Anonymous Cowards on Usenet

Let me say up front that I have nothing against opinions. I embrace the healthy exchange of different ideas and think it is important for the growth of a society. However, when people hide and actively seek to harass others, stalking them and trying to deny them the right to make a living, that is abusing the privilege.

I came to the attention of some idiots in general and one idiot in particular because I frequent a Usenet group called soc.support.fat-acceptance. In it, the regular posters exchange ideas on living as a fat person-at least they try to...other people who use anonymous remailers and anonymous servers post insults ranging from the mundane to the horrible. I came to their attention because I fought back and said that there was no reason to be ugly and gave them a dose of their own medicine.

These people hide their identities behind anonymous servers and remailers.

Why were these developed? Originally they were for people in repressive countries to get information out of that country to friends and loved ones as to their status, needs, etc. Emails and postings from these can only be traced to the server and not to the individual, thereby allowing communication without risking imprisonment or death.

I am sure that plenty of lives have been saved with these anonymizing servers. However, they have also become the instrument of the average Usenet psycho.

Jim Dutton-remember him? He is the pervert I reported for posting porcine pornography with me as the subject. Why? Because I defend and continue to defend fat people. He and his little helper Mike Cranston went underground and began posting a FAQ through an anonymous remailer (dizum.com) as "The Oracle." He and his little buddies seek to make me pay for objecting to being the subject of his little "stories."

I have never used, nor will I use an anonymous remailer, but I have been stalked by people using them since 2001.

I say they have outlived their usefulness and they should go. Does anyone else feel this way?

I want to hear from you.