Internet anonymity? Not if this cretin has his way

Kentucky representative Tim Couch wants to do away with anonymous posting on the internet. Heh. According to Tim, anyone posting to a website would have to register their real name, address, and email address, and have their full name posted anytime they comment.

I made my views on internet anonymity crystal clear back when Red Tory was outed by insignificant schmuck What's-His-Name. As a womanoid (that still makes me chuckle) blogger, I have a my reasons - my personal safety and that of my family being the main, but not only, one.

Secondly, as the blog owners here are women, we have a unique set of
concerns. Ever been threatened with rape? Ever have someone say they
want to find you and "hate fuck" you? Ever had a photo of yourself in a noose or muzzled posted online?
No? Well that's very very good for you. But if you're a female blogger,
chances are good that you've had at least one message of that nature
left to you. In case you have been living under a rock and don't know
this, misogyny is rampant online. And in meat space. Women live with the very real threat
of violence every day. So in the interest of keeping some sexually
violent predator from coming after us because we pissed him off by
saying that his chosen elected leader is a thieving bastard, we blog
under pseudonyms. It helps keep us safe. Lord knows it's dangerous
enough out there for women, especially us uppity bitches who don't know
our place.

Ever consider that someone might get fired if their boss found out
about their political views? Or that maybe someone has an insane and
violent ex-spouse that they'd just as soon not be able to find them
easily under google? People blog pseudonymously for any number of
reasons besides
personal safety. It's nobody's place to judge whether or not it's best
for them to have their views out in the open. Maybe my dad will beat
the living shit out of me for saying that Ronald Reagan was an asshole.
If you outed me, and that happened, guess what? It's your fucking fault.

Tim Couch wants to control internet posting, he says, because it will cut down on online bullying. Methinks Mr. Couch doesn't really understand how the internet works. You see, it's a series of tubes, not a big truck. If you're a savvy cyber bully or blogger, and your dumb ass state representative succeeds in making internet anonymity illegal in your state or country, you just get a server in another country. Duh. Post under a proxy with a fake name, address, and email. Double duh. (Like, say, I am now Bufonda Estrogen, of 123 Main Street, Bumfuque, BC. E4T M3E bufondaestrogen @ hotmail.com.) Even Mr. Couch says it will be challenging to enforce this law. Sooo, why bother, Tim? Certainly there are other ways to combat cyber bullying than removing free speech rights? Or would that require too much nuanced thinking?

Americans, this is your government at "work".