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For they do not want you free …
By Me | November 12, 2005
… and they will not make you strong
but only drag you down in the hole they’re coming from
– Janis Ian, “From Me To You”, 1975
Observe this section of the New York State Penal Law:
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§ 240.26 Harassment in the second degree.
A person is guilty of harassment in the second degree when, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person:
Subdivisions two and three of this section shall not apply to activities regulated by the national labor relations act, as amended, the railway labor act, as amended, or the federal employment labor management act, as amended. Harassment in the second degree is a violation. |
Now, I bring this to your attention because a certain member of this community (referenced in a previous post here), has threatened to bring charges of harassment against my daughter because of the content of her blog.
She even called the police and had them call me to ask that she cease and desist.
What is interesting to me about all this is that (a) if she were to bring such charges against Gina, she would be required to prove in a court of law that her intent is to “harass, annoy or alarm” her alleged victim (which would likely be difficult to prove, since it’s not the case), and (b) the behavior of that individual’s son could possibly (in light of certain electronic records currently residing on my own hard drive) be established to the satisfaction of a court of law to fall under the category of another section of the Penal Law:
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§ 240.25 Harassment in the first degree.
A person is guilty of harassment in the first degree when he or she intentionally and repeatedly harasses another person by following such person in or about a public place or places or by engaging in a course of conduct or by repeatedly committing acts which places such person in reasonable fear of physical injury. |
So, on the one hand, I could be childish and encourage this individual (who clearly has way too much time on her hands) to pursue any legal remedies she likes, solely for the entertainment value of meeting her in court.
Or, I could be more adult than she has shown herself to be and suggest that all the parties involved simply knock it off. Since, as I informed the very nice police officer I spoke with, my daughter never writes about this boy except in response to what he does to or says about her, the easiest way to nip this is the bud would be for him to stop all of the above and leave her alone.
Then, too, I find it infinitely and profoundly pathetic that a supposedly intelligent adult human being would take these manifestations of As the Teen Turns this seriously. Go figure.
Overall, I am once again reminded of something my mom used to say fairly frequently:
People make you more important than you are.
Topics: As The Teen Turns |
10 Responses to “For they do not want you free …”
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November 12th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
I have given the very nice police officer your blog name and ask they monitor it often. Keep on blogging
November 12th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
ROFLOL!
Good thing there’s not that much crime here in this little village … although I’d still imagine the police have better things to do. But never mind. I just hope the nice police officer finds my ramblings entertaining.
I’ll definitely keep on blogging, dear. Now, why don’t you go get a life?
November 12th, 2005 at 5:53 pm
WOW!!!
So I see a smidgen of sarcasm here?!
I see a cat fight coming up!
November 12th, 2005 at 5:55 pm
Cat fight? Why, Gina, what a thing to say!
You know I only fight battles that are worth fighting, and I only fight with people who are important enough to fight with.
November 12th, 2005 at 6:18 pm
Yes, she is a VERY nice police officer! Met her Thursday nite when Pack 34 cub scouts were shown around the station. I do hope she finds this all as entertaining as I have and am. Some parents don’t get a chance for stuff like this till someone makes it into something more important than it is.
November 12th, 2005 at 10:31 pm
Alright, I personally have nothing against you or Gina, but if you start being sarcastic towords my mother i’m going to get pissed.
“Now, why don’t you go get a life?”
Knock this insulting off. And i’m speaking about you, my mom, Andy, and Gina.
Also I don’t give a shit who started it. The point is it got started and somebody needs to knock it off.
Thanks
November 13th, 2005 at 1:29 am
You’re “going to get pissed”? What a terrifying thought!
I have an idea, little boy. Why don’t you just go away?
This is MY blog and I write what I like here, just like I say what I like in my own living room.
I really don’t find you or anybody else in your family particularly interesting, except to the extent that you are involved in my daughter’s life — and that involvement is now over, at least at this end of the world.
So, at this point, I’m perfectly willing to pretend the whole lot of you were never born. I wonder why you don’t seem capable of returning the favor?
Who’s harassing whom?
November 13th, 2005 at 9:55 am
Wow Adam…
You yell at my mom for being sarcastic. Wasn’t it your mom that started the sarcasm in the first place?
“I have given the very nice police officer your blog name and ask they monitor it often. Keep on blogging”
How is that NOT sarcasm???
November 13th, 2005 at 11:12 am
“Also I don’t give a shit who started it”
Go ahead pont fingers Gina
November 13th, 2005 at 11:18 am
“if you start being sarcastic towords my mother i’m going to get pissed.”
Suuuuure Adam you really “don’t give a shit who started it.” *rolls eyes*
Why don’t you and your entire family do us all a favor and go away and leave us alone.