Ken at Popehat isn't simply angry because a prosecutor is investigating clearly hyperbolic comments on a message board. He's angry because the prosecutor needlessly (and, as it turned out, pointlessly) imposed a gag order on Reason.
The investigation itself was dumb and, I think, a bit abusive. The gag order though was clearly abusive.
If that's abuse "how can you take the abuse you get on a sit?" Ok, I'll take his expert word that the gag order was plainly abusive.
Watts speaking at the Washington monument vs Watts saying something similar at an underground Panthers meeting where everyone is armed to the teeth - trivial distinction to make. Idiot talks shit on the internet? I don't think it's trivial to make the distinction. In fact, that's the exact ambiguity anonymous internet jerks rely on to try to intimidate, say, women whose views they don't like.
But, in the interests of brevity, I'm willing to concede the possibility I'm the proverbial frog blissfully swimming in the cauldron of an imminently boiling police state, suitably seasoned with a generous helping of obviously untrue threats.
The investigation itself was dumb and, I think, a bit abusive. The gag order though was clearly abusive.