947.012 Unlawful use of telephone. (1) Whoever does
any of the following is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor:
(a) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse or
harass, makes a telephone call and threatens to inflict injury or
physical harm to any person or the property of any person.
(b) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse, telephones
another and uses any obscene, lewd or profane language
or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.
(c) Makes a telephone call, whether or not conversation
ensues, without disclosing his or her identity and with intent to
abuse or threaten any person at the called number.

You would be surprised at how technology has changed the whole issue of telephone harrassment. That being said I have followed with interest your recent exchange here. You may not be aware of the Devin Willi incident in Hudson. The facts haven’t become public yet, but observers have been reminded of the names Tawana Brawley, Audrey Seiler, and Jennifer Wilbanks. Willi underestimated the power of technology and forensic investigative techniques. Your caller may have done the same. For that matter you might have. Filing a sworn report is the right thing to do.

At 1:00 this morning the phone rang. I thought someone had died. But, no, it was some belligerent and profusely foul mouthed male, who’s vocabulary consists mainly of the “F” word, who proceeded with a nonstop screaming screed on blogging, ending with “I know who you are and I know where you live!” before abruptly hanging up.

You know, I’ve been actively involved in pulic matters for seven years now and through it all I’ve never, ever felt “threatened” before, even when leading the opposition during two protracted and heated $20 million local new school building referendum periods. That is, until now.

During the course of less than one week, this has occurred because I had the audacity to say that I believe that blogging –
ALONE — is not enough to solve all issues. That was quickly turned into an “attack” and “put-down” on blogging and bloggers.

I will risk my reputation for what I believe.

I will risk my finances for what I believe.

But, I will not, repeat, will not risk the safety of my family!

Because of this, I make the difficult choice, with much regret, to no longer participate in a medium where this can so easily happen, despite the virtues of open discussion, the exchange of ideas and debate being extolled.

ADMINISTRATION: Please remove my login access to ON-THE-BORDERLINE.

Good luck and I wish you success in all of your endeavors, as well as with those bloggers with whom I share many similar views.

I hope this makes the anonymous, bastard, coward who called happy.