01-10-2006, 12:00 AM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Create An eAnnoyance, Go To Jail
http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-annoyance%2C+go+to+jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html?part=rss&tag=6022491&subj=news
"Annoying someone via the Internet is now a federal crime. It's no joke. Last Thursday, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity. In other words, it's OK to flame someone on a mailing list or in a blog as long as you do it under your real name. Thank Congress for small favors, I guess."
Well, that is the end of usenet as we know it. :lol: I'd like to know what the definition of annoying is too. Is it considered annoying when you register under a different user ID then pimp your website in a post, pretending to be giving an authentic recommendation? Or what about stealing images from this site then watermarking them as if you had procured them originally? That annoys me, but that may fall below the threshold of the criminal offence targeted by this law. This law may have all of the teeth of the anti-spam laws in place too.
I do want to take the time to thank the moderators on this site. :werenotworthy: They do a fantastic job of rooting out the annoyers that register under different names and killing the posts, and also thank the members of this site. It is a remarkably well behaved site, so we have very little annoying going on. But for some of you out there... :twak: :wink: :rotfl:
|
| |
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 01:17 AM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 444
|
|
I think that this article along with Ed's comments made me realize something...
We don't need Senators and Representatives to run our contry, we need Moderators. :twisted:
|
| |
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 01:25 AM
|
|
Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Mark Kenepp
I think that this article along with Ed's comments made me realize something...
We don't need Senators and Representatives to run our contry, we need Moderators. :twisted:
|
Cedrone For President - In 2008 we install a bonafide moderate!
__________________
Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
|
| |
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 02:03 AM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
|
|
So much for your First Amendment rights. It should be noted that this law was a rider on a bill authorizing continued funding of a fairly important Justice department bill. The problem is the Pres. would have had to veto the entire bill to veto this.
My guess is some congressman was annoyed by anonymous poster who supported a political opponent, so decided to make it illegal. I guess the good news is the law is awfully vague, who gets to decide what is annoying, and as such probably won't stand up to a legal fight. Of course it still will cost someone a lot of money, just the same. The article does a pretty good job of showing legal precedence for this to be struck down.
The more I post about this, the more I get angered, it doesn't outlaw threating or slanderous messages, just annoying. I suspect many of us (well, at least me) have been guilty of posting a message somone found annoying at one point or another.
Since we are in the off-topic forum, anyone for a law that allows for line item vetos to prevent these kind of shenanigans from continuing to occur?
F
|
| |
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 02:13 AM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 481
|
|
Re: Create An eAnnoyance, Go To Jail
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
...I do want to take the time to thank the moderators on this site. :werenotworthy: They do a fantastic job...and also thank the members of this site. It is a remarkably well behaved site, so we have very little annoying going on.
|
Thank you for the compliment I think that most of us agree with your assessment of the site's clientele
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
...But for some of you out there... :twak: :wink: :rotfl:
|
YEAH :snipersmile: :rotfl: :takethat:
Jeff- :way to go:
|
| |
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 02:37 AM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 481
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
...I do want to take the time to thank the moderators on this site. :werenotworthy: They do a fantastic job of rooting out the annoyers that register under different names and killing the posts...
|
Sounds like a previous boss I had known as the terminator (moderator???). I guess he was a little annoyed that I asked for a raise and killed my post. That's how I got started in my own business  .
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Mark Kenepp
...We don't need Senators and Representatives to run our contry, we need Moderators. :twisted:
|
Due to phenomenon worse than DLL hell known as Politics I think we would still end up with Senators and Representatives in Moderator's clothing :cry:
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jon Westfall
Cedrone For President - In 2008 we install a bonafide moderate!
|
This guy would get my vote 8)
Jeff-
|
| |
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 03:29 AM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,183
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by whydidnt
So much for your First Amendment rights.
|
Don't they just give you the right to free speech? That's not the same as the right to hide behind a false identity and call people nasty names is it?
But then I'm just a silly foreigner, what do I know? :-)
|
| |
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 04:04 AM
|
|
Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
|
|
To be honest, this whole area needs to be dealt with in some way, and on a global basis. At the moment whether or not an individual uses his or her own name has little meaning. Right now a person can post pretty much any kind of slander and harassment and it is very difficult to put an end to it. Especially when you may live in one country and they live in another.
Lots of people are going to tell you there are things you can do, such as informing their ISP, or hosting company, but in reality it is very difficult to get them to take action, and the process is long and arduous. Even when they are clearly posting slander and out n' out lies it is difficult. Try hiring lawyers to handle this when you are in different countries. It is very expensive. You can easily spend thousands of dollars hiring lawyers just to get someone to stop posting slanderous remarks about you. If the guy's your neighbor you can call the police and they will have a chat with the individual and likely cool him or her down. You can't do that with someone online with their own website.
There needs to be some cut and dried global laws put in place and a body to enforce them. As it stands now anyone can start their own site and say pretty much anything they want with little worry. This behavior is on the rise and will continue until something with real teeth is put in place and enforced.
When it actually happens to you it is not fun, and can have an effect on your "real" life.
Dave
|
| |
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 04:04 AM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by SteveHoward999
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by whydidnt
So much for your First Amendment rights.
|
Don't they just give you the right to free speech? That's not the same as the right to hide behind a false identity and call people nasty names is it?
But then I'm just a silly foreigner, what do I know? :-) |
Well, the Supreme court has previously ruled that Anonymous speech is still protected. Free Speech has it's limits - I can't violate your rights, slander or threaten you, but I'm not sure calling you a nasty name fits those areas. My concern here is the extremely vague statement of annoying someone. Who decides what is annoying? For example some would probably say some of my recent posts regarding the Treo 700w are annoying, does that mean I should go to jail for 2 years for expressing my opinion? I sure hope not, that sounds rather like what we see in China these days, and what was seen in the former Soviet Union - censorship and persecution for expressing one's opinion - no matter how annoying - is something our founding fathers wanted to make sure would NOT happen in the USA. 8)
|
| |
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 06:18 AM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
|
|
HI! MY NAME IS BOB. I HAVE VIAGRA TO SELL YOU! ITS REALLY CHEAP AND......hey....get away from my keyboar.....#$P34u8!@#
This is the FBI. The person in question has been arrested. Please continue your orderly conversations. Thank you and have a patriotic day.
This tongue in cheek has been brought to you by too much caffeine and a fair amount of sugar. 
__________________
PDA History: Palm Pilot 5000 -> Apple Newton 2100 -> Casio E-11 -> iPaq 3650 (64MB Upgrade) -> iPaq 3700 -> Casio EM-500 -> HP Jornada 568 -> HP iPaq hx4705 www.spreadfirefox.com |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
