From: owner-hotcakes-digest@smoe.org (hotcakes-digest) To: hotcakes-digest@smoe.org Subject: hotcakes-digest V2 #67 Reply-To: hotcakes@smoe.org Sender: owner-hotcakes-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-hotcakes-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk hotcakes-digest Sunday, May 16 1999 Volume 02 : Number 067 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Interesting [catman ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 00:26:16 +0100 From: catman Subject: Interesting Considering some of the trouble people have on this list, I thought you all might find this to be of value! From a lawyer: I've studied the law a little in this area (U.S. Code Title 18, et seq.) One very important point that many people miss is that it is actually a crime to send people harassing and threatening email. Some people mistakenly think that their right to free speech under the First Amendment protects them and allows them to write anything they please to someone in email. They are very wrong. The law specifically states that rights under the First Amendment are not a defense to sending harassing or threatening mail. Under the law email is considered exactly the same as a letter in your regular mailbox. I think some people participating in internet groups tend to assume it is all like some big chat room (which is different than mail). They let their worse impulses and thoughts have free rein and spill over into email sent to people they meet on the internet and never have a clue that they are putting themselves at a real risk for a legal action or prosecution. They think they are safe behind their computer screens, self-indulgently shooting off all kinds of content to some unwilling victim. - -- CARLY SIMON DISCUSSION LIST http://www.ethericcats.demon.co.uk/ethericcats/index.html TANTRA’S/ETHERIC PERSIANS AND HIMALAYANS http://www.ethericcats.demon.co.uk ------------------------------ End of hotcakes-digest V2 #67 *****************************