There are those people who seek out trouble. Still others accidentally attract it. And then there are those who have devoted their lives to stalking trouble, running it to ground, sneaking up behind it, thwapping it on the nose, proclaiming that its mother wears combat boots, and daring it to an impromptu match of fisticuffs. Afterward they lie, nose-bloodied and battered, on the ground and grumble. (In a grudge match, trouble always wins.) Matt Stephen Taylor (who goes by "proffr" and "mattd") is one of those people. If awards were given for Most Innovative Way to Taunt Police, this self-described anarchist would be a gold medalist in the category of performance art. For the last few months, as far as I can tell, he's done little but tempt trouble: http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=proffr Trouble came and went when mattd/proffr, who lives in central Victoria, Australia, taunted the Cincinnati police. He allegedly posted threats against Steven Roach, the policeman whose shooting of an unarmed black man led to riots in Cincinnati. But the Australian cops nabbed proffr/mattd first, and proffr/mattd pled guilty to vandalizing a McDonald's restaurant. While the legal process is going forward, mattd/proffr has amused himself by subscribing to the cypherpunks list, a place not known for people who are readily offended. Yet his unique combination of rants and inchoate posts (my filters have snared about 780 of them) has driven subscribers to invent custom procmail recipies to complain about off-topic messages. One message that went to his Internet provider was a little whiny by list standards, but captured the sentiment well: >"To: supportat_private // Subject: Re: Youth in Asia // Someone who >appears to be posting from a nex.net.au address <profrvat_private> keeps >posting large volumes of spam, obcenity, death threats to random people, >mail bombs, and so forth to our mailing list. He keeps changing his >apparent address, so >we have difficulty filtering him out. His postings were originally merely >excessive and of doubtful relevance, but have become more and more hostile >and harassing." mattd/proffr appears to have subscribed to the cypherpunks list to carry on the dubious mission of Jim Bell, the author of the long-winded anarcho screed Assassination Politics. Bell wrote how the next generation of Internet entrepreneurs will use digital cash, anonymous remailers, and such to off miscreant federal agents (Bell especially didn't care for tax collectors): http://zolatimes.com/v2.26/jimbell.htm Bell, of course, was convicted last year by a Washington state jury and is serving 10 years in the Lompoc federal prison. Bell was another dedicated trouble-hunter, as was Carl Johnson, a cypherpunk who was convicted of threats but is now out of gaol, at least temporarily (his probation officer apparently told him not to seek trouble by continuing to participate in list discussions): http://www.politechbot.com/p-02938.html Although Bell technically was convicted for allegedly stalking federal agents, his essay and political views became a big part of his trial: http://www.cluebot.com/search.pl?topic=ap-politics Now mattd/proffr seems to want to follow the Bell-Johnson precedent by emailing semi-random rants and Assassination Politics-related references to the cypherpunks list, and, I presume, just about everywhere else. Here's a representative excerpt from one of his posts: >Youth In Asia Society: At our last monthly meeting, we discussed all of the >reasons there are not to KILL THE PRESIDENT. We think it is our duty to >inform people of our objection to those who believe it is necessary to KILL >THE PRESIDENT. We also object to people who are constantly running around, >shouting, incessantly, "KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE >PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL >THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! >KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT! KILL THE PRESIDENT!" It's a lot longer, but you get the idea. This style of posting seems to have raised some eyebrows inside the Australian constabulary, not to mention leading to a raid, a laptop seizure, and an interrogation or two. Read in mattd/proffr's own words below how he hasn't given up on tempting trouble. -Declan --- Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 03:23:09 +1100 To: cypherpunksat_private From: proffr11 <proffr11at_private> Subject: Police interview proffr over seized laptop.(After 8 months.) Bomb bomb.I may be charged with making death threats in "e-mail's"(police description.) directed toward the victorian police and a State govt (victorian.)minister,Rob 'buckethead'Hulls.A policeman ,who killed a citizen and was found with KKK literature and extensive weaponry collection,norman scott cheasley's name was mentioned as was the Police commissioner,C.Nixon.The two post's looked more like warnings than threats. One was posted at a board where "anyone can download"(police prosecutor under oath.) early last year. The 2cnd mentioned was made just hours prior to the serving of a warrant.It was not mentioned in the warrant.(couldn't have been.)So on the basis of basically one post made to one (anarchist,according to police.) website,(that doesn't require registration or keep logs) The police have seized my laptop,kept it over 8 months and still have to bring actual charges.They may still not bring charges.The post's seem so incoherent as to be nonsensical.Assassination politics was not mentioned during the interview though it featured strongly at my bail hearing last year and was fairly widely reported in the tabloid and local papers.Indymedia,where the post's were left (not e-mailed) by person or persons unknown,has had a couple of legal problems,one of them allegedly by me at the (now defunct) Ohio valley site.I do remember making that post.(stephen Roach,dead man walking.) I made a "no comment' interview under legal advice.I deny making death threats, or any threats actually,I'm advocating assassination politics or APster strictly for its value as entertainment journalism.I will vigorously defend any charges bought arising from this gross abuse of State power.I hope to sue the police for malicious prosecution.I will certainly be complaining to the ombudsman.One attempt to retrieve the dell has already cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars. A million mojo-dollars and 15 feet of pure white snow for the head of george walker bush,payment on delivery. pr. --- Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 16:04:52 +1100 To: declanat_private From: proffr11 <proffr11at_private> Subject: Prints required,force authorized to collect Au police now take a set of hand and finger dabs everytime someone is interviewed for an indictable offense. These may be expunged after 6 months on application.(should charges not be proceeded with.) I should be charged soon with making a 'death threat' in an "e-mail'.Cant wait:) --- Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 15:58:27 +1100 To: cypherpunksat_private From: matthew X <profrvat_private> Subject: Attacks on Anarchists in au. Cc: declanat_private Federal Police harrass E-Journalist. by profrvat_private 12:31pm Thu Feb 28 '02 Interviews with a shrink are rare when your on the disability support,I had one about every 20 years...till recently. I had one a couple of weeks ago where my Dr agreed to write to the Victorian police about a notebook computer seized by them.I had explained to my Dr that the police taking eight months to even interview me,(still not charge me)was stressful and he seemed to agree. Today my case worker called by to tell me another interview had been arranged for tomorrow.(fri.)As this is extremely unusual I inquired as to the reason.He informs me that a Federal policeman,one David Hall had been in touch with them in regard to alleged internet E-journalism by me. David Hall and another fed along with an "observer" and a US SS agent,rick Walkinshaw accompanied the 5 Victorian plod that raided me last june and stole my notepad. Seeing as Dave already knows where I live,maybe he could save the taxpayers some money and call me direct next time? I'll tell him directly now what I plan to tell my Psychiatrist tomorrow that he and and his drunk mate and all the spooks and spies can go and GET FUCKED! Also when he's finished to get on to the lazy,lying thieving victorian filth to either return my notebook or give me what I really want,a chance to make total fools of them in a court of law.FUCK the POLICE! He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. - --Thomas Paine www.indymedia.org melbourne.au AND New indymedia station http://www.brisbane.indymedia.org.au/front.php3?article_id=63&group=webcast --- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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