Okay, a little problem that has been bugging me for the half hour since I've come back from the pub.

If I have a pole with a length of a light year, and I poke someone with it a light year away, presumably I won't receive any force telling me that I have poked that person until a year later. So, if there is a brick wall a light year and a bit away from me, what is to stop me from from moving far more than a bit with no forces opposing me until a year later?

Indeed, will I get the same response if I were to coil up the stick?

I know there has to be something wrong with this argument but I can't think of any through the alcohol haze , any ideas?