The Unabomber

Here's one you don't hear too much about anymore. I was just thinking of him the other day because I found his manifesto was posted on archive.org. I'm just flipping through it now. Definitely an incredibly smart guy, though he does go a bit off the rails at times.

He was turned in to the authorities by his younger brother who recognized his writing style when the manifesto was released publicly. If you were in that position, do you think you would turn in a sibling--or a parent?

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I like how honest he is at several points. This quote in particular catches my interest:
"My motive for doing what I am going to do is simply personal revenge. I do not expect to accomplish anything by it. Of course, if my crime (and my reasons for committing it) gets any public attention, it may help to stimulate public interest in the technology question and thereby improve the chances of stopping technology before it is too late; but on the other hand most people will probably be repelled by my crime, and the opponents of freedom may use it as a weapon to support their arguments for control over human behavior. I have no way of knowing whether my action will do more good than harm. I certainly don't claim to be an altruist or to be acting for the 'good' (whatever that is) of the human race. I act merely from a desire for revenge."

It's a nihilistic admission that his crimes will get him nowhere and earn him nothing, but that he wants to do it anyway, and I just find that level of self-insight fascinating.

Burn wrote:

What do you guys think about Manhunt: Unabomber? It was entertaining to see.

It was a great show, definitely entertaining and it looks like it was accurate. Ted Kaczynski himself hasn't watched it but he said it was probably bullshit

Mirwais500 wrote:

Burn wrote:

What do you guys think about Manhunt: Unabomber? It was entertaining to see.

It was a great show, definitely entertaining and it looks like it was accurate. Ted Kaczynski himself hasn't watched it but he said it was probably bullshit

Well, IS it?

TheOne99 wrote:

Mirwais500 wrote:

Burn wrote:

What do you guys think about Manhunt: Unabomber? It was entertaining to see.

It was a great show, definitely entertaining and it looks like it was accurate. Ted Kaczynski himself hasn't watched it but he said it was probably bullshit

Well, IS it?

The whole show is based around James Fitzgerald meeting and trying to outsmart Ted Kaczynski, but they never actually met each other until Ted was convicted so a big part of it is fictional. But the real life Fitzgerald worked on the show with them so it has to be pretty accurate regardless. So it's as least bullshit as it can be while also being entertaining

The sections "Oversocialization" and "Feelings of Inferiority" are legendary.

Burn wrote:

What do you guys think about Manhunt: Unabomber? It was entertaining to see.

I didn't see this one but my husband and I watched part of Unabomber: In His Own Words. Which is a documentary series about him and includes audio excerpts from the only interview he has ever done.

TBH I was very unimpressed by his whole manifesto thing. Apparently many people find it to be philosophically compelling, but both of us thought it was some real "I'm 14 and this is deep" material. He may be a math genius but ideologically, he's basic af.

He also has a pretty comical sounding voice, which we were not expecting. He sounds like a member of Alvin and the Chipmunks except with a strong Midwestern accent. That probably contributed at least somewhat to his rage at society, I'm guessing.

Interestingly enough, the documentary seemed straight out of the 90s aesthetically speaking, complete with truly terrible quality animations and everything. I'm not sure if that was intentional as Netflix tries to bank on nostalgia a lot and people look back on true crime shows of the 90s fondly.

Anyway overall I recommend the series.

Also sidenote. We were curious how he used the bathroom in his cabin so we looked it up. Apparently he dug a giant pit in the floor of the cabin, not even outside, and just went in there. WTF.

He is definitely a smart man who was abused and taken advantage of. A few months ago when the corona virus situation was starting to blow up a few Green Anarchists/Primitivists were talking about freeing him. Talk of that abruptly stopped, but in a place like ADX Florence they shouldn't expect any of the inmates, especially the older ones to survive a wide-spreading pandemic. At least he's still alive. His manifesto can be found here, too: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] It is quite memorable.

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Burn wrote:

badjunk wrote:

He is definitely a smart man who was abused and taken advantage of. A few months ago when the corona virus situation was starting to blow up a few Green Anarchists/Primitives were talking about freeing him. Talk of that abruptly stopped, but in a place like ADX Florence they shouldn't expect any of the inmates, especially the older ones to survive a wide-spreading pandemic. At least he's still alive. His manifesto can be found here, too: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] It is quite memorable.

Without a doubt, his manifesto is a must-read for anyone who wants to challenge the orthodoxy and corruption of the techno-industrial system. Quite memorable.

Agreed, he makes several good points that all could be applied and quoted to current events. It is disappointing how he was not listened to, and the world is a big fat mess, just how it was if not more, than when he wrote his manifesto.

It's amazing how The Unabomber managed to build all his devices in a shed in the middle of a forest with no electricity or running water, and that he got away with it for so long.

You almost have to admire his skills.