This is how it begins, my friends...

[theoldanarchist]

First it's something like this, which is so seemingly innocuous, but it sets the stage for much worse laws.

NJ Assemblyman introduces bill to force online identification
Jason Schultz says, Peter J. Biondi, NJ Assemblyman for District 16, has introduced A1327, a bill to force every ISP and website with comments/forums to demand user identification

Comments

[debord_saturday]

It's not innocuous at all. It seems blatant and scary.

[theoldanarchist]

I said "seemingly innocuous," as in he can claim that it is for a limited and reasonable purpose, when in fact it is opening the way for some terrible developments.

[debord_saturday]

yeah, I know. I was in a particularly pissy mood and felt like spouting radicalisms.

[theoldanarchist]

Yes, and profanity, apparently.

[debord_saturday]

profanity for profanity? why not?

[theoldanarchist]

Profanity for its own sake too often makes the speaker sound ignorant, as though it is the only manner by which the sincery and importance of his thoughts can be expressed. I know this only too well, because I used to curse a blue streak, most frequently when I was being empatic about some political point. It did not succeed in swaying anyone, though. I'm not criticizing, mind you, just sharing my own experience. You may take it or leave it as you will.

[debord_saturday]

Well, I find that I relate to and appreciate that sort of passion most, when it's coming from another person. I'm not looking to persuade anyone on the internet as my initial objective so I'm not really concerned how I come across in the format. My friends know who I am, along with any comrades who come across and connect with what I say.
Sure, in a lobby date or demo (unless it were for blatant destruction without the care of critique) I'm not going to use that language as a wide spread reflection of the sentiment of whatever group I may be working with...You should smoke and curse with me and give me good literature, sometime soon. :)

[theoldanarchist]

I guess I have to admit to a strange tendency toward wanting to protect some of my friends from some of my other friends---i.e., protecting the few of my friends who are either politically conservative or politically apathetic, one the one hand, from the rabid radicals on the other (and let me tell you that there are many more of the latter)---and this leads me to play the curious and uncomfortable role of referee/censor. If you notice this character rearing his head, just give me a "heads up," as it were, and I'll rein him in. It's best that this be left as an open forum, without my giving advice on how people should speak to one another.

Let me just say, though, that I prefer decorum. It's just in my nature.

[debord_saturday]

And who should chime in with some widely-reprinted thoughts on the profanity glut but that elder statesman of All Things Ecopsychological - the one and only Theodore Roszak, with an essay that has in it The Making of a Counterculture Within Another:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0430/p09s01-coop.html

SL

[theoldanarchist]

For some reason, and I really cannot figure out why, but the links you post never show up as "live". It makes no sense.

Regardless, I will be very interested to read this article.