Silk Road: anonymous marketplace. Feedback requested :)

[MoonShadow]

I would guess that Silk Road is overloaded from all the publicity it's gotten recently.

Does it even exist? I've never been able to find it. I think it might be some joke they are playing on the politicians ... it just sounds too far-fetched to be possible.

It did at one time.

[1714072144]

1714072144

[1714072144]

1714072144

[1714072144]

1714072144

[1714072144]

1714072144

[error]

I would guess that Silk Road is overloaded from all the publicity it's gotten recently.

Does it even exist? I've never been able to find it. I think it might be some joke they are playing on the politicians ... it just sounds too far-fetched to be possible.

Yes, it's up right now. I just went and looked.

[Atheros]

They keep calling it a website and it isn't a website. It isn't on the web.

The only reason the democratic senators are bringing it up now is to deflect attention from the giant weiner Weiner is proud to not admit isn't his.

Schumer could easily come out of this looking very foolish if users don't leave Silk Road.

And I like Schumer too.

[greenfloyd]

As a long-time anti-drug war activist I am of two minds on Silk Road.  I guess it's all about intentions and so far the only intention I can gather is that it's about the money.  Nonetheless, intentional or not, SR makes a profound statement as to the failure of governments to adopt rational and compassionate drug policies.

After three-weeks and only a handful of transactions it can hardly be considered a major player in the trafficking of cannabis and narcotics.  Although with the recent press and now US Senate action pending, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.  And, what, if any, impact it might have on the global legalization/normalization of drugs movement.  So, for the time-being I'll consider Silk Road as an act of non-violent civil-disobedience, and cheer it on in that spirit. 

However, SR is designed to fail - the real black-market and their political puppets simply will not allow it to succeed.  They will not hesitate to use any means at their disposal to shut it down.  Here in the US we still arrest and jail medical cannabis users, although it's not as bad as it use to be.

In that vain, allow me to suggest a new category for Silk Road, something like, "Edible Medical," for food products made with THC.  Hopefully, this will give SR a little more TLC and positive karma for what is sure to be a hard row to hoe.

Peace be with you.
Greenfloyd, aka Floyd Ferris Landrath, Portland, Oregon.

[greenfloyd]

I'm not entirely sure how to classify the following drugs, but they are listed as well under "prescription":
Viagra
Xanax
Alprazolam
Colnazepam
and Amphetamine salts

You see, that's why doctors and pharmacists, not Internet hot-shots (or drug cartels), should sell the hard drugs.  It appears you are in no way qualified to be distributing dangerous narcotics such as Xanax.  In addition, you could well be selling them to kids.  In my book selling to adults is ok.  However, blindly selling hard drugs to minors is akin to child-rape and abuse, it can not be tolerated in a civil society.  In this regard your business model is the same as the cartels and street-dealers and represents a step-backward for E-commerece as an ethical and responsible player.

greenfloyd, aka Floyd Ferris Landrath, Portland, Oregon

[Ricochet]

Floyd, keep in mind that SR is like Mt. Gox is that it's more of a middleman between buyers and sellers, though the guy running the site is a seller himself.  It's very likely that he doesn't sell any of those drugs you quoted, but one of the other sellers wanted to offer it and so he needed to add the relevant pages to the site.

[greenfloyd]

Floyd, keep in mind that SR is like Mt. Gox is that it's more of a middleman between buyers and sellers, though the guy running the site is a seller himself.  It's very likely that he doesn't sell any of those drugs you quoted, but one of the other sellers wanted to offer it and so he needed to add the relevant pages to the site.

I'll keep that in mind, and perhaps I should have layered my comments a bit better. 

Nonetheless, and in the final analysis all three parties, seller - buyer - middleman are involved and therefore share in some of the moral and legal implications of their actions.  I think this is particularly relevant in regards to this system which from what I've seen doesn't even make as much effort as the pron industry in preventing underage access to, what should be, adults-only products.  And even then, there are other concerns about true quantities, dosage and ingredients / adulterants of already potentially fatal narcotics.

As someone passionate about drug legalization and from the apparent level of higher-than-average intelligence I see on this board, it needs to be clearly stated exactly what the ramifications are of engaging in this business model, no matter what your particular role in it may be.

[Anonymous]

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/  I found silk road everybody. I agree the pollies should ban it now.

[Anonymous]

https://www.blindbitcoin.com/ if youre tempted to send someone on silk road bitcoins.

I think the fake silk road site should redirect to lemonparty.com or meatspin.

Just to troll the media.

[Atheros]

...Just to troll the media.

Yes!  That would put an end to this story instantly. The media would feel foolish and the two senators would feel very foolish.

[FatherMcGruder]

Nonetheless, and in the final analysis all three parties, seller - buyer - middleman are involved and therefore share in some of the moral and legal implications of their actions.  I think this is particularly relevant in regards to this system which from what I've seen doesn't even make as much effort as the pron industry in preventing underage access to, what should be, adults-only products.  And even then, there are other concerns about true quantities, dosage and ingredients / adulterants of already potentially fatal narcotics.

As someone passionate about drug legalization and from the apparent level of higher-than-average intelligence I see on this board, it needs to be clearly stated exactly what the ramifications are of engaging in this business model, no matter what your particular role in it may be.

As you and others have pointed out, the Silk Road model does have risks and deficiencies. However, it does offer a great improvement over the traditional, albeit stereotypical, model of buying from shady dealers in crumby places. The Silk Road model even offers improvements with respect to denying access to children. Because the products come through the mail, parents have a better chance of intercepting them and confronting junior on the matter.

I would recommend though that the Silk Road folks add a link at the top of each product category page to the relevant page on Erowid or an equivalent source. Doing so can only help. We can't win this "war" without education.

[AllYourBase]

I'm not entirely sure how to classify the following drugs, but they are listed as well under "prescription":
Viagra
Xanax
Alprazolam
Colnazepam
and Amphetamine salts

You see, that's why doctors and pharmacists, not Internet hot-shots (or drug cartels), should sell the hard drugs.  It appears you are in no way qualified to be distributing dangerous narcotics such as Xanax.  In addition, you could well be selling them to kids.  In my book selling to adults is ok.  However, blindly selling hard drugs to minors is akin to child-rape and abuse, it can not be tolerated in a civil society.  In this regard your business model is the same as the cartels and street-dealers and represents a step-backward for E-commerece as an ethical and responsible player.

greenfloyd, aka Floyd Ferris Landrath, Portland, Oregon

I find your statement to be pretty offensive to so called "children".  You are implying that they are completely helpless and have no ability to make decisions with consequences.  In my book, if they can figure out how to use the internet, tor encryption, bitcoin, order something through SR, all without it being detected by anyone who cares to stop them, they are certainly mature enough to comprehend the consequences.  Please consider that you are turning kids into bubble boy (if you've seen that movie).   

[Drifter]

I find your statement to be pretty offensive to so called "children".  You are implying that they are completely helpless and have no ability to make decisions with consequences. 

No, they have less ability to realize consequences, and more to lose because of undeveloped bodies and minds. You seem to imply older teenagers but what about an 11 year old? If I was to lay out a line of coke and say "snort it", you think she would know the consequences? If she was parented right maybe but not every kid.

In my book, if they can figure out how to use the internet, tor encryption, bitcoin, order something through SR, all without it being detected by anyone who cares to stop them, they are certainly mature enough to comprehend the consequences.  Please consider that you are turning kids into bubble boy (if you've seen that movie).   

Today, Tor and Bitcoin might be pretty hard for youngsters to get a grasp on, but in the future? Let's dream for a minute, and say in the future phones can come with Tor installed, and bitcoin is a common payment method. If a child, 8,9,10,... gets recommended "Silk Road" by his older friends and he's able to buy some stuff that makes him feel awesome in the blink of an eye, is he able to see or weigh the consequences?

Children's freedom is definitely important to me, and I do think western countries are learning to control their kids too much, but drugs are not something to be introducing to a young developing human being. I can't tell you if 18 is the "adult" age but at least by then you have the ability to think for yourself a lot better than being young, and everything learned until teenage years is basically parents/teachers ideas handed down.

[BitterTea]

As with everything, it should be up for the parents/children to decide when they are mature enough to experiment with mind altering substances. I firmly believe that the parents should be able to provide a safe setting for their children to do so (if they feel it is appropriate) without risking going to jail.

[Drifter]

As with everything, it should be up for the parents/children to decide when they are mature enough to experiment with mind altering substances. I firmly believe that the parents should be able to provide a safe setting for their children to do so (if they feel it is appropriate) without risking going to jail.

How do you decide when they are mature enough?
Edit: To be more specific. How do I decide if a 7 year old is mature enough if they seem to want to do a certain drug?

[Prze_koles]

As with everything, it should be up for the parents/children to decide when they are mature enough to experiment with mind altering substances. I firmly believe that the parents should be able to provide a safe setting for their children to do so (if they feel it is appropriate) without risking going to jail.

How do you decide when they are mature enough?
Edit: To be more specific. How do I decide if a 7 year old is mature enough if they seem to want to do a certain drug?

If you don't know such things, you shouldn't have children.

[Phenomenon]

How do you decide when they are mature enough?
Edit: To be more specific. How do I decide if a 7 year old is mature enough if they seem to want to do a certain drug?

Well if you are uncomfortable in deciding if a child is mature enough then why should you be pushing an agenda for a specific age?  Perhaps you should let parents and children make their own decisions.

[Drifter]

If you don't know such things, you shouldn't have children.

Guess what? There's parents like that out there arleady  . Ever see those vids of parents giving their kids weed or chain smoking cigarettes? I've seen one or two where the parents gave them ecstasy. The kid seems to slightly enjoy himself even, besides his eyes shooting back and forth. Uncommon, but it happens, and in those situations the child doesn't have options to say no. I guess some would say the courts have to decide if the child is mature enough or not to make the decision for himself? Hm. Tricky.

[Phenomenon]

Guess what? There's parents like that out there arleady  . Ever see those vids of parents giving their kids weed or chain smoking cigarettes? I've seen one or two where the parents gave them ecstasy. The kid seems to slightly enjoy himself even, besides his eyes shooting back and forth. Uncommon, but it happens, and in those situations the child doesn't have options to say no. I guess some would say the courts have to decide if the child is mature enough or not to make the decision for himself? Hm. Tricky.

I don't believe anyone claimed that parents and children never make the wrong decision.  However if your proposal is that the Government is more likely to make the correct decision then I will have to disagree wholeheartedly.

[FatherMcGruder]

I think we're getting a little OT up in here.