What is an appropriate punishment for torturing someone virtually?

[CyberInferno]

What is an appropriate punishment for torturing someone virtually?

A new proposed bill would make jail time a possible consequence of attempting to ruin someone's life using the internet (http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/05/trolling-someone-online-bill-would-slap-you-with-jail-time.ars).

Given some of the cases of suicide that result from malicious online activity, what is a fair punishment?

This poll is in conjunction with this week's Technology Round-up (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1065392).

[Indoor Living]

That's tough.

[Machu505]

Hmm. Not sure.

[n1asfan]

I voted for fines/community service. It is wrong to torture someone over the internet...but it is the internet and you don't HAVE to comply to all the ass holes online.

[Troggy]

In general, where you go on the internet is up to you. If someone is harrassing you via personal email or repeatedly trying to find you on networking sites to harass you, etc, that should be stopped and is perhaps punishable. Sites like that all have the ability to block content from specific users, so someone who does it once and does not make repeated accounts should not be considered anything more than a nuisance.

A similar offense would be if someone is using material about you in a malicious way, even if you are not involved with the site it is on (ie pictures, quotes, personal information). If sensitive information gets onto the internet without your permission or through no wrongdoing of your own, the person responsible should have to face up to that.

That said, being in a chat room, on a message board, etc where someone is 'cyberbullying' you is your own choice. Places like that are a community of anonymous talking heads, you can shut them up easily by leaving.

[domotime2]

to all the people who are voting "its just the internet get over it"....thats not fair.

As silly and non-sensicle as it sounds, the internet is a part of the human existance and experience now. Breaking up, asking people out, notifying about births, deaths, viruses, current news, elections, hate sites, love sites, etc. All of these are important to how we act to a day to day basis. If someone is repeatedly harassing you on facebook, myspace, or aim, you cant tell the person to not take it seriously because its the internet, those words are still real and still hold meaning to it.

I heard about the person who committed suicide over the hate messages received on facebook, and its sad. BUT! I still dont think Jail Time is a fair or valid punishment for something like that. Words are still words, and even if your words leads to a persons death, they shouldnt be held fully responsible for it. THe person who killed themselvse or others are the person to blame, and they clearly had some sort of demons or depression all ready, and it just so happened that the person triggered it by telling them "they suck" on facebook.

I think community service, perhaps some sort of anger management class, a fine is okay (but why should the state get money?), perhaps counciling...something in the lines of that would be fine. When you Drink and Drive, you take a safe driving class or go to AA.

[mutualaddiction]

I'm always worried when I hear anything about policing and regulation on the web, even though this is mostly a separate issue, and excessive harassment should definitely be reported, it still worries me.

[flks511]

Prison, if people are committing suicide.

[SanePsychotic]

In general, where you go on the internet is up to you. If someone is harrassing you via personal email or repeatedly trying to find you on networking sites to harass you, etc, that should be stopped and is perhaps punishable. Sites like that all have the ability to block content from specific users, so someone who does it once and does not make repeated accounts should not be considered anything more than a nuisance.

A similar offense would be if someone is using material about you in a malicious way, even if you are not involved with the site it is on (ie pictures, quotes, personal information). If sensitive information gets onto the internet without your permission or through no wrongdoing of your own, the person responsible should have to face up to that.

That said, being in a chat room, on a message board, etc where someone is 'cyberbullying' you is your own choice. Places like that are a community of anonymous talking heads, you can shut them up easily by leaving.

This is what I think, just explained much better than I could.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

In general, where you go on the internet is up to you. If someone is harrassing you via personal email or repeatedly trying to find you on networking sites to harass you, etc, that should be stopped and is perhaps punishable. Sites like that all have the ability to block content from specific users, so someone who does it once and does not make repeated accounts should not be considered anything more than a nuisance.

A similar offense would be if someone is using material about you in a malicious way, even if you are not involved with the site it is on (ie pictures, quotes, personal information). If sensitive information gets onto the internet without your permission or through no wrongdoing of your own, the person responsible should have to face up to that.

That said, being in a chat room, on a message board, etc where someone is 'cyberbullying' you is your own choice. Places like that are a community of anonymous talking heads, you can shut them up easily by leaving.
Well put.

[bv_princess1]

Prison, if people are committing suicide.
i think the people that are commiting suicide are dumb because no one told them to keep talking to that person and there is alot of new technology were you can just block that person that is harassing you. People are so ignorant these days that they believe everything anyone tells them. I think prison is not the answer:-|

[flks511]

i think the people that are commiting suicide are dumb because no one told them to keep talking to that person and there is alot of new technology were you can just block that person that is harassing you. People are so ignorant these days that they believe everything anyone tells them. I think prison is not the answer:-|
How is it any different from real harassment?

[jawstheme]

Slippery slope

[Brett3]

I'd say fines or community service.

[TeamAllison]

Total paradox. We throw out harmless insults on the internet all the time and it isn't personal because we can hide behind a computer screen. But then those casual insults come back at us and all of a sudden it's the worst thing that could ever happen to you. We give impersonally but take too personally.

But half the time it seems like the victim is fueling their own fire by even letting these insults get to them and responding when blocking their harassers is as easy as closing your browser window.

[Everiggs]

Anal.

[CyberInferno]

Anal.
lol, I guess I should have put an "Other" option up there

[Deadbolt01]

Can't help but think 'switch the computer off'.

[briewer]

Nothing, because I would be serving multiple life sentences. I do nothing on the internet but fuck with people.

[Tim Lincecum]

its the internet quit crying

[ier182]

i think the people that are commiting suicide are dumb because no one told them to keep talking to that person and there is alot of new technology were you can just block that person that is harassing you. People are so ignorant these days that they believe everything anyone tells them. I think prison is not the answer:-|

HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT SUICIDE ARE DUMB????? are you for real?! i don't think you can really understand someone who is about to kill himself. suicide is not something you decide one day and the next dat it's done. these people are probably in some major depression, you can't judge them like that.

off course some comments on your myspace aren't that big of a deal. but there are tons of cases where early teens get a hold on someone's password and change all their profiles and stuff so they make life a living hell. it's unbelievable how far some kids go with this. you can really damage someone.
show some respect for one another, 2 weeks in jail will work for me

[tonighttonight0]

I'd give them prison, but I'm tired and angry from work so I don't know really.

[handlikesecret]

didn't really understand the question til i read the OP. that being said, i'd vote for fines/community service.

[bv_princess1]

How is it any different from real harassment?
the difference is that its just the internet. people might not even know the person that might be harassing them. just delete them or stop using the internet if someone is harassing you and you don't want them to its as simple as that.