Cowards have a new persona and its name is anonymity.

In the past a person who started stupid vicious gossip did eventually have to face the consequences. They either had to back up what was said or apologize for starting the lies.

No more! We now live in an age where cowards cloak themselves in digital anonymity as they conduct monstrous smear campaigns across the World Wide Web - hurting not only the victims but also destroying our sense of trust, which is important to us all; both online and off. The effects of this dangerous partaking can range from humiliation to unemployment to extreme emotional distress. Meanwhile, the cowards sitting at their keyboards are rarely held accountable.

Woodrow T. Wilson once said, “I have always been among those who believed that the greatest freedom of speech was the greatest safety, because if a man is a fool, the best thing to do is to encourage him to advertise the fact by speaking.”

This is so true, but the problem is, Web sites such as Topix.com and JuicyCampus allow these cowards to hide behind numerous pseudonyms actually encouraging the abuse as they profit from wrath with no source.

Harassment is, of course, nothing new and free speech still trumps bad taste. However, the consequences for online harassment are virtually nonexistent. Smear someone in a traditional media outlet, like this newspaper and you will more than likely end up in court.

In 1996, Congress passed a law establishing basic regulations specifically for the Internet that prevents hosts of these Web sites from being held responsible for anything others post on their sites. In other words, the law says the kind of calumny that would get the Daily News sued is fair game on Topix and others like it.

These sites are popular because people love gossip. It is and has always been an ugly fact of life. But, what happens when rumors about you or someone you love are posted on the Internet by an anonymous source for the whole world to see? Behind the screen of anonymity, some cowards are using Topix and other such sites, to selfishly satisfy personal vendettas with no fear of consequences.

The Internet has drastically changed the impact of gossip. Rumors that used to be enclosed within a relatively narrow social world are now advertised to a much wider audience with fewer resources to get to the truth. Even a completely false allegation can last forever online.

It is the characterization of adolescence, home to cowards and smut, and symbolizes some of the very worst of what the Internet has to offer. Hiding behind anonymity while attacking another, is childish and irresponsible behavior. If you are going to trash or demean someone then have the courage to post your name along with the comments.

I value our right to free speech, but I do believe we should do more to protect another right: namely our privacy.

But even having said all of this, I will fight for the rights of all who wear the mask of anonymity while making statements that are cruel and many times false. I’ll fight for the rights of the nameless cur who has nothing better to do than hide behind a computer screen spreading pollution across the information highway.

Yes, as an American, I will fight for the rights of the coward and the keyboard.