[user24]

Holy Moly.

> Without access to his records, prison psychologists assumed his tales of talking to Islamic State members were fiction, symptoms of a mental illness that made him incompetent to stand trial. Prosecutors sought a hearing to decide whether he should be forcibly medicated.

[tamana]

This is sadly common. There was a famous case where a woman in a car accident was committed to a psychiatric prison because they didn't believe that Obama followed her on Twitter. Psychs believe that anyone who claims to know famous people is insane, just like cops believe everyone they encounter in the beat who looks sketchy is a criminal. Psychiatry is petty in the same way as police: anyone who seems "better" than the official is taken down a notch using the official's power.

[themartorana]

Is this more of the justice system (and doctors, now) not understanding the Internet at all? We know I could go read jihadist website propaganda tonight if I wanted to, but I understand the true nature of the wealth of information I can access from my own home.

It's scary when a elderly judge doesn't understand the Internet. It's worse when that lack of understanding runs through the entire criminal justice system. Then you really are screwed.