trolls illegal

[MyrddinsPrecint]

i suggest that people don't troll the messageboards anymore---

it's now ILLEGAL, and can carry up to two years in prison.



http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-anno...2491&subj=news

[Tazz]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

i suggest that people don't troll the messageboards anymore---

it's now ILLEGAL, and can carry up to two years in prison.



http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-anno...2491&subj=news

Thats crazy.
And what if a foreigner is trolling on a American forum.. what'll they do then?
This is so lame.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

i suggest that people don't troll the messageboards anymore---

it's now ILLEGAL, and can carry up to two years in prison.

At last. I'll have to thank the ex-winter queen...

[D'Art]

what about smurfs? Are they illegal too?

[Epee_Pox]

The author of that piece doesn't appear to have actually read the legislation as passed. Here is the offending bit:

SEC. 113. PREVENTING CYBERSTALKING.

(a) In General- Paragraph (1) of section 223(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 223(h)(1)) is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking 'and' at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting '; and'; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

'(C) in the case of subparagraph (C) of subsection (a)(1), includes 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 (as such term is defined in section 1104 of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (47 U.S.C. 151 note)).'.

(b) Rule of Construction- This section and the amendment made by this section may not be construed to affect the meaning given the term `telecommunications device' in section 223(h)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934, as in effect before the date of the enactment of this section.

SEC. 114. CRIMINAL PROVISION RELATING TO STALKING.

(a) Interstate Stalking- Section 2261A of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

'Sec. 2261A. Stalking

'Whoever--

'(1) travels in interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or enters or leaves Indian country, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person, and in the course of, or as a result of, such travel places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to, or causes substantial emotional distress to that person, a member of the immediate family (as defined in section 115) of that person, or the spouse or intimate partner of that person; or

'(2) with the intent--

'(A) to kill, injure, harass, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person in another State or tribal jurisdiction or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; or

'(B) to place a person in another State or tribal jurisdiction, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to--

'(i) that person;

'(ii) a member of the immediate family (as defined in section 115 of that person; or

'(iii) a spouse or intimate partner of that person;

uses the mail, any interactive computer service, or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce to engage in a course of conduct that causes substantial emotional distress to that person or places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to, any of the persons described in clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (B);

shall be punished as provided in section 2261(b) of this title.'.

(b) Enhanced Penalties for Stalking- Section 2261(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(6) Whoever commits the crime of stalking in violation of a temporary or permanent civil or criminal injunction, restraining order, no-contact order, or other order described in section 2266 of title 18, United States Code, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 1 year.'.

This was a statute that had just expired, and was being renewed. All that was done was to include internet-based methods of communication to the previously-enumerated methods of communication by which stalking and harassment take place. No different from doing it over the phone, or by mail. And there is sufficient case law out there defining what counts as criminal annoyance and what doesn't.

In other words, this is not something to get hyper about. I swear, people can be so paranoid sometimes.

[PerfectKnight42]

well... heh... heh... its a good think i dont already know your names and phone numbers... heh.. yeah...

*flees to Bangcock*

[Pauli]

Originally Posted by Tazz

Thats crazy.
And what if a foreigner is trolling on a American forum.. what'll they do then?
This is so lame.

It's the country it's trolling in which law applies.
So, if you were trolling in China, China's law would apply......

[rory]

Originally Posted by PerfectKnight42

*flees to Bangcock*

We don't want to know about what you do in your spare time.

... oh sorry, you meant you're going to Bangkok?

[Sciurus-Rex]

Unfortunately, sometimes it's a matter of perspective, especially when you're dealing with dry/wry humor and a creative mind. One person may see his efforts as innocent (even self-deprecating) fun, whereas a few members of his audience -- sadly, lacking all but rudimentary sense of humor -- can't see beyond "stupid troll."

The classic "troll" is defined as someone out to cause trouble, usually involving insults and in-group laughing behind the victim's back. I believe this could legitimately include a lot of *gotcha* TV shows where the viewer gets a cheap chuckle at the victim's discomfort.

I'm still looking for a good term to define someone who enjoys setting up silly/stupid situations-sans-victim with the intent of laughing at the ridiculousness of life itself.