I don't know what it is, but obviously it's something that absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you New York State Sen. Thomas F. "Otter" O'Mara (R—Big Flats):
Introduced by New York State Sen. Thomas F. O'Mara (R—Big Flats), S6779 would require that any anonymous post online is subject to removal if the poster refuses to post — and verify — their legal name, their IP address, and their home address. From the (likely well intentioned) bill (from a senator who clearly does not "get" the internet):
"A web site administrator upon request shall remove any comments posted on his or her web site by an anonymous poster unless such anonymous poster agrees to attach his or her name to the post and confirms that his or her IP address, legal name, and home address are accurate. All web site administrators shall have a contact number or e-mail address posted for such removal requests, clearly visible in any sections where comments are posted."
There's a similar bill in the state assembly. I've seen a few people who appear to be taking this effort seriously and if you are tempted to do the same, I'll just say "don't." The reason for that is not this from the linked article:
"...the most likely result of the bill's passage would just be the full-scale elimination of all comment systems everywhere, because the system is an unworkable burden on both the poster and the "web site administrators" who would need to respond to ludicrous take down requests at all times of the day."
No, no, no. The "most likely result" would be widespread scorn and massive non-compliance. Should the state try to enforce it, it would be thrown out as unconstitutional faster than you can say "Common Sense" or "The Federalist." Anonymous speech is obviously intended to be just as protected as any other, as the historical record shows. Well, obviously to everybody but "Otter" there and his friends.
Yes, people can be mean and nasty when allowed to hide behind anonymity, on the internet or otherwise. There are other ways to deal with them if they become a serious threat, though not perhaps as satisfactorily as we would like. That, I have to say, is just life.
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