New law - jail time for annoying someone online

“This is for real, folks. You annoy someone via posts or email and you don't do it using your real identity, you can now get jail time.

I guess many people on (and some off) this board belong in jail now? LOL

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6024695.html”

“Man, I hate seeing good folks like you get scooped by someone like Violink. Check the Death to All Trolls thread.

My condolences dude. LOL!”

“Jail time for Nigal! Yay!”

“Annoying? Mio?”

“Unless, of course, Nigal is your real name...”

“My comments from the other thread...

"On the surface this seems all funny but does anyone else see this as just another erosion of our rights? I mean, really, what would the founding fathers say? I see this as an free speech issue."”

“...makes it unenforceable. This is just one of many, many, others like that.”

“I doubt if anyone will be prosecuted for less than a serious stalking or harassment.

And our founding fathers would say "What is a computer, again?"”

“Hello, my name is "Dave" and I'm an annoying person.

(Hi Dave)

I never really thought of my annoying personality as a "problem." I thought it was just good clean fun. But then I lost everything, even my dog.

(murmurs)

It's true, But now, thanks to the rest of you here, I now know that my flaw is actually a disease and that I am really handicapped. Hopefully with good sponsers like yourselves, I'll be able to live with my affliction and mingle peacefully with the rest of society. Thank you all.

(enthusiastic applause)”

“Very true Super T which makes it even more stupid.”

“Do ya get a chip or a pin or something Noncom? Personally, I never troll before noon.”

“You get a bright flashing pin that constantly plays the song "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger. Every meeting we get broken cookies and cold coffee. Anyone who's been a member for more than 5 years gets a "I'm Annoying" t-shirt which is pretty cool.”

“"what is a computer again"...HAHA!”

“Y'all are so annoying.

And I'm not going to visit any of you in prison.”

“Figures, I was off the board for 4 days and didn't see that other thread. In my defense, I did search all the posts from the last 5 days for "annoying" and other related keywords before I posted.

Hopefully this thread didn't annoy anyone. If it did, sue me.”

“Sue you? Heck we can toss ya in jail now!”

“I'm sure it won't be enforced except against bloggers and others that hold opinions opposing the administration.

It’s really nothing to worry abo”

“Heck no Tech. The two things I love most are when Violink gets scooped by bit and when there are two threads of the same subject that Vioink's doesn't get as much play as the other one. LOL!

So if this law means that Bush is the end of the line on trolling does that mean Matt has lost his god status and has been relegated to a mere avatar or messiah of Bush?”

“"It’s really nothing to worry abo”

I think any time the feds overstep their role in our lives and rights it's something to worry about.”

“Can someone else explain the joke to Nigal?”

“I'm afraid I will annoy him.”

“Sorry, I got it V. I only got two hours of sleep last night and the coffee's wearing off. 213;iurfb2eqrugvfi...oh man, my head just hit the keyboard. I need a nappy.”

“I see I have successfully transmitted my insomnia to someone else. Yay!”

“January 10, 2006

GOVERNOR: EXECUTIVE BUDGET WILL INCLUDE $130M IN NEW FUNDING TO SUPPORT CIVIL COMMITMENT OF SEXUAL PREDATORS

Pharsalia Facility in Chenango County to Serve As First Dedicated Secure Facility

Governor George E. Pataki today announced that his 2006-07 Executive Budget, which will be unveiled next week, will include $130 million in new funding to support the civil commitment of sexual predators upon their release from prison, and provide them treatment in secure facilities.

“Providing safety and security for our children and our families is the most important responsibility government can provide,” Governor Pataki said. “Today, there are 5,000 sexual predators awaiting release from New York’s prisons. We must do everything in our power to keep those who still represent a danger off our streets, out of our neighborhoods, and away from our children -- and that’s why my Executive Budget will include funding to support a new secure facility and treatment programs directed at sexual predators.”

The Governor said that his Executive Budget will propose $130 million in new capital resources to demolish the minimum security correctional facility at Camp Pharsalia and to develop a new state-of-the-art 500-bed secure facility at the site. The transfer of the facility located in Chenango County, from the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) to the Office of Mental Health (OMH), will eliminate excess capacity in the prison system, and still ensure that sufficient space is available for the 63,100 inmates DOCS projects will be incarcerated next year.

The new facility at Pharsalia is expected to employ more than 1,000 staff and will have an annual payroll of approximately $80 million a year when fully operational.

Later today, in New York City, the Appellate Division will hear arguments in the State’s appeal of a case challenging Governor Pataki decision to begin civilly-confining sexually-violent predators who -- upon their release from State prison -- still represent a danger to New York’s children and families.

The $130 million capital appropriation will be dedicated to construction of a new long-term secure facility for sex offenders who have been civilly committed to inpatient psychiatric treatment upon their release from prison. The facility is expected to open in 2009. The new facility will be utilized solely to house sex offenders and will avoid any interaction or co-housing with other mentally ill individuals under OMH care.

In the Executive Budget, an additional $35 million will be made available for the renovation of current OMH facilities to meet the on-going, short-term needs associated with the demand to house and treat sexual predators. Also, included will be a total of $27 million in new operating support for OMH in connection with housing and treating sexual predators in existing facilities in 2006-07.

Since 1998, Governor Pataki has proposed civil commitment legislation which would enable the State to civilly commit sexually-violent predators.

Last year, because the Assembly Leadership had consistently failed to act on his bill, the Governor directed the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) to push the envelope of existing laws used for the civil commitment of any New Yorker to be applied to sexually violent predators. Since September 12, 2005, more than 200 individuals have been evaluated and 33 are currently committed.

Of the 36 predators who have been confined, more than half have sexually assaulted children younger than 13, several have sexually assaulted children 6 years old or less, and two have sexually assaulted 3 year old children. Some of these offenders either refused, or withdrew from sex offender treatment in prison.

After the State began civilly committing dangerous predators, Mental Hygiene Legal Services filed suit on behalf of 12 of the offenders. On November 15, 2005, the Supreme Court in New York County found that although the Governor had a valid concern about the risks posed to the public by repeat sex offenders, these convicted sexual predators were entitled to special procedural rights because they were evaluated for civil commitment while still in prison. Today the appeal in the First Department, Appellate Division, will be heard. Since that November 15th decision, an additional 10 offenders have similarly filed suit demanding release on the basis of these special procedural rights.

The Governor reinforced his dedication to providing safe, secure neighborhoods across New York in his recent State of the State Address. Under the Governor’s leadership, progress has been made in reducing crime and ensuring public safety, making New York the safest large state in the nation. Just three weeks ago, the Governor and Legislature enacted two crucial new laws; one that will keep illegal guns off of the streets and one that will provide greater protections to police officers by imposing stiffer penalties on those who commit crimes against law enforcement officials.

He called on the Legislature to build on that momentum and enact even tougher legislation which will help New York become even safer. The Governor announced he will submit legislation that would:

* Prevent the release of sexually-violent predators into neighborhoods;
* Create longer sentences for those convicted of sexually violent crimes;
* End the statute of limitations for rape and sexual assault;
* Make New York’s Megan’s Law statute even stronger; and
* Require every criminal who commits a crime to give a DNA sample.”