Comments on: Anonymous blog posting/ commenting to become illegal in the United States (unless you have only nice things to say), potentially outlaws comment spam

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 18:37:17 +0000

You are right Eoghann,
I just don’t like Government dipping into things that are best left to the people involved.

By: Eoghann Irving

Eoghann Irving — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:07:00 +0000

You don’t have a first amendment right when you’re on someone’s website Joe. Freedom of speech doesn’t apply to private publications which is what blogs are.

By: Seth Finkelstein

Seth Finkelstein — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 22:03:55 +0000

http://volokh.com/posts/1136873535.shtml

Declan McCullagh has penned a column that is custom-designed to race around the blogosphere. …

This is just the perfect blogosphere story, isn’t it? It combines threats to bloggers with government incompetence and Big Brother, all wrapped up and tied togther with a little bow. Unsurprisingly, a lot of bloggers are taking the bait.

Skeptical readers will be shocked, shocked to know that the truth is quite different. …

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 20:27:05 +0000

Comment spam will always happen, whether there’s a law or not. Piracy, fraud, and other illegal activities still occur with all the laws in place. Of all those who trade files on the Internet, how many do get caught? It’s political fluff.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 17:51:18 +0000

I don’t like comment spam any more than the next guy, BUT what about the 1st ammendment? (freedom of speach)

I don’t think there is a situplation that says you have to tell people your name.

Just another step down the path into the big abyss…

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 12:40:53 +0000

Hey, I’m an American citizen … but I’m in France. Does that mean I can continue to make annoying comments? ;)

By: Xen Dolev

Xen Dolev — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 08:44:27 +0000

Even if US citizens would be required to disclose their identity in order to make an annoying comment, it would be almost impossible to confirm this information. The outcome would probably be the usage of pen names\nicknames (or usage of phony names is a better definition?) for disclosure needs.

Ohâ€¦ and what about comments from non US citizens? Are they allowed to make annoying comments?

And who can define â€œannoying? Disagreeing can be categorized as an annoying comment as well, isnâ€™t it?

Itâ€™s nice for a first step, but that is all it really is â€“ a first step among many neededâ€¦