[account42]

> have every idiot on the Internet know their personal address

It doesn't have to be your personal address though.

I'm somewhat mixed about the details of the law, but requiring businesses to make it clear who you are dealing with makes sense to me.

[zelphirkalt]

Of course, if you run a business. But then you might even have an actual physical office address for work related stuff and not have a problem giving that to random strangers on the Internet. If you are a private person simply wanting to run a blog and talk about whatever you like, then it sucks. It does not have to be your home address you are sharing, but the other options will cost you money. And no, a postbox will not be sufficient, as decided in previous court cases. It must be a "ladungsfaehige" address. There are some businesses selling services to have a virtual office, with an actual address, which then send your mail further to your actual address and notify you via e-mail and all that. Whether those are really an acceptable option when it comes to the law is a bit unclear.