Don't annoy anonymously
From an article at news.com:
Annoying someone via the Internet is now a federal crime.So, you're welcome to try and annoy me. That's a first amendment right, after all. However, if your intent is to annoy, then you must now disclose your identity. Otherwise, I can get you tossed in jail and/or fined.
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. Click to read the full article.
Of course, if you post your annoying message anonymously, then I'm not entirely sure how you'll get prosecuted, since by definition I won't know who you are. Perhaps I can get the government to also wiretap my web site (court order not necessary) so that in the event that someone does this nefarious act of annoyance, then the guys with the badges will be able to catch the evil-doers.
On the other hand, I might be liable as well. After all, you might find this site annoying and it's possible that I'm not REALLY someone named Chris. I could be a woman from South Dakota named Ingrid. If that's true, then the feds might be after me right now. The good news is that I'm not in South Dakota and my name's not Ingrid. Just checked - not a woman either. (I could be lying about all of this) (are you annoyed yet) (do you think I should be in jail?)
Only in America. Item # 3,793,838 on the list of why the rest of the world thinks we're nuts.
Feel free to make a comment. However, if it's annoying, please leave your true identity. Don't want anyone to get hurt.