Should news outlets and social media personalities who do purposefully take this comments out of context (and I think there can be little doubt that it is done on purpose [1]) be punished?

[1] https://www.thedailybeast.com/famed-mit-computer-scientist-r...

Clearly. This is a false accusation that damaged his work and reputation. At the very least, these news outlets and media personalities must be compelled to apologize publicly.

> "she may have been coerced by Epstein into appearing to be “willing” to Minsky."

Is that not a possibility?

Would that somehow absolve Minsky? A "willing" obviously young girl seems to want to have sex with somebody she doesnt know.

If Minsky suddenly find himself in the plot to a porno, and just went along with it, then trying to defend his moral culpability is probably a lot out of the bounds of acceptability.

I didn't say it would absolve Minsky. Somebody who has sex with a prostitute is lower than dirt in my book.

Why? As long as both people are consenting I don't see an issue with it. What makes the person "lower than dirt"?

Forget the prostitution issue. A 15-year-old cannot consent to sex with an adult. Period.

Where did 15 year olds come into the discussion related to Minsky?

The person in question was born in 1983 and the events in question were in 2002 (or potentially 2001 if there were multiple incidents, but not prior).

Maybe your confusion is because the age of consent is 16 in Massachusetts?

My mistake, the Stallman e-mail referred to 17-year-olds, not to 15-year-olds.