Create an e-annoyance, go to jail

"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."

Did you read my last post? The one about 'They Thought They Were Free'? While that one was an indictment on the beginings of government oppression, this one is a perfect example of why our government is so big in the first place. This is about oppression by the people. This is caused by you, you and your idea that government is supposed to protect you against absolutely everything, which it's always happy to try to do, as it gets to have more power. This isn't a new problem, but one that began when we created this democracy. But for the last several decades, these types of laws have been multiplying at a ridiculous rate.

Why do you people still insist you live in a free country, when you push government to create more and more restrictions on what people can do and say? Are you really that sensitive that you need a law to keep people from annoying you now? You really want annoying people to be criminalized? What sissies you are.

With all the real problems in the world, you want someone who merely annoys you to be thrown in jail. This isn't about someone who does you real harm, like hacking your computer for info to steal, or find where you live and stalk you. This isn't about someone who sends you a virus and destroys all your files. The wording of this law is designed to keep people from hurting your feelings, you poor thing.

You can blame politicians for this law if you want, but it didn't come out of thin air. Things like this grow out of grass-roots organizations that you create or join to address a legitimate problem, but when the problem gets addressed, that organization still exists, then begins to seek out new problems to justify its continued existance. If it can't find a real one, it creates one and blows it out of proportion. By doing that, it gets publicity, new members, more dues, more sponsors, and more importantly, more political power.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for government stepping in when there's a real problem that causes you physical or financial harm, but when an issue affects neither, get over it, and move on.

P.S. If you're part of this problem and I've offended you, know that "Jack" is not my real name, so if you have a problem with free speech, you'd better report me (which of course will result in my feelings being hurt, then I can take advantage of this law too).