Sure, there are... issues... with the cops. But those issues are largely orthogonal to the fact that "person needs to be criminally charged". There's a very clear limit when the cold arm of the law is around, and I'm not persuaded that the arm of the law really reaches meaningful levels on online-only threats ... and I think it should. Non-blustering[1] death threats should draw down the law upon the threatener's head.
But let's take that as a boundary and note the range of expression between 'harsh criticism' and 'unprotected speech': it's not a pleasant thing to be on the end of. Hateful jackassery is actually free speech.
My suspicion - having been on the internet for almost twenty years now - is that there's not a great deal that can be *done*. The WSJ comment section used to demand "real name" and, I think, photo. I don't recall anymore. You would not believe the things that were said by professionals about political subjects. /b/ was hardly worse. Pseudonymity does not make the matter worse.
I can behave a perfect gentleman at work and under my work alias, but at home, I can switch my alias to JackAssH4ter and spew for hours. How do you solve that problem without some *significant* levels of intrusion & social coercion? I imagine if I went to any other social situation and did the same, I'd be removed and asked not to come back. Although there have always been creepy stalkers offline as well...
no subject
But let's take that as a boundary and note the range of expression between 'harsh criticism' and 'unprotected speech': it's not a pleasant thing to be on the end of. Hateful jackassery is actually free speech.
My suspicion - having been on the internet for almost twenty years now - is that there's not a great deal that can be *done*. The WSJ comment section used to demand "real name" and, I think, photo. I don't recall anymore. You would not believe the things that were said by professionals about political subjects. /b/ was hardly worse. Pseudonymity does not make the matter worse.
I can behave a perfect gentleman at work and under my work alias, but at home, I can switch my alias to JackAssH4ter and spew for hours. How do you solve that problem without some *significant* levels of intrusion & social coercion? I imagine if I went to any other social situation and did the same, I'd be removed and asked not to come back. Although there have always been creepy stalkers offline as well...
Thoughts?
[1] i.e., words with intent