Is this really worth 12 weeks in prison?

Is this really worth 12 weeks in prison?

Author
Discussion

dfen5

2,397 posts

211 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
bstb3 said:
If he went to Machynlleth and made the joke, he might reasonably expect to cause offence to people genuinely affected by the girls disappearance and bear the brunt of the outcome. Cause and effect. If he got a beating no one would be too surprised, and probably not too many tears would be shed.

He didn't do that. He posted some sick jokes on his own Facebook page -he didn't seek out the people involved to target them with it. He was just posting crap whilst drunk, for whatever reason. It's not admirable, big or clever, he is probably a bottom feeder of the highest order, but hardly the only one in society. 12 weeks is insane, even if just for the precedent it sets. Hiding behind "it's for his own protection" is mental. When did the mob decide justice? Punishment ought to fit the crime. This doesn't, not by a long shot.
However, it's quite refreshing to see someone being held accountable for their actions. Being drunk never has been a very good defence.

Whatever next; people regaining a moral compass?

FunkDokta

111 posts

139 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
simoid said:
"Yeah, but no, but yeah, but that's different, but no, but YOU'RE SILLY!" Is how the argument goes after this question.

Then everyone (including those purpooting to be pro-complete freedom of speech) agrees that there should be limitations on free speech, and that different people have different views on where the line should be drawn.
How is threathning to kick someones teeth in, freedom of speech? If 50 people congregate infront of my house after obtaining the required clearance and protest against jokes I have made, that is fine as long as they do not disturb my going and coming and do not impact my everyday routine through their noise, litter e.t.c

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
oyster said:
Has the verdict been made to protect society?
Yes

Has it eroded human rights?
No.

Perhaps my only concern is the length of the sentence.
Really? You think society is now safer?

You don't think you have a right to free speech?

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
dfen5 said:
However, it's quite refreshing to see someone being held accountable for their actions. Being drunk never has been a very good defence.

Whatever next; people regaining a moral compass?
Crazy talk.

Frik

13,542 posts

242 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
You don't think you have a right to free speech?
As has been said we don't have an automatic right to free speech. Otherwise Abu Hamza would never have been arrested and convicted.

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Frik said:
Jasandjules said:
You don't think you have a right to free speech?
As has been said we don't have an automatic right to free speech. Otherwise Abu Hamza would never have been arrested and convicted.
But the purpose of this thread is to debate exactly that point is it not?

You see, I think that I have a right to free speech. I believe that means I SHOULD be able to say what I like, in the same way I believe that everyone else has the same right.

Now, I could say that I am offended by the Poster who said that this case was for the good of society and was not an infringement of free speech, should he now be jailed because I am offended by it? If not, why not?

rover 623gsi

5,230 posts

160 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
The problem is old, senile judges who are completely out of touch with modern society and spend too much time reading the Daily Mail - which is why they believe that anything posted on Facebook or Twitter is read by everyone in the world thus causing vast swathes of the human populace to become so outraged that they will have a heart attack and/or an epileptic fit – and will probably end up with cancer as well.

simoid

19,772 posts

157 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
I'd argue that the conviction of the FB poster has caused distress to a great many more who would never have been aware of his facebook posts.

12 weeks in jail for the Police, CPS and magistrates involved biggrin

Frik

13,542 posts

242 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
If Mark Woods had posted a single joke on a private FB page I would be disgusted that he had even been charged. However, much like the Liam Stacey case, he chose to follow up the joke with further comments that he knew were provocative and managed to generate his own pitchforked mob.

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Frik said:
As has been said we don't have an automatic right to free speech. Otherwise Abu Hamza would never have been arrested and convicted.
On the contrary, you have an automatic right to freedom of expression, which may then be subject to restrictions only where necessary;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_10_of_the_Eur...

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.

2. The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.

Ayahuasca

27,427 posts

278 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all


Posters of rubbish jokes in the Sean Connery thread take heed!

It is not just the PH Sin Bin you are risking - it is proper grown-up big boys' gaol!

No doubt news to put Blindswelledrat's whiskers all a-quiver.





Edited by Ayahuasca on Wednesday 10th October 20:27

ZR1cliff

17,999 posts

248 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Can't really be a judge of the justice dished up, until we know what comments were made by the lad from Chorley.

TameRacingDriver

18,047 posts

271 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Madness. People are just far too sensitive these days. I'm sure some people just choose to be offended, like that's some kind of trendy thing these days. Pathetic. Don't like it, don't read it.

As much as I like Frankie Boyle, I don't see why celebs should be treat any differently. But then I think its ludicrous that someone could do time for a few offensive jokes, whoever they are.

fked up TBH rolleyes

FunkyNige

8,859 posts

274 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Stick "april jones" slashdot into Google if you want to know what he put on his wall (which got screenshotted then posted onto a page about the girl).

gareth_r

5,712 posts

236 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Pothole said:
Sentencing Woods, Mr Hudson said: "The words and references used to the current case in Wales and that of the missing girl in Portugal are nothing less than shocking, so much so that no right thinking person in society should have communicated to them such fear and distress.

"The reason for the sentence is the seriousness of the offence, the public outrage that has been caused and we felt there was no other sentence this court could have passed which conveys to you the abhorrence that many in society feel this crime should receive."

He forgot to mention the 'many in society' who couldn't care less what some individual ahole posts on Facebook.
Goodness! What if my servants had read it?

Bill

52,472 posts

254 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
FunkyNige said:
Stick "april jones" slashdot into Google if you want to know what he put on his wall (which got screenshotted then posted onto a page about the girl).
If that's what he posted the world has gone mad.

gareth_r

5,712 posts

236 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
Frik said:
If Mark Woods had posted a single joke on a private FB page I would be disgusted that he had even been charged. However, much like the Liam Stacey case, he chose to follow up the joke with further comments that he knew were provocative and managed to generate his own pitchforked mob.
Surely the "mob" should have been in the dock?

Of course, they may have just been passing by in search of a paediatrician.

ZR1cliff

17,999 posts

248 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
don4l said:
He apparently made some comment about having the two girls in the back of his van. There were also sexual references.

A gang of 50 people gathered outside his house. It looks like he really made a lot of people very angry.

I believe in free speech. However we don't have the right to yell "FIRE" in a crowded theatre.

He wasn't expressing an opinion - he was deliberately trying to cause as much offence as possible. I'm not sure that we have the right to do this.

Don
--
So it was a bit more than a joke then and something that was meant to offend.

All very brave from behind a keyboard. I won't defend his actions.

Will probably be out in 4-6 weeks if he's a good boy.

RedTrident

8,290 posts

234 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-19...

I'm still of the opinion that whilst I find his views disgraceful he should be allowed to express them. He's not inciting someone to go and kill a police officer, he's expressing how he feels because of what took place.

I must say I struggle with a lot of this and in many ways I've trained myself to think this way. Being a Muslim and seeing what I consider to be a complete overreaction by many of 'my' peers with the cartoons etc etc I can't but help think that this guy should be able to express his opinion however distasteful it is.


anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
RedTrident said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-19...

I'm still of the opinion that whilst I find his views disgraceful he should be allowed to express them. He's not inciting someone to go and kill a police officer, he's expressing how he feels because of what took place.

I must say I struggle with a lot of this and in many ways I've trained myself to think this way. Being a Muslim and seeing what I consider to be a complete overreaction by many of 'my' peers with the cartoons etc etc I can't but help think that this guy should be able to express his opinion however distasteful it is.
What a complete ahole though!