6th
Let’s see if the children can’t think of themselves this time.
U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Los Angeles, has proposed congressional legislation that would put bloggers, texters, tweeters, quakers, bakers and yes, even candlestick makers behind bars for up to two years for electronic speech meant to “coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person.” (This would put Merlin Mann’s Amazon Store, Buyafuckingcamera.com, out of business real fast.)
Now, I understaand this is in response to the tragic suicide of a young girl following harrassment by a vengeful mother named Lori Drew, who was posing as another kid on MySpace and who recently was runner-up for Babytalk Magazine’s Batshit Mom of the Year Award. But I think most of us can agree that’s a pretty singular case of mom-using-MySpace-to-pick-on-the-neighbor-kid, and doesn’t justify legislation that makes a mockery of first amendment rights to freedom of expression.
This kind of myopic grandstanding by underinformed public officials reminds me a bit of Ireland’s minister of children Barry Andrews, who thinks the timeless and universal tribulation of bullying’s modern adaptation to text messaging merits censorship by wireless providers. (Read about it in the Irish Times.)
To Linda and Barry: obviously you guys had a rough career on the playground. I’ve been there. My advice? Blog about it.
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