If I post on freerepublic and they all "annoy" me...

[berni_mccoy]

Can they all go to jail under the new "Annoying Internet" law? :evilgrin:

For those who don't know, it's now illegal to "annoy" someone anonymously on the Internet (see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2358170#2358244).

Boy, am I glad I use my name when I post!

[Crunchy Frog]

1. You're annoying me.

I'm going to press charges. :evilgrin:

[berni_mccoy]

2. hehe, doesn't apply, I'm not posting anonymously...

But I would assume that Crunch Frog is NOT your real name... I'm calling the gov't RIGHT NOW!

[Crunchy Frog]

8. You're assuming wrong.

My real name IS Crunchy Frog. You'll just have to trust me on that.

[txindy]

3. If they ban you, just how annoyed will you be?

Hmmmmm?

[berni_mccoy]

4. VERY! LOL!

[Doctor_J]

5. actually, those rw chain letters would be subject to the new law

be sure you forward ALL of those to the authorities.

[xultar]

6. Ohhhh I can't wait to forward those to the Bubba State Patrol in GA.

[baldguy]

7. Don't you know?

You have to tell the truth to be annoying.

[American liberal]

9. you guys joke about it, but it sounds really scary to me...

Based on the little bit I've read about this new law that got snuck in, it seems to me that the rationale behind making it illegal to "anonymously" annoy people on the Internet is so that the govt. can track people more easily. Right now, we have a modicum of protection via our screen names. Once we have to start posting on boards like DU using our real names, won't we start censoring ourselves more? Won't we be open to greater scrutiny under the current provisions of the Patriot Act? To my tinfoil hat way of thinking, this law is just another step toward totalitarian control by the right. If I'm missing something or too far afield, please reel me in, but, like I said, based on what I know of this law so far, that's how I see it playing out...