BUFFSCAN
When Write Makes Might, Right?
01/23/2025
Relatable
I can relate to Jacob Quinn's story.
This literally happened to me in the early 2000s. I had a parody page that incidentally insulted the local Sheriff's office and they actually sent a detective to my job who made ominous contact with co-workers while looking around for me. When finally so he sat me in an adjoining office and demanded to know if I was the one who published it. He pulled out a wrinkled copy of my piece and pushed it toward me across the table in full confrontation.
I laughed, yeah I did! It was a joke!
The content in question was probably my best work at the time (I was very active in online publishing then) but he let me know in no uncertain terms that the Sheriff didn't see it that way.
It (the piece) had been up as part of my narcissistic website for almost five years by then but the power of the new people's press was beginning to encroach, especially if you were effective. The notice of and response to little dicks like me in the new age was finally taking some kind of form.
I wrote an apology letter - of sorts - and received a response a few weeks later that merely suggested I properly cite my satirical site as being one. It was never made clear to me what their other options were - you can't arrest someone for being perceived as insulting. I suspect there was none: Embarrassing me at my job was probably the sole point of the confrontation. Suggesting that I be careful in my framing of it was ridiculous of course since the parody content spoke for itself and as a dark reality, actually reflected personal experiences in my life.
Back then I didn't have the scruples to hook up with an attorney like I might do so easily today in such a case. Being the muckraker that I was I had my own job, area politicians, and as presented, the Sheriff, all pissed at me at once. I was supposed to stink by design by many hands. Supposed to be ground down and out by any means.
Today I always try to use that experience when publishing to cut deeper but smarter. I don't always succeed, but I've learned that fighting means to bleed a bit and here and there be beaten and survive it to do it all over. Not be chilled, not be paralyzed by paranoia, and oddly, not to *not* be paranoid. You piss off the world with your reasoned or reckless brand of thought leadership, then you better know how to roll with the punches that will be dealt.
By my calculus the people at the end of my words have the guilty consciences and hold the fear, as they should. In that case for instance, I wasn't the one compelled to take a fraction of the local county budget to intimidate someone over a silly parody.
But, at the same time, I have come to appreciate that words and writing are in fact a power. If you find yourself capable this way it is easy to never acknowledge that and persist in a kind of lethal naivety to yourself and potentially unintended others.
Tie the cannon down, control it a little, and whatever great or idiotic point you're making will land stronger.
BuffScan Pokey Report
The following are fresh listings in the publicly distributed Erie County Jail Roster as of yesterday.
Booking Date 1/22/2025
- ADOLF, JASON J
- BLUE, DEMARION T
- BRANNIGAN, SEAN T
- CASTLEBERRY, SEAN D
- CRAWFORD, MICHELLE
- CROUT, LAMARIO J
- CURRY, DARNELL
- GREEN, ANTHONY
- IMPERI, ZACHARY T
- KLIMEK, JONATHAN
- MOORE, DRAYONTE
- ROVISON, ROBERT A
- TOMAINO, RICHARD
- WNUK, JUSTIN
- WRIGHT, DEVANTE
In providing this convenient aggregate listing please keep in mind the following: Incarceration in county jail does not imply guilt - statistically, most inmates are in fact legally innocent and are only incarcerated pending further legal proceedings. As well, many circumstances including mental health and addiction issues can lead to behavioral turbulence and conflicts with society that result in jail. In noting incarceration status please adopt a compassion-first regard.
For a variety of reasons the given list may not be all inclusive of those individuals actually processed.
By BuffScan for BuffScan.
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