Anonymous online commenters -- sometimes affectionately known as trolls -- have long enjoyed the idea that they can make their opinions known without having to deal with the consequences. That idea may be getting a real challenge, as a new lawsuit has targeted hundreds of commenters who posted their anonymous opinions about a sexual assault case on the online forum Topix.com.

After a woman accused Texas couple Mark and Rhonda Lesher of sexual assault last year, approximately 1,700 graphic, anonymous comments began to appear on the site Topix.com, which the Leshers claim defamed them. "They were perverted, sick, vile, inhumane accusations," said Mark Lesher.

Having been found not guilty of the sexual assault charges last month, the Leshers have now turned their attention to the commenters, who kept up their online assault despite the court's ruling. And so now 178 anonymous commenters from the site are being sued by the Leshers.

Should people be liable for stuff they write anonymously in online comments? If only future lawsuits could be directed at the people who anonymously and inevitably turn every online discussion into a political diatribe.