Comments on: Create an e-annoyance, go to jail

Annoying someone via the Internet is now a federal crime. And that irritates CNET News.com's Declan McCullagh.

[kalamazoochris]

Jail? Depends on who is "looking"

I have concerns over internet caching. About 3 years ago a prankster friend signed me up for a bunch of internet groups (mostly yahoo). Without knowing why, I starting receiving e-mails from a federal prisoner release program, a Satanistic church, a local cross-dressing club, a Tori Spelling fan club, and other groups I would not be particularly interested in. He had my e-mail and password and then posted messages from me in these groups, asking for more information. He thought this was harmless fun (despite being prejudice and judgmental to these groups). The problem is that now my name is attached to these groups and showing up in internet searches once the pages are cached. I suppose this isn't a big deal in my case, since I doubt anyone is searching my name (besides me). However, I wonder if others are aware of how this works. What gets cached and what doesn't? As a member of a few "private" political message boards, how is privacy ensured years from now? Chris Hindbaugh

[woodstone]

Can we have an intent without knowing the identity?

The language of the law is way too ambiguous in many ways. What does it mean to "receive?" Is the Usenet exempt from the law, if the victim can filter the offending message out or can hide her/his identity? Can we have an intent to do harm without knowing the identity of the victim? Any lawyers here?

[Victim of Cyberstalking]

I am grateful for this new law

As a victim of cyberstalking, I believe this new law will give me the oportunity to prosecute the stalker a lot easier. Sites such as www.cheaternews.com, allow harrassment, libel, and threats that the authors think they can get away with because an attorney wont take the case. However, now that it is a criminal situation we have recourse. Check out cheaternews.com. The worst case is if you look at the california forum. They may want to change their forum rules as well.

[mixed-feelings]

I am doing advocacy work behind stopping the propaganda of psychiatry

For me I have mixed feelings about this, I realize that I am finding it rather late, but I notice and see several things about this.

1. You all asked for my information so that I could be found if nescessary. So you all do not believe in complete confidentiality or using pseudo names here. Perhaps on this list? However not overall, you now have a way to track me down if you decide to, not to say that I would post anything down that you would track me for.

2. When you have your heart and soul in getting a serious message out that is against what is currently politically popular there are others who will under pseudo names attack you in order to try to keep you from telling the truth. To discredit you and what you have to say.

3. They can intimidate you and even go as far as ruining your reputation on a list with no repercussions and if you can not find out who they are what are you to do about it?

4. However, I am for feedom of speech and expression as long as it is truthful and you are willing to stand behind what you say. I believe that it is especially important if it is some thing that is controversial. I do not believe that hiding and setting anyone up is a good thing or a great thing. I have always been basically honest and out there with what is on my mind, but I use my own identity and anyone wanting to actually find me could probably do so pretty easily.

I guess that is all that I have to say here for now. Being a new member I am not even sure that this won't be moderated before it is placed on your list???? Thanks, Janie

[mixed-feelings]

This is hugely funny to me I have already had to change my message

This is hugely funny to me I have already had to change my message in order to submit it. Not that I said anything incorrect I simply mentioned psychiatric propaganda in my title and it has asked me to read the rules and guidelines.

For me I have mixed feelings about this, I realize that I am finding it rather late, but I notice and see several things about this.

1. You all asked for my information so that I could be found if nescessary. So you all do not believe in complete confidentiality or using pseudo names here. Perhaps on this list? However not overall, you now have a way to track me down if you decide to, not to say that I would post anything down that you would track me for.

2. When you have your heart and soul in getting a serious message out that is against what is currently politically popular there are others who will under pseudo names attack you in order to try to keep you from telling the truth. To discredit you and what you have to say.

3. They can intimidate you and even go as far as ruining your reputation on a list with no repercussions and if you can not find out who they are what are you to do about it?

4. However, I am for feedom of speech and expression as long as it is truthful and you are willing to stand behind what you say. I believe that it is especially important if it is some thing that is controversial. I do not believe that hiding and setting anyone up is a good thing or a great thing. I have always been basically honest and out there with what is on my mind, but I use my own identity and anyone wanting to actually find me could probably do so pretty easily.

I guess that is all that I have to say here for now. Being a new member I am not even sure that this won't be moderated before it is placed on your list???? Thanks, Janie

[deacon4760]

George W Bush

Seems the man just signs anything for anyone. Heard a story about him sometime during his time of governing Texas he apparently signed a bill which authorized the state highway dep't. to order and erect braille highway signs for the blind. Hmmm....?????

[MAVERICKARROGANCE]

HOW CAN I PRESS CHARGES?

VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION INDEED!! I'VE BEEN RECEIVING HARASSING EMAILS AND I DESIRE IT TO DESIST. I BLOCKED THE BASTARD AND THEY CREATED A NEW ACCOUNT. I KNOW NOT WHOM THEY ARE. HOW CAN I FILE A COMPLAINT OR EVEN GREATER PRESS CHARGES ON THIS IMBECILE? I LITEREALLY RECEIVED OVER A HUNDRED EMAILS IN A TWO DAY PERIOD. THIS HARASSMENT MUST CEASE!! I WILL NOT TOLERATE IT!!
MYSPACE.COM/MAVERICKARROGANCE
ME THE "ONE" AND "ONLY" ~~**CLEMENTINA**~~

[natfunk71]

Make it stop

You can try one of the following:

1) Change your email account.
2) Tell your email software to filter out offense words and send those messages to the spam folder.
3) Don't read the whole email. Once you realize it's going to annoy you hit the delete button.
4) Save the messages and send them to the persons email provider.
5) Adjust the items that you find annoying. In other words, don't let yourself become annoyed by a bunch of symbols strung together, i.e., words.

[FantasiaInPink]

George Orwell Was Psychic!

LOL! OH NO ITS THE THOUGHT POLICE AND BIG BROTHER IS REALLY GEORGIE BUSH! Why am I not surprized by this Feable and sad attempt at pretend politics? Maybe because it is status quo for a Bush administration (of any generation). And Yes, I do expect people to be 'ANNOYED' by my comments... its called being an individual, with perspectives, and beliefs that are different from others... otherwise this would not be the United States of America... it would be The People's Republic of China. Expressing one's self, in spite of what emotions may be stirred up in others... or perhaps instead of 'in spite of' it should read 'in order to'. Without 'annoying' people, writing will be unemotional, uninspired, unimaginitive, and deadly to the individual developlment of people, ideas, FREEDOMS, and so much more. Just think... LOL.. if you will...
the damage to such fine things as Wilde, because his writing annoyed someone, could not be printed on a website? or perhaps the works of (someone who annoys me) Oral Roberts sermons not being able to be reprinted by his annonymous parishoners on their blogs... or perhaps you have a campaign issue with one of the canidates but rather remain annonymous so you can feel FREE to vent... FREEDOM its guarenteed by the constitution... yet Georgie Bush keeps forgetting that ANNOYING piece of parchment... go figure.

[lawl63]

Calling 1984, please pick up line two.

Americans just keep surrendering their rights left, right and center. A rather odd thing for the country that heralds itself as the beacon of democracy to do.

[freedomofthepress]

shredding the Constitution

Wake up, turn off your TV and open your eyes people.
The neo cons are shredding the Constitution and destroying the concept of rule of law. Regardless of which freedoms you personally treasure (remember that thing called the Bill of Rights?)you need to become aware of the fact that everything we treasure about this country is imperiled.
We need to push every single candidate for every single office in the land to answer one question:
If elected-WILL YOU PROSECUTE WITHOUT PARDON?

[Leslie.Siegel]

Leslie Siegel has Rights too so Be the judge of what is annoying!

Recently Leslie Siegel Novelist had a disagreement with a relative over sending very serious emails about Leslie Siegel's new novel Living Life At The UN Plaza, about her childhood, it's a fiction story, names changed and innocent of anything annoying, but the relative is not communicating with Leslie Siegel so Leslie goes through great lengths to make sure this particular relative will get the message seeing as this relative builds a big wall of China around herself so that Leslie cannot communicate on a normal level then then all the relatives turn on Leslie Siegel calling her crazy and multi personality type, which Leslie Siegel is not! So, what is annoying, what is not, be the judge and let us all know by going here: http://asphodelband.blogspot.com and making the call... some feel it is annoying, others do not.

[SkyPainter123]

I guess you just don't know what is happening in some of the chat rooms on AOL like someone coming in with a different screen name and wanting to order stuff from someones business who is also in that chat or harassing a person threatening murder and then going to that persons house and taking pictures and using paint to paint graffiti on that house. One has to have a way to prevent that or sue if that happens. We don't need people like this. How many dangerous criminals are on the internet using it to commit crimes and many times that starts in the chat rooms. I know of several persons who need to be convicted of crimes like that who frequent a certain chat room in AOL.

[nospr]

I cant seem to find this quote in the VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005:

"Whoever...utilizes any device or software that can be used to originate telecommunications or other types of communications that are transmitted, in whole or in part, by the Internet... without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person...who receives the communications...shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."


Can you send me a link to this quote from the law?

[mgg2]

Perhaps it is because the post are from 2006, but surely people understand the intent of such a law and it's vitality. This law is not about squashing first amendment rights although I can see people wanting to leverage it for that purpose, no lawyer would take on such a case because it would be dismissed. However, this law will be upheld in court when presented in a case, like recently in Seattle, WA where the internet is used to harass and annoy and "virtually stalk" an individual. This is not about someone saying something that is annoying but when someone uses the internet to start a campaign of unsolicited emails, and defamatory and libelous post. And for the record-I am not a Bush supporter, but I am glad to know he has done something for the little people. If you've been virtually harassed/ stalked, it is scary and you do feel powerless and out of control beyond what you'd expect.

[welshm]

Here is a true story. I ordered some makeup off the net, and was dissatisfied with the purchase and requested a return authorization. I was told I could only return unopened items. Many cosmetic companies allow returns on opened items. I felt I wasted a lot of money, and went to the forum section of that company's website and simply stated my opinion on their return policy, mentioning that their main competitor accepts returns of opened items. Well the backlash from other users was unreal! It was if I said something really bad. So after reading one response after another from these crazy makeup-obsessed women who were hurling insults at me, I decided to have some fun. I simply posted ridiculous insults to these women, telling them they looked bad in their makeup, their husbands cheat on them with asian girls and that if they wear more makeup they could probably cease his wanderings. Later that night a cop knocks on my door to tell me internet harassment is a crime! This company told the cops I was making racial harassment--why? because I told a white woman her husband has the hots for asian women?? Or because I said a bunch of fat soccer moms need all the makeup they can get? I also insulted them saying they are on a makeup website all day (some were on for over 9 hours, posting minute by minute accounts of their day and putting up pics of themselves driving!). Anyway, insulting people is apparently a crime in this country. I thought I had freedom of speech. Also, there is a law that says it is not a crime if you identify yourself, but the forum itself prompts you to "create a user name"; the very word "create" means to make something new. Shouldn't it say "state your name as it appears on your birth certificate"? Thanks for reading this. I have no idea if I am to be arrested any time soon