Worst. Law. Ever.

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Tornado

Retro Grade Joined: August 16, 2003 Status: Offline Posts: 2958 Rep:

Worst. Law. Ever.

Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:24:01 PM #14424 Perm Link

http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-annoyance%2C+go+to+jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html?part=rss&tag=6022491&subj=news

Quote
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.

This ridiculous prohibition, which would likely imperil much of Usenet, is buried in the so-called Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. Criminal penalties include stiff fines and two years in prison.

"The use of the word 'annoy' is particularly problematic," says Marv Johnson, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. "What's annoying to one person may not be annoying to someone else."

Tax dollars at work. It would be interesting to see how this would work, as the U.S., you know, doesn't actually have any authority over the internet. I also wonder what would happen to, say, Free-Zombie if he was to f-bomb...say, me or Aron or some other U.S. member, or if two Briton's went at it online. I'm legitimately surprised it made it off of the floor. I've already sent the link to Sean Howard.

Michael: Jodie, how's my schedule look for today?
Jodie: You've got a conference and dinner party at the Japanese Embassy regarding wildlife protection.
Michael: Oh, yeah...sorry, but I'll have to cancel that. I'm heading out to save America!

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Aron Schatz

2014: Year of change. Joined: August 3, 2001 Status: Offline Posts: 10753 Rep:

Re: Worst. Law. Ever.

Fri Jan 13, 2006 4:14:01 PM #14426 Perm Link

In response to Tornado #14424

In this country, it is illegal to pander someone by phone or in person if the person is feeling threatened by it. This is an extension of it. It isn't illegal if I called you a douchebag because I'm using my real name to post this.

I'm not for this law either, but it is an extension of a previous one. This only applies to people living in the US.

2014 is going to be a good year. More content, more streamlining. Be a part of history!

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Tornado

Retro Grade Joined: August 16, 2003 Status: Offline Posts: 2958 Rep:

Re[2]: Worst. Law. Ever.

Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:41:46 PM #14432 Perm Link

In response to Aron Schatz #14426

Said By Aron Schatz
This only applies to people living in the US.

What about extradiction agreements, such as the ones between England and America?

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Yodasmokes

Joined: August 13, 2004 Status: Offline Posts: 95 Rep:

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Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:46:32 AM #14441 Perm Link

So it's still perfectly ok to anonymously flame those living in other countries? What about posts on servers based outside the us? This whole "world wide" thing gets a little confusing to legislate.

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free::zombie

Joined: December 6, 2005 Status: Offline Posts: 930 Rep:

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Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:57:55 AM #14444 Perm Link

isn't anywhere on the damn earth sane ?
This law is somehow more "extreme" because the internet is not only a rough place, but also because it is common to hide your true identity to some extent. (German law forces me to make my name, address, e-mail and phone number public if I have a website, and I don't like the idea of random people being able to phone or visit me.)

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Thefremen

LOL whut? Joined: September 29, 2002 Status: Offline Posts: 2475 Rep:

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Sat Jan 14, 2006 4:02:09 PM #14451 Perm Link

I think this piece of legislation was inspired by the film "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back", in which, if you'll recall, 2 stoners went cross country just so that fanboys wouldn't smear their good names in flame wars.

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xaver

Joined: January 11, 2006 Status: Offline Posts: 68 Rep:

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Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:53:25 PM #14507 Perm Link

I agree that this law is ridiculous; the subject of "annoyance" is very subjective as they say. And what's to say that someone's "real" name revealed isn't all that real?

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sam][am

you sneaky butthole Joined: July 28, 2003 Status: Offline Posts: 1185 Rep:

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Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:22:04 PM #14511 Perm Link

This may be an extremely stupid question, but I don't care.
Why don't we just say we're not from the US? Then whatever ignorant asshole you're bitching at online can't do shit. Do you really think they'll waste time trying to find out more about you when they could do a simple click and block or ignore you?
Why do they think most sites have that option? If people are getting "annoyed" so badly, find another way to communicate or do research. They shouldn't restrict other people because a few are "annoyed." I seriously know of no one who actually gets offended or bothered by people online. I know there are some out there, but shit if it was that big of a problem you would hear at least one complaint. Wouldn't you?

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FroogleDoop

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Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:04:32 AM #14549 Perm Link

In response to sam][am #14511

That's actually a good point. But, on the "Saying you're not from the US" point, well, that's easy to prove wrong.

Said By blackwidow47
I know Im an ideot but I just proved that some of you are ediots too

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free::zombie

Joined: December 6, 2005 Status: Offline Posts: 930 Rep:

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Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:08:28 AM #14567 Perm Link

i'm not from the US.

now, let's see ya prove that wrong...
(yeah, I'm cheating)

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Thefremen

LOL whut? Joined: September 29, 2002 Status: Offline Posts: 2475 Rep:

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Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:17:40 PM #14571 Perm Link

I find it annoying when Bush says something like "I wuz trying to defend the country by blowing up that orphanage, why can't y'all see that?" followed by his signature snicker. This must be what Al Gore meant when he said that Bush was persistantly breaking the law.

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.harper Joined: January 29, 2006 Status: Offline Posts: 2 Rep: Low (17)

OMFG!!

Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:27:00 AM #14710 Perm Link

Goddammit! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of! Gawd, I'm leaving America ASAP.

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sam][am

you sneaky butthole Joined: July 28, 2003 Status: Offline Posts: 1185 Rep:

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Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:31:18 PM #14714 Perm Link

Yeah, I would have to say that is a very stupid thing. I mean, why would someone who types "OMFG!!" and "gawd" be allowed in the Adult Discussions topic?

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Thefremen

LOL whut? Joined: September 29, 2002 Status: Offline Posts: 2475 Rep:

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Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:11:57 AM #14717 Perm Link

In response to sam][am #14714

OMFG I know exactly what you mean!

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sam][am

you sneaky butthole Joined: July 28, 2003 Status: Offline Posts: 1185 Rep:

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