Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 12:03 am  

Saddened! wrote:

I don't see what the problem is? There is a clear and obvious distinction between what is grossly offensive and what isn't, particularly when it involves children who are missing and feared dead.

If you go by the rule of not being vile when posting, you'll likely be okay. You should never put something on the internet that you wouldn't be willing to stand up and support as your opinion in public.

So if he'd stood up in public and aired those views, would that have been acceptable to you?

I agree entirely with your sentiment though - have the courage of your convictions, no matter how distasteful they may be.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 12:08 am  

The sentence might be fine. It would all depend on what he tweeted. I don't know what he tweeted.

One thing I do hate is how far we have slid down the slippery slope of people feeling able to express the vilest language and abuse, largely because of a combination of one or more of the following:
a) increasingly, nothing will happen ("I can say what I like, you can't do fsck all about it you fscking spiffing chap" etc
b) total lack of discipline and morals when being brought up, leading to a total lack of basic respect for your fellow man
c) I know my rights

Obviously, the state society has degenerated to, you can't lock up everyone who descends to the vilest language and abuse, but still, on the rare occasions when some arrogant self-centred oaf gets his come-uppance, even if only a modest one, I find it hard to feel in any way sorry.

I also find it mildly amusing that some profess to think that tweeting is just like a private conversation with your mates. The whole point of the offence (which he admitted) was that it is sending a "grossly offensive public electronic communication". Only morons think Twitter is in any way "private".

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 1:37 am  

Twitter is not private. You're right. But it is not, and never will resemble a sophisticated communique that elicits care and forethought when in use. It is a medium incapable of dealing with anything serious. Therefore I think when someone is using twitter - the consequences dished out to offensive remarks are disproportionate to remarks said in more conventional environments. Internet communication with its immediacy and with the shroud of anonymity (whether it be of yourself, or from authorities) - very often makes one say what one wouldn't necessarily say otherwise. Therefore there is a discrepancy between what effectively is "typing stuff on the internet" and abuse outside, threats and/or harassment.

But then Frankie Boyle makes jokes about Madeleine McCann - and I'm struggling to spot the difference. (neither being funny, of course)

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:59 am  

Do we have the prison capacity to lock up all the people that are trolls on the internet?

If not, what are the government's plans to increase prison capacity?

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 6:07 am  

A locked room somewhere is probably the best place for someone as thick as that.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:18 am  

Where do we make our complaints about how offensive all the grief tourists wallowing in someone elses misery are?

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:16 am  

What ever happened to sticks and stones?

Seriously, 12 weeks in prison for a vile comment?

We have repeat burglers constantly avoiding prisoner, child molesters getting conditional discharges and we put someone in prison for being a tasteless, uncaring moron?

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:29 am  

Horatio Yed wrote:

What ever happened to sticks and stones?

Seriously, 12 weeks in prison for a vile comment?

...

I still don't know what he tweeted, but from the very limited reports, it wasn't one tweet, he was at it over two days.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:35 am  

RL13 wrote:

..
But then Frankie Boyle makes jokes about Madeleine McCann - and I'm struggling to spot the difference. (neither being funny, of course)

Well, and again without knowing what was tweeted, I do not believe that this lad was trying to make people laugh.

You also for some reason seem to overlook that he pleaded guilty to the offence.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:36 am  

But 12 weeks in prison? Perspective surely considering all the ills in the world.