:: Running from the Thought Police ::

:: Sunday, January 04, 2004 ::

Why Pseudonymous?

First, I hate people who voice opinions anonymously. If you're not man (or woman) enough to own up to your own words in some form then I don't want to hear them at all. Growing out of this, all my intellectual online product is under the same pseudonym. As such, if one were ambitious, one could probably figure out who I am by looking at all the personal information placed on this blog alone, let alone my admittedly meagre contributions to the comments sections of other blogs. I mean, I've let out that I go to UIUC (no shit), that I'm an MCB Pre-Med major, that I'm catholic, that I'm an EME at St. John's Catholic Chapel in Champaign, that I'm an Eagle Scout and Arrowman, that I'm in IEMS and the College Dems, the name of my high skool, and, not to mention, my own course loads. Then again, if one were that nosey/that much of a stalker, it would be easy enough to bug my computer by some electronic means and cut through a bunch of crap. As I've said before, I have a pseudonym not to protect myself and my friends and loved ones from the determined stalker but instead to keep myself and those I know and cherish from more casual types of thuggery like this.

Most significantly, this was not mere eliminationism; it was outright advocacy of someone's death. Taken alone, it bordered on a criminal threat, but probably didn't cross the boundary because it didn't suggest that Misha himself was going to carry out the threat. It was more in the nature of telling someone "you deserve to die and I hope somebody does it to you soon."

But then he told his readers how to do just that.

Shortly after posting the text, Misha began directing his readers on how to find Blumrich's address. On his front page, he posted a map of Blumrich's neighborhood, complete with a red star over his residence. He went on to create and post a map showing directions from Fort Dix to Blumrich's residence. Commenters posted: "ROAD TRIPPPPPP! And we can't wait to arrive..."

Neither component in and of itself constitutes a serious threat, but the combination of the two is almost certainly actionable, since it not only incites violence but helps facilitate it. Laws regarding threats and intimidation are different in various states, and I gather that Blumrich is consulting with local authorities so that it can be dealt with accordingly.

There are wackos out there, and readers of this blog should realize that said wackos are way too numerous for comfort. I'm not going to give them the easy in, hence the Pseudonym. Don't like it? Too bad. If you wanna cry about it, email at the link at top, otherwise leave me alone.

:: The Squire 1:13 AM :: email this post :: ::
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