Local newspaper boasts ultimate passive-aggressive paywall policy

Xeni Jardin 11:45 am Mon Oct 25, 2010

The North County Gazette, a regional paper covering upstate New York, offers its articles online with a sort of an honor system instead of a standard paywall. OK, but instead of a straight-up honor system or "tip jar" (you read stuff, then drop a micropayment in the bucket), they are totally aggro and threatening about it.

Dig the guilt-trippy decree (in crimson comic sans, no less!) displayed next to each and every article:

And then, check out this insanity:

Translation: WE WILL BACKTRACE YOU AND REPORT YOU TO THE CYBERPOLICE AND STATE POLICE. CONSEQUENCES. WILL. NEVER. BE. THE. SAME.

(thanks, Micah!)

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