Banning Anonymity in Kentucky

Crap.  I agree with capper.  Can Armageddon be far behind?

I am referring to Kentucky Representative Tim Couch who wants to outlaw anonymous blogging. He would require site owners and operators to ensure that anyone posting a comment files their full real name, street address, and email address. Anytime someone would post a comment, their real name is attached to the comment.

Anonymity is a part of being free.  This bill is offensive. 

1. Crap because of the bill, or crap because you agree with me?

   Posted by on March 09, 2008 at 2335 hrs




2. Despite the fact that I nearly complied with the all of the terms of this bill just to post here, I agree in general with keeping anonymous comment legal.

   And the US Supreme Court has upheld the concept of anonymous political commentary, even in print. 

   You know, like Publius of the Federalist Papers.

   Then again, I was sure that McCain-Feingold would be found unconstitutional in its entirety.  So maybe it’s better to squelch this.

   Posted by on March 10, 2008 at 0013 hrs




3. Yes, I too favor the anonymity with which I remark across the Intertubes.

   Posted by on March 10, 2008 at 0654 hrs




4. Tim Couch is in politics now?  Boy, his football career really did suck.

   Posted by Lance on March 10, 2008 at 0839 hrs




5. How do these people get elected without knowing Constitutional law or American history?

   Anonymous speech is constitutionally protected.

   Many of the pamphlets that helped fuel the American Revolution, including the famous Common Sense, were anonymous.

   Sometimes I just want to slap people upside the head.

   Posted by elliot on March 10, 2008 at 1030 hrs




6. This bill is offensive.

   I agree with you Owen.  This is quite ridiculous.  The question, though, would lie in jurisdiction, and enforcement.  I would probably say that any attorney with more than a single marlble between his ears would see the fundamental flaw in this idea.

   Posted by Brandon on March 10, 2008 at 1201 hrs




7. Besides the civil rights and constitutional issues, which is first and foremost.

   The safety issues of posting a persons real name on-line and their address.  wtf is this guy thinking?

   Posted by on March 10, 2008 at 1253 hrs




8. I post my real name and address online on my portfolio site, but I can see how that becomes more of an issue when that info is linked to you when you’re commenting in heated debates about windows vs linux…

   Posted by Matt on March 10, 2008 at 1300 hrs




9. I too agree with both Owen and Capper. This bill is an infringment on free speech. it will have a chilling effect, to quote the legal phrase.

   Who in their right mind would want to post their full name and personal contact information for any nutjob to access?

   Posted by pdigaudio on March 10, 2008 at 2023 hrs




10. Well, we could all take a line from Spartacus and post as Tim Couch.

    Posted by on March 10, 2008 at 2129 hrs