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http://news.com.com/Create%20an%20e-ann ... 22491.html

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.

Makes me glad I don't live in the US. I have no idea how they'll even enforce this sort of thing though.

I guess everyone on this forum will start having to use their real names.

Oh yeah.. my name isn't really Ian. It's Kareem O. Weet.

Ian wrote:I guess everyone on this forum will start having to use their real names.

Oh yeah.. my name isn't really Ian. It's Kareem O. Weet.

I'll just have my name legally changed to include Digital Dolphin somewhere

my name isn't Lance its... ohh yeah its Lance

sorry thats the best joke i have

The law will never be enforced. Legally, it couldn't be, unless the flaming is directly written for the government, and even then it will be annulled. Reason being: freedom of speech only applies to individuals against government representatives. For example, if you make fun of a cop to his face, he couldn't take action because you have freedom of speech and the cop is a representative of the government. If you make fun of some random guy on the street, though, he could kick your ass. Although, he could be brought up on assault charges, you can't plead that you were exercising freedom of speech.

Freedom of speech was a law enacted long before this new Bush thing, so the prior would take precedence. In other words, if you go to court after being charged with the new Bush law, then your case will be dismissed. You don't even need a lawyer to represent you, just say, "Your honor, Freedom of Speech was enacted long before President Bush's law, therefore, with all due respect, I ask for a dismissal and Mr. Bush can suck my balls. Thank you."

TheWizard wrote:therefore, with all due respect, I ask for a dismissal and Mr. Bush can suck my balls. Thank you."

That last part would land you in contempt of court... at least in Canada it would. I don't know as much about USA'er judges.

OK, so, minus the "suck my balls" part. My defense would be impregnable!

TheWizard wrote:The law will never be enforced. Legally, it couldn't be, unless the flaming is directly written for the government, and even then it will be annulled. Reason being: freedom of speech only applies to individuals against government representatives.

Yeah, I don't think many people understand the whole freedom of speech thing.. especially those outside of North America. I've had a number of people throw the "freedom of speech" excuse at me here in the forum. They don't realize that it doesn't apply here. Even then, it doesn't give them the right to be an ass.

My name is TeKanawa, and I like opera singing...