[WikiEN-l] FBI vs. Wikipedia

[FT2]

I don't believe an encyclopedia has what is meant by a legal duty of care
(all deference to the lawyers among us).

Duty of care is usually a term in civil law relating to a case where someone
may be expected to rely on a statement or representation to the point that
the statement should not be made recklessly. While a criminal case could be
made for some imagery (legal opinion needed), or a moral case for other
imagery (not a legal issue), duty of care is probably not tenable.

As to the other, the answer is that I would not expect to learn anything
from the badge as to whether the person presenting it is genuine or not.
That's not how I would check (seems incredibly naive) and someone who did
rely on a shape shown to tham is in the same category as people who let
strangers in their house because they wore a uniform and claimed to be from
the police or whoever (namely, hopefully not too badly harmed when it goes
wrong).

Most people don't meet the FBI on a routine basis so they have no way to
know what's genuine and what isn't, and badges won't help. Considering
average ignorance about basics (moon v sun being closer, basic science, etc)
I would be amazed if more than a couple of % could determine a fake FBI
badge anyway.

FT2


On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 8:01 PM, Fred Bauder <fredbaud at fairpoint.net> wrote:

> > Duty of care is a legal term.
>
> Yes, and a legal term Wikipedia editors would be wise to learn the
> meaning off.
>
> OK, you're shown a badge. How would you know from the genuine if there is
> no image of the genuine on the FBI webpages. And how could they have a
> genuine image without themselves releasing the image?
>
> Actually if the FBI approached me I would know them by their manner,
> which is quite distinctive, although not impossible to mimic.
>
> Fred
>
> >
> > I think more to the point an expectation of commonsense applies to those
> > having a random badge waved at them, to verify it and not merely take it
> > on
> > trust.
> >
> > FT2
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 7:05 PM, Fred Bauder <fredbaud at fairpoint.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Well, you know, I think there is a duty of care involved. If a genuine
> >> badge can be purchased along with a genuine identification card and
> >> uniform there is an obvious danger to the public. Even to the agency
> >> itself.
> >>
> >> Fred
> >>
> >>
> >> > If I were the FBI or secret service (or a member of the public) I
> >> > wouldn't
> >> > rely on a "badge". Waving round a badge, no matter the design, proves
> >> > nothing - any more than waving round a badge would prove the person
> >> or
> >> > people who ring the bell, have a nice uniform, and want to enter your
> >> > home,
> >> > are genuine police officers.
> >> >
> >> > FT2
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 5:59 PM, Fred Bauder <fredbaud at fairpoint.net>
> >> > wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> If I were the FBI or the Secret Service I would keep track and
> >> change
> >> >> such images when they become publicly known regardless of expense.
> >> >> There
> >> >> is absolutely no excuse for disclosing accurate information which
> >> would
> >> >> permit an Al Qaeda operative having an FBI or Secret Service badge
> >> or
> >> >> identification of the correct design.
> >> >>
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>  _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >
>
>
>
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