Teshuvos haRWAC 1:2 - Outing a blogger

Question:
Honored RWAC, I believe I have determined your identity. Is there any prohibition against revealing your identity on my blog?

Answer:
Thank you very much for your email.

I believe it most unlikely that you have succeeded in determining my identity:
I use multiple ISPs, all of which trace to incorrect locations.
I frequently sign my emails with random names.
I change critical details of stories in posts.
To the best of my knowledge, one of my readers knows who I am, and one bloggeress might have guessed it - but that’s pretty much it.

But to address your halachic question: Aside from the prohibitions involved, you would bring a world of hurt down upon yourself.

a. You doubtless think that you are immune from any sort of beis din-ordered punitive damages, since revealing my identity would constitute היזק שאינו ניכר, non-visible damage, and as such would not be actionable.

However, realize that one who damages another intentionally is, indeed, vulnerable to prosecution and fines (Chulin 41a, Gittin 52b, Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Chovel uMazik 7:1-3). It is true that the Vilna Gaon (Biur haGRA to Choshen Mishpat 1:14) thought that courts are not licensed to collect this fine in our day, but that’s because his seforim store was out of copies of the Meiri (Gittin 52b), who suggests otherwise.

b. Further, all preventive measures I might take would be justified under the laws of rodef (preventing a pursuer from committing murder, Mishneh Torah Hilchos Chovel uMazik 8:24), since my wife would kill me if my identity were to become public (Mishneh Torah Hilchos Rebbetzins 4:1).

It might interest you to know that the Torah permits vigilante action in the context of preventing imminent loss. Although the preferred method is to go to court (Berachos 5b), that does not apply if waiting for a court ruling will result in immediate harm (Bava Kama 27b-28a, Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 4:1; see also Moed Katan 17a on my options). My methods would include, but not be limited to, denial of service attacks, hacking, pashkivilim in Meah Shearim and a ban that would make the anti-Slifkin moves look pathetic.

c. Note that I would also be entirely justified in launching any attack after the initial revelation, so long as the ‘revelation of identity’ post remained up on your site. So long as new viewers could see the information, you would be in the category of a rodef who is caught in the middle of the act. Although your mother used to say, ‘Two wrongs don’t make a right,’ your mother clearly doesn’t know much about halachah.

d. All of the above has related specifically to my own personal reprisals, but realize that there is another dimension here as well: The loneliness you would be forced to endure as social punishment for your actions.

Let’s face it, pal: Outing a blogger is even lower than cheating in the JIBs voting. If you think anyone will ever link to you again, forget about it. You could put up an “I Love George Soros” banner on your blog and even DovBear wouldn’t link to you. This is part of the ancient concept, כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה, aka The Jblogosphere sticks together.

So bring it on, pal. Remember: Even if you might know who I am, I certainly know where to find you. Do you feel lucky?