Jon,

OK--this is my last post--fingers flyin' I REALLY gotta get off line here!

Paragraph #1: I don't have time to clarify right now, I'd need more time to think it through, will give it a shot later if no one else answers--where are you No Name, No City? My point: some of our employers are already monitoring us here in Mudcat, whether people choose to believe it or not.

Your Par #2: Straying from original message--yeah, we are, but I thought/hoped some of these other relevant issues whould pop up in the conversation to get discussed too. Thanks to AMos for posting that decision.

The Yahoo case referred to in Amos' post is the one I mentioned yesterday I think as "The1Quiz" case in Florida. Or was that someone else who mentioned it? Duh!

Anyway, the point is, a lot of individuals, companies, government agengies are trying to get this information about Internet users through the courts A LOT! Right now!

Also, just because *you* believe that putting your name and email (and other information if you choose) here at the website, both at log in and in the posts, doesn't mean someone can't get a subpoena to get that information from Max and use it against you in a court of law.

They will have a bit more difficult time getting a judge to agree to granting a subpoena in light of the above case (thank goodness!), but that case may be appealed, or another circuit could rule on different point of law--we ain't any safer legally than we are technologically right now if we freely divulge that sort of information in newsgroups, chat rooms, and discussion forums.

Good talkin' to ya--byyyyeeeee!

All