Thread by @hacks4pancakes

Look, I know a lot of people who are really shaken up by the Bright news / case right now. It's always really rough when it's somebody you've interacted with or know personally.

Here's what I can tell you. I'm a professional digital forensic analyst (GCFA, GCFE, etc etc). (1/8)

In a professional and volunteer setting, I've had some cases with distressing findings. I've had to seize computers from people and look them in the eye and smile after seeing the ... inhuman(e) things they've done or aided in. Eye bleach. Laptop bleach. Gin.

I would qualify myself as not a complete idiot. I read a lot, and I know quite a bit about crime, human psychology, and sociology as a byproduct of my profession. I'm pretty good at reading humans. I have a decent intuition for skeevy guys and dangerous situations.

Then one day, a couple years back, federal agents came in and arrested a direct report from me. One day he was just gone. I was pulled into offices and interviewed and given termination paperwork for him. He had been caught in a CP sting. The evidence was damning; he confessed.

The disturbing thing was, we got along fine. He was a smart analyst. We had similar views on philosophy and politics. He wasn't wildly socially awkward *or* weirdly charismatic. He was just some geeky dude. We ate team dinners together and chatted at bars.

I did some soul searching after, and talked to a lot of LEO and psychologist friends about it. They all told me the same thing. There's no way to know. People will mutter, "I had a bad feeling". They probably just didn't like the person. Others will despair, "but he was so ____!"

The really unfortunate truth is there is no one profile for a predator or abuser. They can be from any background or education level, any political party, any culture. All we can do is be vigilant for warning signs and report people who exploit kids if we see evidence.

I didn't really know this dude but I know a lot of you are second guessing yourselves, or feeling pretty smug.

If you're the former, try to chill. You probably could never know.

If you're in the latter group, why didn't you report him? (You probably could never know.) (8/8)

Obligatory addendum: If you're out there, and you think that maybe YOU are one of those folks starting down this dark road, please seek help. You have a manageable illness, and the time to stop and get help is today.