Reply #3: Also, if a person has a good reason to contact them or the FBI, please don't hesitate.

[Poll_Blind]

Don't post a message on a forum about (whatever it is), don't Twitter about it, don't make a YouTube about it- just pick up the phone and call them to report the threat. I've probably seen almost a dozen messages over my years at DU where someone posts a "Should I call the FBI/Secret Service about this?" or something similar. Maybe once or twice the people did call and report the behavior, the rest were bullshitters just looking for attention or people who could have helped, but didn't for whatever reason.

So don't yammer about it, just do it. It's not like they're going to charge you $50 bucks if their investigation doesn't pan out.

On something unrelated to DU, almost 10 years ago I had a really good reason to contact the FBI. It freaked me out to do but I did. I don't know what I was expecting, really. I guess that agents would show up at my door or something with dark sunglasses and little curly wires snaking out of their ears and down their necks.

Instead, they talked with me on the phone for a bit and asked if I could e-mail them the particulars which I already had typed up. That was it. I didn't have to do anything more. A month or so later, the issue was dealt with. It was no hassle at all. I doubt I was the only person who'd contacted them in this particular case.

Especially now, in this really fucked up climate, hesitating to report something you genuinely feel is a threat could be the difference between people being hurt or killed...or not.

PB