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Comment by sgc | Hacker News Reader

I often remind people that you are only ever duped by those you trust. I have no idea how you could think email exchanges with someone would lend credence one way or another in respect to this type of accusation. It is well-known that even serial murderers are often charming and everyone is surprised when they are caught. How kind, cordial, or charming someone is means nothing in this type of situation.

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OK, but just because a serial murdered can be charming, doesn't mean that every charming person in a serial murderer. It is true, I can't deduce anything with certainty from my personal and public correspondence, or the messages I see him send to others. But as opposed to the serial murderer, the issue here is the way he communicates and behaves.

I guess you could try this out empirically, by creating a throwaway Email address and sending him a dry, technical question under a female name, and see how he responds.

That would be anecdotal, and after the fact when he is trying to be on his best behavior. Also, email and online communication in general is not a good way to judge somebody. for better and worse, People read non-existent tone into things I write endlessly, and you have to just stop caring about the disconnect it is so bad.

To be clear, I have no idea as to the truth of this situation, I am just saying the criteria to judge it must be different than that, especially because creeps do their best to hide their creepiness to the general world.

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