Case Study: How a notorious (fundie extremist) spammer was brought down via Twitter

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

http://skeptools.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/case-study-notorious-spammer-brought-down-twitter-tumblr-social-media-mabus

The story is long but it's worth the read. Here's an example of the Christian Love™ dished out by the (now behind bars) guy:

[arcane1]

1. I'm so glad they got that very very busy fool n/t

[drm604]

2. Interesting story.

Thanks.

[TZ]

3. I interacted with this nut several times

on the internet. Fortunately I never got a directed threat as many people, who weren't even high profile posters often got. Scary.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Probably he didn't feel he could convince you he had personal info about you.

The "style" of his post to PZ Myers suggests that. He's into terrorizing people, not just insulting.

Oh, by the way, can I still call the number 8 on the NTS poll?

[struggle4progress]

5. Wow. The authorities didn't act, although he'd been doing this for twenty years?

It's hard for me to believe there's no federal crime involved here, if the guy regularly threatened folk in a number of states

There's a nice legal research project: find out whether or not this violated any federal statute. If there's no federal violation, then pressuring congress to make this a federal crime would be a good citizens' lobbying project

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. Update!

http://www.globalmontreal.com/montreals+mabus+faces+16+charges+for+online+threats/6442466983/story.html

Montreal's 'Mabus' faces 16 charges for online threats



The Montreal man who had been wanted by police for allegedly making online death threats against people all over the world appeared in court on Friday to face 16 charges.

Known online as “David Mabus”, Dennis Markuze of St. Laurent has been charged with uttering death threats and for criminally harassing seven victims.

Two charges were laid against him Wednesday -- and an additional 14 were added on Friday.

Markuze has been sent for a 30-day psychological evaluation at Montreal’s Pinel Institute and will appear in court again on Sept. 19. (more at link)