[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Livia

If the comment made in jest is threatening to rape an innocent women, then **** yeah it warrants prosecution. And these people are easier to trace than they would believe.

it's not always serious though Livia, saying "i will rape you, and then you will be pregnant with my child, and then I will fist you until you have an abortion" is not a serious threat, it's just an internet comment. is it crass and disgusting? yes. now if the same person starts stalking that person, or obsesses about it that person, then sure, but treating every extreme comment as a threat is not right.

The internet is not real life. If it moves into real life, then of course the police should be involved, but most comments are just trolling and trolling should not be illegal. If trolling was illegal

I could make a case that the Entire Guardian Website is trolling! HOW MANY times did i hear comments on the Guardian that George W Bush should be water boarded, should we have treated all of those comments as "threats against the president"? everyone who has people disagreeing with them can claim that they are being
"trolled". where would you draw the line.

The police should only get involved when it becomes a REAL issue. someone who is near the person, and is directly threatened.

hyperbole is not a crime.