Given all the uproar around the cyber bullying case involving Lori Drew and teenager Megan Meier, isn’t it just a bit bizarre that we’re looking at another case of an adult targeting a minor?

Thankfully, this alleged incident didn’t have such a dramatic conclusion - Meier hanged herself after being taunted on MySpace in late 2006. But the case involving Elizabeth A. Thrasher of St. Peters suggests that we don’t really learn much. Today’s story explains how Thrasher has been charged with violating Missouri’s new cyber bullying law.

According to police, Thrasher placed a fake ad on Craigslist’s Casual Encounters section after having an online run-in with the teenager - the daughter of a woman allegedly involved with Thrasher’s ex-husband.

The listing included the teen’s picture, employer, e-mail address and cell phone number. Banas said the posting’s language would lead people to believe it was an invitation to sexual contact.

It’s going to be interesting to see this one play out in court - if it makes it there. Thrasher’s attorney, Mike Kielty, already is making noise about the statute being poorly written.

“To charge a woman, a mother, with a felony for what is tantamount to a practical joke, that’s awfully rash,” he said. “That’s taking it to the extreme.”

Should this be a felony? I don’t think anyone would disagree with the thought that, if it’s true, Thrasher made a really dumb choice here - particularly in light of what happened with Megan Meier.

Still, this brings us back to a hot top technology topic. How far should the government go in dictating our online behavior?