The California legislature is working on reducing incivility in cyberspace.
Bullies who use text messages or the Internet to pick on their fellow students can be suspended or expelled under a bill that is close to passing the state Legislature. The measure by Assemblyman Ted Lieu, a Democrat from Torrance, passed the Senate Monday on a 21-11 vote. It goes back to the Assembly for consideration of Senate amendments and will be sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger if passed.
Lieu says cyber bullying has grown as Web-based social networking sites and text messaging have become more popular. His bill applies to bullying through messaging, cell phones, pagers, computers or other electronic communications. Educators say it can be tougher to prevent than physical bullying because it often occurs away from school or after school hours.
Reminds me of another bastion of freedom where rudeness and perceived unfriendliness have been outlawed. Is that the kind of paradise U.S. lawmakers want?
Right after the SFGate news article, in the comments, this absurdist but enlightening discussion unfolds, offering a glimpse of things to come:
Pezro:
Your state is full of sissies!
Xoconostle:
pezro: The irony. Do you imagine that you appear to be tough by using an anonymous screen name and calling an entire state "sissies" from the safety of a computer? Don't be such a girly-man! ;-)
Flak:
xonostle: how dare you refer to pezro as "girly-man". Your bullying will not be tolerated.
At least two of those comments might soon be prosecutable offenses. Ah, Brave New World indeed.
[thanks, Erik!]
Comments