Crank Blogging, Like Phone Calling, Now Illegal

Crank Blogging, Like Phone Calling, Now Illegal 666

Posted by jamie on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:00PM from the do-people-get-prosecuted-for-this? dept.

On Thursday, President Bush signed into law a must-pass DoJ appropriations bill which contained a little gotcha for the internet. For decades, making anonymous abusive phone calls has been a federal crime, good for up to two years behind bars -- and the term "abusive" has included threats, harassment, and the much weaker "intent to annoy." Now, that telecommunications law has been extended to include the Internet, so when you post an anonymous troll to wind up your least-favorite blogger, you may break the law. This is silly: the law needs to start taking into account the qualitative differences between things like telephones, email inboxes, blogs, and IM accounts. A 3 AM phone call is different from a post to blogger.com calling me a jerk. I don't need federal protection from that Night Elf who keeps /chickening my Orc.

Crank Blogging, Like Phone Calling, Now Illegal

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First Anonymous Post (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:02PM (#14428339)

President Bush sucks

-Sue Me.

well let me be the first to say (Score:4, Funny)

by JeanBaptiste ( 537955 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:02PM (#14428341)

My co-worker Steve is a real jerk.

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

by ihatewinXP ( 638000 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:04PM (#14428365)

Give me some mod points and we can find out!

Let me be the first (Score:3, Funny)

by zap_branigan ( 691916 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:04PM (#14428367)

to tell the submitter what an ass he is.

Damn Night Elves (Score:4, Funny)

by bleh-of-the-huns ( 17740 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:04PM (#14428370)

I'm gonna call the cops next time some night elf hunter kills my helpless warlock from shadowmeld :P

what will we do here at /. ???? (Score:3, Funny)

by cyberbob2010 ( 312049 ) writes: <cyberbob2010@techie.com> on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:04PM (#14428371) Homepage Journal

the HOME of flamers and trolls. ;-)

Soon the forums will be empty as we are all carted off to jail for smart ass comments given with the "intent to annoy".

What? (Score:3, Funny)

by chill ( 34294 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:05PM (#14428380) Journal

"Intent to annoy"? Every sibling, spouse and co-worker in America could be charged under this clause!

My wife LIVES to annoy me! It is one of her main goals in life. I'm fairly certain each of my kids also has a primary purpose to annoy one or more of their siblings, their mother, all their teachers and many of the other kids at school. Frequently phones are involved.

-Charles

Re:So wait... (Score:2, Funny)

by IcyNeko ( 891749 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:05PM (#14428382) Journal

I wonder if this can also be extended to address the annoying sexbots that post messages to my Yahoo Messenger...

Good thing they used their real names... (Score:4, Funny)

by appleLaserWriter ( 91994 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:06PM (#14428387)

I find this new policy annoying.

Moderator points .... (Score:2, Funny)

by canning ( 228134 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:06PM (#14428388) Homepage

should come with a badge now.

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

by Snap E Tom ( 128447 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:07PM (#14428397)

Yes. Coming soon, the mod option will be "-1, Jail."

Re:well let me be the first to say (Score:5, Funny)

by pHatidic ( 163975 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:10PM (#14428438)

Hey Jean I teabagged your coffee.

-Steve

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

by aztracker1 ( 702135 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:13PM (#14428472) Homepage

Dear FBI, I am annoyed by all the blantant downloading going on, which is obviously meant to annoy us... -- RIAA/MPAA

Re:So wait... (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:19PM (#14428525)

Wait, you mean those aren't my girlfriends?

Re:So wait... (Score:0, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:19PM (#14428529)

only if you're an anonynomous coward ...

Anoying Anonymous Coward

Silly American K-niggots!!! (Score:4, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:19PM (#14428537)

^------- by Anonymous Coward, Ha!

Does this mean that we, in the rest of the world, can lay into you guys in the US and there's nothing you can do about it (anonymously)?

I will taunt you a second time!!!

Ha! Your country is really small and you all smell of pooh!

The posters read like this... (Score:5, Funny)

by Time Doctor ( 79352 ) writes: <zjs@zacharyjackslater.com> on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:22PM (#14428566) Homepage Journal

When you troll on Slashdot, you troll with Osama!

Re:what will we do here at /. ???? (Score:3, Funny)

by robyannetta ( 820243 ) * writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:24PM (#14428588) Homepage

By this logic, the existence of Slashdot is illegal. [cough]Bullshit![cough]
I'd like to see the first attempted prosecution under this new law.
>ALLIANCE SUCK
>HORDE SUCK
>ALLIANCE SUCK
>HORDE SUCK
>I'm calling the cops!

Re:What the hell...? (Score:5, Funny)

by Dunbal ( 464142 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:24PM (#14428594)

Laws like this will, in the long run, make the freedom of speech stronger, not weaker.

However they will do nothing for the kamikazee use of the comma!

WOOHOOO!!! (Score:2, Funny)

by macaulay805 ( 823467 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:25PM (#14428599) Homepage Journal

A real solution to those a**es who corpse camp you in WOW!!!

Thank you Bush, now I won't have to worry about my realm server being full any longer!

This law is necessary (Score:5, Funny)

by nekoniku ( 183821 ) writes: <justicek.infosource@info> on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:27PM (#14428610) Homepage

The terrorists is using the Internets!

And I almost forgot: What about the Children!!?!?!

reroll (Score:2, Funny)

by SpineZ ( 84378 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:31PM (#14428640)

I don't need federal protection from that Night Elf who keeps /chickening my Orc.
Reroll on a PvP server plzkthxbai.

Re:So wait... (Score:2, Funny)

by SEWilco ( 27983 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:33PM (#14428657) Journal

Wait, you mean those aren't my girlfriends?
Actually, they are. They seem oddly unsatisfied.

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

by Surt ( 22457 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:34PM (#14428661) Homepage Journal

Well of course it won't be direct to jail, there will have to be a trial to determine if you are actually guilty, unless the executive branch has some sort of magical power to just throw people into jails without due process.

Re:well let me be the first to say (Score:2, Funny)

by Thud457 ( 234763 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:46PM (#14428780) Homepage Journal

I didn't realize that kilts were allowed by the dress code.

Re:First Anonymous Post (Score:3, Funny)

by Lendrick ( 314723 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:49PM (#14428819) Homepage Journal

If only it were true. He seems to be able to lie us into a war, shred the constitution, hand out important government jobs like stocking stuffers to incompetent nitwits, give aid and comfort to our enemies in time of war, suppress political descent ...

I dunno, it seems like we've been in a constant state of "political descent" ever since he took office. Now, political dissent, on the other hand, he suppresses with impunity.

Impervious! (Score:2, Funny)

by SchrodingersRoot ( 943800 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:54PM (#14428864) Journal

Strikes me as moderately stupid. I mean, threats and all, sure. Harassment, ok, I guess. Though I believe there are already recourses for these problems (I could be mistaken).

But "intent to annoy"? Isn't that what the Internet is? A giant, collective, intent-to-annoy?
(Moreover, isn't that why there are things like selective blocking/allowing for IMs, for blogs, for e-mail?)

This won't affect me, however! When I call someone a jerk, it's never with the intent to annoy.
It's with the intent to inform!

Re:Moderator points .... (Score:3, Funny)

by Jon Luckey ( 7563 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @01:57PM (#14428901)

Badges? We don need no STINKIN badges!

Re:well let me be the first to say (Score:4, Funny)

by lowid (24) _________ ( 878977 ) writes: <[moc.ksimota] [ta] [kcirtap]> on Monday January 09, 2006 @02:07PM (#14428985) Homepage

Wow. That's dangerous.

...and I'm proud to be an American (Score:5, Funny)

by Urusai ( 865560 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @02:12PM (#14429034)

where at least I know I'm free.

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

by atomm1024 ( 570507 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @02:21PM (#14429132)

Heh... meanwhile, we also need a "-1: Missed Obvious Sarcasm" moderation.

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

by TCQuad ( 537187 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @02:42PM (#14429330)

Oh, yeah, like that'd be helpful.

Re:So wait... (Score:4, Funny)

by Spudley ( 171066 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @03:22PM (#14429697) Homepage Journal

Well of course it won't be direct to jail...

No... but you still won't get your $200 for passing Go.

Re:First Anonymous Post (Score:3, Funny)

by Wakko Warner ( 324 ) * writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @03:52PM (#14429976) Homepage Journal

Sure, Bush didn't lie. He just knowingly disseminated false information. Fucking read the memos.

People who continue to defend Bush in the year 2006 are pretty fucking stupid. And you don't even have the balls to sign your name to your post. So you obviously are just trolling.

You start, you stupid fuck (Score:2, Funny)

by snowwrestler ( 896305 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @05:40PM (#14430985)

You fucking suck and I hope this annoys you.

(There's your first case, you can thank me later.)

(unless this gets modded funny...uh oh...)

Re:So wait... (Score:3, Funny)

by StikyPad ( 445176 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @05:57PM (#14431143) Homepage

Not to be confused with +1, Jailbait.

Re:So wait... (Score:3, Funny)

by gumbi west ( 610122 ) writes: on Monday January 09, 2006 @09:52PM (#14432603) Journal

There are so many situations where I see this problem that I think that it would be useful.

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

First Anonymous Post (Score:2, Funny)

well let me be the first to say (Score:4, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

Let me be the first (Score:3, Funny)

Damn Night Elves (Score:4, Funny)

what will we do here at /. ???? (Score:3, Funny)

What? (Score:3, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:2, Funny)

Good thing they used their real names... (Score:4, Funny)

Moderator points .... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:well let me be the first to say (Score:5, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:1, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:0, Funny)

Silly American K-niggots!!! (Score:4, Funny)

The posters read like this... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:what will we do here at /. ???? (Score:3, Funny)

Re:What the hell...? (Score:5, Funny)

WOOHOOO!!! (Score:2, Funny)

This law is necessary (Score:5, Funny)

reroll (Score:2, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:well let me be the first to say (Score:2, Funny)

Re:First Anonymous Post (Score:3, Funny)

Impervious! (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Moderator points .... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:well let me be the first to say (Score:4, Funny)

...and I'm proud to be an American (Score:5, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:First Anonymous Post (Score:3, Funny)

You start, you stupid fuck (Score:2, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:So wait... (Score:3, Funny)

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