No, not *right this minute,* silly. Ended a while back.
I spent a lot of time standing behind people and saying "no, *spell out* slashdot, then dot... no, a real dot..."
I've also known people who were thus banned. On one hand, it's a formality. On the other hand, if it happens to you, it's very real.
Some folks I know didn't take it very seriously. I tried to. It's easy to be cute about it, a la "hah! the order didn't say anything about SMS, and my provider has email over SMS, and I can use www2mail via email, so..." but the reality is, judges have a notoriously poor sense for subtle distinctions when it comes to technology. You'll have to roll a natural 20 for your geeky explanation to fly in court.
So I guess you could get away with alot if you're so inclined -- I knew people who clear-out ignored their restrictions, and never heard a thing about it. I tried to play it pretty straight. I didn't for a minute believe the guy tasked with my case would have a red blinky light go off if I started cruising slashdot, but I'd committed to the concept of abiding by the order, and felt obligated to stick with it.
As times change, the variables involved will become different. Gosh, what an obvious statement.. "as times change, stuff will change with them." But yeah, it's true. Probation officers are not career luddites. I'm willing to bet sooner or later some poor schmoe with an itchy mouse finger will get busted because his PO had him on his AIM buddylist, or noticed his static IP was pingable, or something.
But more importantly, bans like these are going to become ludicrous very soon. Already, people tend to wonder what century these judges are living in, to imagine that an offender can plausibly make their way in society without computers. Someone will probably make a career on a precedent-setting case over this.
Do I have a point? Not really. I would like to hear about other folks' experiences with Internet bans and restrictions, though. Is there a prisontalk.com forum for it yet? If not, there should be:)
PS: If you're banned from the Internet, shame on you for reading this~!!! >:o
Slashdot Mirror
I had a judge ban me from using the Internet.
... no, a real dot ..."
..." but the reality is, judges have a notoriously poor sense for subtle distinctions when it comes to technology. You'll have to roll a natural 20 for your geeky explanation to fly in court.
.. "as times change, stuff will change with them." But yeah, it's true. Probation officers are not career luddites. I'm willing to bet sooner or later some poor schmoe with an itchy mouse finger will get busted because his PO had him on his AIM buddylist, or noticed his static IP was pingable, or something.
:)
No, not *right this minute,* silly. Ended a while back.
I spent a lot of time standing behind people and saying "no, *spell out* slashdot, then dot
I've also known people who were thus banned. On one hand, it's a formality. On the other hand, if it happens to you, it's very real.
Some folks I know didn't take it very seriously. I tried to. It's easy to be cute about it, a la "hah! the order didn't say anything about SMS, and my provider has email over SMS, and I can use www2mail via email, so
So I guess you could get away with alot if you're so inclined -- I knew people who clear-out ignored their restrictions, and never heard a thing about it. I tried to play it pretty straight. I didn't for a minute believe the guy tasked with my case would have a red blinky light go off if I started cruising slashdot, but I'd committed to the concept of abiding by the order, and felt obligated to stick with it.
As times change, the variables involved will become different. Gosh, what an obvious statement
But more importantly, bans like these are going to become ludicrous very soon. Already, people tend to wonder what century these judges are living in, to imagine that an offender can plausibly make their way in society without computers. Someone will probably make a career on a precedent-setting case over this.
Do I have a point? Not really. I would like to hear about other folks' experiences with Internet bans and restrictions, though. Is there a prisontalk.com forum for it yet? If not, there should be
PS: If you're banned from the Internet, shame on you for reading this~!!! >:o