New Jersey Bill to Outlaw Anonymous Forum Posts

[nickel]

This bill (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A1500/1327_I1.HTM) would require an operator or ISP to maintain and enforce a policy requiring an information content provider who posts messages on a public forum website either to be identified by legal name and address or to register a legal name and address with the operator or provider prior to posting messages on a public forum website.
http://digg.com/links/New_Jersey_Bill_to_Outlaw_Anonymous_Forum_Posts_

cool or not cool? what's your opinion?

[Cubsfan]

Not cool at all. But, I'm guessing it would drive out most forums from New Jersey, so it probably wouldn't have much of an affect on most of us.

[ialsohaveadream]

You mean if that bill passes, I couldn't log on in New Jersey anonymously to say inflammatory things? Things like "Nickel only likes guys with nice teeth!" or "I heard Ben Williams likes guys!" or "eSDee loves the Padres!"? If that's the kind of internet they want, I don't want the internet at all!

[zero2dash]

Isn't that taking it out of the hands of the forum/website operator?
I don't agree with that...it should be up to the individual. :disa:

[Thesifer]

I think that is retarded. Not only more of a problem for peoples personal privacy. But just a bigger pain in the butt also.

I mean would you say exactly what you say here if your first and last name and your address was on this forum? Most likely you wouldn't visit here.

[poiselle]

I have been on sites that require a full name for posting and ones like G/A that are not worried about ID. I don't think anybody should be required to maintain these records but I suppose it will cut down on inflammatory posts somewhat. Not between individual posters, but people are less apt to post rumors as fact. I had not heard about this bill before. It was sponsored by a guy from my district.

[Dem0072]

This is enforcing repression.

Web administrators can keep legidimacy of accounts via requiring ISP-emails during registration, in which during illegal conflict a resolution can legally and legidimately settle, however this is just full of it.

What do you expect... Gay toll booths... gay governor... gay internet laws.

All it is, is a way for their politicians to assume the role of the gestapo and go censor whoever they would like, this just makes their fantasy that much easier.

So... now we pay for the services required to have the internet (cable, phone service or other routing), then we have to pay extra, for the service itself... but but.. then we have to pay for the services on the internet, and have to dish out cash just to keep our internet surfing experience sane (popup blockers, antivirus, firewall, spyware, etc), then we have to pay for a fraction of the memberships in some areas, and during all this money those poor New Jersey citizens don't even get to choose which email they provide at registration?

They should dump whoever introduced this absurd bill into the East River.

[cheapie]

how dumb. what's illegal about posting inflammatory messages?

[ShawnLee]

What do you expect... Gay toll booths... gay governor... gay internet laws.:ptlaugh::hihi::hehehmm::lmfao:

But yeah... Stupid. Please try to enforce it. I'd love to see how it turns out.

[ialsohaveadream]

What do you expect... Gay toll booths... gay governor... gay internet laws.
Pssst, they have a new governor. ;)

That does bring up an actual funny line by James Carville, though, "The only politician with a mandate right now is Jim McGreevey."

[cocojambo]

definitely not cool, more like a stupid law!

[Dem0072]

Might have a governor but sure a **** he isnt doing a damn thing about the schmuck in a hat every 37 feet.

[AlpineJay]

ahhh... plus one for my beloved home state.

[kgsilvas]

Doesn't seem like a big deal to me. Don't post on NJ forums if you wish to remain truly anonymous.

[mojo]

great...now i have to post as "mojo schwartz"

[Grafalgar]

I don't think it'll matter much as far as legal matters are concerned. In cases where matters needed to be addressed in a way that involved the actual poster(s) involved, the forum admins would simply give up the poster(s)' IP addresses .. match this against the ISP and you immediately have someone in real life to point to. Having real names / addresses would just make it that much easier to follow up on the person behind the "anonymous post."

What DOES worry me is that (if all forums enforce this) my information would be on a ton of different forums, with vastly different privacy policies. Even though I don't particularly do illegal things on forums (;)), I don't like the idea that my real name and address is litterred all over the place. *shrugs* It's the same reason all my forum email addys point towards my general "spam" account.

[nickel]

great...now i have to post as "mojo schwartz"
did you say schwartz?

http://www.flicklives.com/Movies/Xmas_Story/schwartz.jpg