not - they wouldn't have found all those witches in 1692 without crowdsourcing.
Witch Hunts by tompaulco · 2013-04-23 02:17 · Score: 5, Funny

Witch Hunts? In Massachusetts? Surely, you jest.

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If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
Re:Some other relevant stories by Opportunist · 2013-04-23 02:29 · Score: 5, Funny

If you want to find out the IQ of a crowd, take the dumbest person's IQ and divide by the number of feet.

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We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Here's a fun game to play! by Dixie_Flatline · 2013-04-23 02:39 · Score: 3, Funny

Find your Boston Bomber name!
Find your Boston Bomber name by taking the first name of an innocent man and the second name of an innocent man and posting it on reddit.
Whee!
Re:Some other relevant stories by rsmith-mac · 2013-04-23 02:48 · Score: 4, Funny

Intelligence is additive. Stupidity is multiplicative.
Re:Some other relevant stories by dintech · 2013-04-23 02:55 · Score: 4, Funny

reddit...felt too much like a groupthink factory for my taste
Careful now, this withchunt could still happen on Slashdot too but in several days and with hot grits.
Re:Some other relevant stories by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · 2013-04-23 08:15 · Score: 3, Funny

That's why I've gone one step further and completely disavowed my involvement with next weeks crime spree. I will not be the person underneath the ski mask. So don't wast my time processing any dna evidence or finger prints, or reading any state ids that might fall out of my pocket as I commit the cool crime of burglary, next week at the first federal bank downtown between the hours of 3-4 PM Wednesday in myTown, USA.

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Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
Re:Some other relevant stories by girlintraining · 2013-04-23 10:26 · Score: 3, Funny

Careful now, this withchunt could still happen on Slashdot too but in several days and with hot grits.
(steps forward) I VOLUNTEER! I have tons of experience in being hunted as a witch. I can provide professional references. Also, my epic amounts of snark will at least make the attempt amusing for all participants.

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