Posted on 04/05/2012 4:43:25 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
It doesn't take much for online comments to quickly get out of hand, and there are certain subjects that inevitably attract trolls ready to defend their stance or platform of choice. PC (Windows) versus Mac, AMD versus Intel, politics, religion, abortion, and other high octane subjects could all be fun to debate, but almost always quickly end up derailed by name calling and other Internet tough-guy nonsense. The solution? Most sites just drop the ban hammer if someone gets too far out of line, but the state of Arizona has written a bill that would essentially make it a crime to be a troll.
A bi-partisan bill would make it a criminal offense to post online comments that could be construed as "annoying" or "offensive," according to the Associated Press. Think about that for a second, and then go view your Facebook page or Twitter feed to see if any of your friends or family posted anything annoying.
Rep. Vic Williams defends the bill as a way to "protect people from one-on-one harassment." Supporters of the bill agree with Williams and are hoping for more favorable outcomes in court cases that involve digital stalking and harassment that have otherwise been dismissed in court because current laws lag behind advances in technology.
Needless to say, not everyone agrees.
"Speaking to annoy or offend is not a crime," David Horowitz, executive director of the Media Coalition, told AP.
Tucson Republican Rep. Tim Vogt said there will be updates to the bill to reflect certain concerns. He also points out that the bill isn't intended to stifle free speech, but as currently written, even talking smack about someone's sports team could land a commenter in hot water, if the bill were to pass.
BTW, PC is better than MAC.
I don’t know—but I find the whole thing annoying.............
I don’t know but if I were in Arizona I’d be on a first name basis with Joe Arpio. LOL
Sounds quite unenforcable to me.
I think blue is better than green.
And I think rectangles are better that triangles.
Some legislators need to get a real job.
Bet ya a dollar they use it against some poor unsuspecting schlob.
What stupid idiots thought this was a good idea?
Thats right...I said it...come and get me....
ATTICA ATTICA ATTICA....
What a crock...
If it means the end of annoying ‘news anchors’. Now we are talking sense.
Question: If you get paid to promote propaganda on the MSM - is it FREE SPEECH??
This is insanity.
That is the kind of speech they were thinking of when they wrote the first amendment. It wasn’t meant to protect pornographers it was meant to protect dissent and opinions.
TROL!
>Bet ya a dollar they use it against some poor unsuspecting schlob.
Aren’t most laws? Especially the really complicated/twisted ones?
So this means that the Lib Troll Forum also known as “AZCentral.com,” formerly known as the liberal newsrag The Arizona Republic, will be shut down entirely as this law is enforced, correct? That forum consists of nothing but mindless Obama Drones piddling their twaddle all over it.
Your annoying comments like that one you just annoyed us with will soon put you in the slammer buddy boy.
No.
That’s free speech. What you just said, though, is an annoying comment. Better watch yourself missy!
Great point! AZCentral.com is where all of those with single digit I.Q.s hang out in Arizona. I’d be too embarrassed to post anything there.
Awesome! Hope the bastards get jail time.
Who decides who is annoying?
We don’t arrest and prosecute them here on FR. Trolls are zot on sight.
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