"Hi, Mr. Napoli, you don't know me but I'm an Angels fan. I just wanted to say how sorry I am that we didn't have enough sense to play you more over Mathis. All the best, Arte."

"Yo, Mike ... man, trading you for Vernon Wells has to be the stupidest trade in history. Glad to see you doing well. Tony."

"Naps, bro, you are just ... the bomb, y'know. Hope you sign with the Angels when you're a free agent. Al."

"You suck! Mike S."

Boy this Napoli guy sounds like a real Stifley Stifferson.

Sorry Mike. Hope you get that fridge fixed.

It's really odd. CJ tweets at Napoli, saying "Hey, dude, call me, here's my number." Only he lists Mike Napoli's number. And then he deletes the tweet and says that it was a prank. It was unfunny, directed at a teammate he doesn't have much of a relationship with, and a completely dick move. I'm not sure what CJ Wilson is really like, but this makes him sound like a jerk with really poor social skills.

I largely agree with Dock, but the obvious response is, "No, CJ, my number is xxx-xxx-xxxx" where that phone number is CJs. Or, better, Arte's. Sure, Arte will be mad at Napoli, but who cares? He'll only be able to come down on CJ.

It all started when Napoli said he looked forward to hitting homers off Wilson

That's a pretty heavy dis. I don't think going public with his phone number is exactly sporting, but I can understand why he wanted to get back at him.

Based solely on TFA, Napoli doesn't come off bad, Wilson does.

Hell I would be pissed if someone I knew put my cell # on twitter, and I'm not a public figure nor do any of my friends have 100K + twitter followers.

I'm not sure what CJ Wilson is really like, but this makes him sound like a jerk with really poor social skills.

And you expected what exactly from a professional athlete?

Let me guess: the number is 516-922-WINE?

#6 - There is nothing indicating Napoli even said that (yet). It wasn't a public diss on Twitter, as near as I can tell.

Napoli doesn't remember saying he wanted to hit home runs off Wilson specifically, and was confused why Wilson took it that way.

"I don't even remember saying I want to take him deep," Napoli said. "But as every power hitter, you're always trying to take pitchers deep. So I'll say it now, I'm going to try and take him deep."

CJ continued to be a dick. Fans took exception to the "prank" and he responded to one:

@Love4PatTheBat he's making 10 mil this year a new phone is basically free

"Hello, this is Hugh Jass."

Hell I would be pissed if someone I knew put my cell # on twitter, and I'm not a public figure nor do any of my friends have 100K + twitter followers.

It shouldn't phase me in this age of people readily sharing personal information with the world, but I'm always surprised when I see people on Facebook publicly post their phone number for those "uh oh lost my phone, need your numbers" things.

man, it's crazy how someone can be a dick and then try and blow it off like the other person is overreacting.
yes, cj wilson, you acted like an #######.
i hope napoli takes him deep. a lot.
dumbass.

Hell I would be pissed if someone I knew put my cell # on twitter, and I'm not a public figure nor do any of my friends have 100K + twitter followers.

It shouldn't phase me in this age of people readily sharing personal information with the world, but I'm always surprised when I see people on Facebook publicly post their phone number for those "uh oh lost my phone, need your numbers" things.

While I can understand why Mike Napoli would be pissed about it, being a celebrity and all, I'm not sure why it would be an issue for the rest of us. Why would I care if someone who doesn't know me has my phone number? Hell, my home number's been in the book for 20 years, and that's never been an issue. I don't see why a cell is any different.

(And this is no defense of Wilson, whose actions were dickish).

My biggest problem with this is that there are apparently 100,000 people who give a rat's ass what CJ Wilson thinks.

You get fazed, and you go through a phase.

He didn't even do the prank right. Put his number on Craigslist for something free (trampoline? hot tub?). Same effect and he won't even know who did it.

Why would I care if someone who doesn't know me has my phone number? Hell, my home number's been in the book for 20 years, and that's never been an issue. I don't see why a cell is any different.

I think the analog would be someone posting your cell # in such a way that lots of people would be encouraged to call it, such as what #18 suggests says. If even 50 people decided to call you that would get annoying and disruptive pretty quickly.

Plus, I just assume there are 'bots that troll the web for phone numbers just like they do for email addresses?

LSU football fans are apparently quite fond of and gifted at pulling off this particular gag. They put out Tebow's phone number before the LSU-Florida game back in 2007 and have done similar things quite a few times since, apparently.

Opening Day can't get here fast enough.

You get fazed, and you go through a phase.

It's easier to mix them up when you're 'faced.

He didn't even do the prank right. Put his number on Craigslist for something free (trampoline? hot tub?). Same effect and he won't even know who did it.

My GF works for craigslist and has to track this #### down. This is actually a crime. If the person you do this to presses charges and the police get a subpoena, you will get a nasty fine.

Also, you're an #######, and it's not funny.

My GF works for craigslist and has to track this #### down. This is actually a crime. If the person you do this to presses charges and the police get a subpoena, you will get a nasty fine.

How can this be a crime? I don't believe that. How could Craigslist enforce this in every different city? Someone please enlighten us as to how this is a crime.

How can this be a crime? I don't believe that. How could Craigslist enforce this in every different city? Someone please enlighten us as to how this is a crime.

If I post a sign in a public place that says "Free beer! First come, first serve!" and list someone else's address/phone number, then I'm definitely committing fraud, right?

If I do it because I know that person will be repeatedly bothered by phone calls and visitors, then isn't that some sort of harassment?

Also, is it safe to assume that C.J. will buzz a pitch near/behind Napoli in their first meeting?

Can't Napoli just get a different # and have Wilson pay for the process/inconvenience?

How can this be a crime?

Why couldn't it be considered fraud? Now I agree enforcement would be difficult, but if you get caught posting someone else's contact information online for an item that is not for sale, I don't see why that indivdiual couldn't/shouldn't be prosecuted.

Edit: Coke to RTG.

Public mischief, I'd guess.

Public mischief, I'd guess.

Ah, the last ditch play of the police/prosecutors.

"We've got nothing on these guys, but we need to hold them for a few more hours."
"Charge them with 'public mischief', and then drop the charges tomorrow morning."
"Great idea!"

Can't Napoli just get a different # and have Wilson pay for the process/inconvenience?

How are you going to value 'inconvenience' though. Changing your number, and making sure everybody who needs it has it, is a huge hassle, but it doesn't cost anything apart from maybe a few calls.

@Love4PatTheBat he's making 10 mil this year a new phone is basically free

You know, the 'he makes so much money' envy card works a lot better when you aren't making even more. I vote somebody trash Wilson's car. When you make 15m a year, a new one is basically free.

Sorry, those explanations don't really convince me. I really want someone to tell me what laws are being violated and any/or any court cases where someone has been "convicted" of posting someone's phone number/email address/home address, etc. This is all public information that can be found out one way or another. I have a hard time believing that it is criminal to post someone's phone number even if doing so will result in a large number of annoying telephone calls. This is absurd on the face of it.

Couldn't it constitute harassment? I'm not necessarily talking about the Napoli/Wilson case, but if someone posts someone else's number, especially alongside a false offer — "first 100 callers get a free iPad!" or "Playboy model seeks middle-aged boy toy" — that seems like it would qualify as harassment and/or some other type of crime.

Also, you're an #######, and it's not funny.

Well, I had the idea because a friend of mine did that to another friend. And you are right on the first count, he is an #######, but wrong on the second. It was very funny, possibly because friend number 2 is also an #######.

I also had a friend whose uncle did it to him accidentally. He legitimately thought it was a good way to get rid of the broken hot tub. My friend came back to his phone and found over 100 messages in a half hour. This was also funny.

Couldn't it constitute harassment?

I guess I'm looking for a lawyer to drop in here and explain how this could possibly be illegal. What about writing someone's phone number on the bathroom wall with the phrase, "for a good time call...." It's clear that it's not a nice thing to do, but how can it be illegal? Still don't buy it.

I guess I'm looking for a lawyer to drop in here and explain how this could possibly be illegal. What about writing someone's phone number on the bathroom wall with the phrase, "for a good time call...." It's clear that it's not a nice thing to do, but how can it be illegal?

Now I'm not a lawyer and haven't got the slightest clue about American law, but why is it so inconceivable to you that that behavior could be illegal? Last time I looked there wasn't anything in the Constitution about the sacred right to small-scale harassment.

I guess I'm looking for a lawyer to drop in here and explain how this could possibly be illegal. What about writing someone's phone number on the bathroom wall with the phrase, "for a good time call...." It's clear that it's not a nice thing to do, but how can it be illegal?

Well, if they were not, in fact, a good time, it could be false advertising.

LSU football fans are apparently quite fond of and gifted at pulling off this particular gag. They put out Tebow's phone number before the LSU-Florida game back in 2007 and have done similar things quite a few times since, apparently.

In the NFL, opponents send hookers to your hotel room. Or, at least, they used to.

DB

why is it so inconceivable to you that that behavior could be illegal?

Look, the problem with the law is that any attempt to stop an undesirable behavior has the anticipated, perhaps, but unintended effect of stopping other perfectly acceptable behaviors. I'd like to know what the law is, how it works, why it was passed, etc. If there are court cases, even better, because then we can read the rationale right in the court record.

I'm not saying it's inconceivable, but you're all grasping at straws trying to guess which legal umbrella it falls under: "Could it be harassment? How about fraud? How about public mischief?"

Harassment has a specific legal definition. As does fraud, and so does public mischief. I don't know what they are, and neither do you, and so that's why I want an expert opinion here with some real proof. Once again, it's not inconceivable, it would be strange to me to prohibit such innocuous but otherwise annoying behavior. But some guy's girlfriend trying to track down phone numbers on Craigslist is not the best evidence that something is illegal. I can imagine that you could sue someone in civil court for damages, but that is not the same thing as the police showing up at your door, taking you to jail, reading you your rights and giving you a trial by jury.

My guess is that it's not illegal at all. And like other annoying behaviors, you can be sued for damages by the party, but no public prosecutor is going to trying the case against you.

In the NFL, opponents send hookers to your hotel room. Or, at least, they used to.

How do I sign up for this NFL thing?

Actually, we have the case right in front of us. Where are the police banging down Wilson's door? Who's bringing him to court?

Where are the police banging down Wilson's door? Who's bringing him to court?

Well, if tshipman is to believed (which it seems you have decided he isn't), then Napoli would have to first decide to press charges. But then again, I'm not a lawyer, so I probably should keep my own piehole shut or face your considerable wrath on this issue. (-:

Actually, we have the case right in front of us. Where are the police banging down Wilson's door? Who's bringing him to court?

You seem to be confusing two different things. Publishing someone's telephone number is probably not criminal. Doing it in connection with a phony advertisement designed specifically to cause annoyance would fit the definition of petty harassment under numerous criminal codes.

You seem to be confusing two different things. Publishing someone's telephone number is probably not criminal. Doing it in connection with a phony advertisement designed specifically to cause annoyance would fit the definition of petty harassment under numerous criminal codes.

Finally, an actual lawyer. OK, so petty harassment is the charge. That's what I wanted to know.

Does someone have to press charges? And is this the type of thing you spend time in jail for?

Also: SoSHU: I think my "wrath" is more like frustration with my own ignorance. Not only could I not explain why I was having a hard time believing the proffered explanations, the explanations themselves were not helping me.

You get fazed, and you go through a phase.

But you also get phased out.

Doing it in connection with a phony advertisement designed specifically to cause annoyance would fit the definition of petty harassment under numerous criminal codes.

Here's Hawaii's (coincidence, not because I'm responding to Srul... it was the first hit on google) harassment statute:

§711-1106 Harassment. (1) A person commits the offense of harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm any other person, that person:
(a) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches another person in an offensive manner or subjects the other person to offensive physical contact;
(b) Insults, taunts, or challenges another person in a manner likely to provoke an immediate violent response or that would cause the other person to reasonably believe that the actor intends to cause bodily injury to the recipient or another or damage to the property of the recipient or another;
(c) Repeatedly makes telephone calls, facsimile transmissions, or any form of electronic communication as defined in section 711-1111(2), including electronic mail transmissions, without purpose of legitimate communication;
(d) Repeatedly makes a communication anonymously or at an extremely inconvenient hour;
(e) Repeatedly makes communications, after being advised by the person to whom the communication is directed that further communication is unwelcome; or
(f) Makes a communication using offensively coarse language that would cause the recipient to reasonably believe that the actor intends to cause bodily injury to the recipient or another or damage to the property of the recipient or another.

I don't think posting someone's phone number even with the intent for others to spam call would count under the statute. Perhaps you'd have to claim "solicitation to harassment" if you wanted some criminal charge? I suspect that there's some case law but I no longer have access to free searches; I'd be surprised if this were a case of first impression.