Anonymous Boston Leader Now Well Known

[anon2487]

Bostonist: Anonymous Boston Leader Now Well Known

In the battle of creepiness, the Church of Scientology scored a decisive win against Anonymous, the shady group of internet hackers and hooligans who have spent the past few months protesting the controversial religion.

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly reports that Gregg Housh, a member of Anonymous, will be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on charges of harassment brought by the Church of Scientology.

Anonymous has become well known for protesting in Guy Fawkes masks, inspired by the comic book and movie V for Vendetta. The group claims that the masks protect them from litigation by the Church, which has been known to use the courts to dissuade opponents.

Housh, a convicted software pirate whose probation has been endangered by the charges, had applied for a permit at City Hall for a protest in front of Scientology's Beacon Street headquarters, unmasking himself.

The harassment charges are based on claims by the Church that Anonymous protesters communicated threats to Church members and that masked protest is not protected speech under the First Amendment. Many lawyers disagree, arguing that the charges against Housh are frivolous. A related trespassing charge against Housh has already been dismissed.

Whether or not you agree with Anonymous, the Church of Scientology is unquestionably the villain and loser in this set piece. Anonymous now has both a martyr and a renewed sense of persecution. Not a good thing, if you like to walk through Beacon Hill or Copley Square without dodging dudes in masks.

[Anon Char]

So now we have a "Walking An Hero" ?

[MollyBloom]

The press articles that we have seen here so far are backing Greg (legal comments saying it's frivolous)...

How about the more conservative Boston news (hard copy also), anything there? (for those of us not in that area?)

[eksef]

Co$ - get it through your thick head that the more you piss us off, the more we'll go after you.

Footbullet.

[Himbeertoni]

these bastards, anyway i´m sorry for Gregg but if they think that will stop anyone from protesting --> Co$ fails again with a mighty footbullet, just one moar proof that fair game is alive as can be!

[Anon123456]

the ironic part is that, the minute they found out his name he was by default not anonymous. they pressed charges on a member of the public, not a member of anonymous.

i guess we havent explained anonymous to the media as clearly as we should have.

[Davis Square Rocks]

Originally Posted by MollyBloom

How about the more conservative Boston news (hard copy also), anything there? (for those of us not in that area?)

I haven't yet seen anything about the case in local print media, other than Mass. Lawyers Weekly and the (now defunct) BostonNOW. But they may be waiting until after the arraignment.

[D...]

Interesting spin they put on us, though it's good to see this in an objective person's light. What he said is absolutely true, CoS did a stupid thing for using this absurd case to harass Gregg, they've proved everything "we" have said, at least in many's eyes.

[Anonvox]

The thing we really need to tell this guy RESPECTFULLY (caps for emphasis) is that we're not hooligans and cyberterrorists, and that we won't start Fair Gaming Scilons even though they Fair Game us. We should NEVER stoop to that level. Hopefully, that way we can decrease our 'creepiness' rating for him.

Also, inform him that just because he requests a permit does not mean that he's our 'leader'. Please inform the author of the article about how Anon works

[A.Non Hubbard]

Whether or not you agree with Anonymous, the Church of Scientology is unquestionably the villain and loser in this set piece. Anonymous now has both a martyr and a renewed sense of persecution. Not a good thing, if you like to walk through Beacon Hill or Copley Square without dodging dudes in masks.

LRH TECH JUST FAILED YO

[Robert S]

Fits with the Fair Game:Stop message. Picket sign ideas?

Of course, he's not the leader in Bos.... ooops.

Nothing

[I]

his name was on a permit, he therefore became not a member of anonymous, but rather an ally or agent, and he's certainly not a leader, since we have none.

someone phrase that in a way that doesn't sound like a coverup/denial and sounds more like polite correction please.

and then, in case you didn't automatically get the message, let this guy know.

[AnonNaEireann]

Scilons are going to get pwnt.

[[Insert witty name here]]

Originally Posted by Anonvox

Hopefully, that way we can decrease our 'creepiness' rating for him.

I can think of better things for him to associate us with, but I can also think of worse.

It's just one of those balances we need to keep an eye on, especially if the monthly protests become the mainstay of our image. A healthy dose of mystique is one of the strongest media assets we've got, and nothing will kill it faster than our starting to be seen as a "protest group."

We need to keep juggling and keep all the balls in the air

[AnonDeliversPizza]

Apparently you can now purchase Red Sox hats along with your V Masks.

Navy and Red with a big ol' "B" on top of a smiling Guy Fawkes, pretty sexy eh?

[[Insert witty name here]]

Originally Posted by Anon123456

the ironic part is that, the minute they found out his name he was by default not anonymous. they pressed charges on a member of the public, not a member of anonymous.

i guess we havent explained anonymous to the media as clearly as we should have.

This.

There are no "members" of Anonymous, only people choosing to offer suggestions and work together anonymously.

[ThetanicWorshipper]

This just proves that having to file for a permit to protest is almost unconstitutional. By filing, we're simply opening ourselves up to litigation. This can be shown as a direct reason why needing a permit to protest is BS.

[Davis Square Rocks]

"member of Anonymous" is a difficult phrase to avoid, though. I try to say "participant in Anonymous".

[Eff]

Originally Posted by I

his name was on a permit, he therefore became not a member of anonymous, but rather an ally or agent, and he's certainly not a leader, since we have none.

someone phrase that in a way that doesn't sound like a coverup/denial and sounds more like polite correction please.

How about like this:

The leader of Anonymous, who goes by the pseudonym "I" on the Enturbulation forums, has revised the organiza