Is this really worth 12 weeks in prison?
Discussion
Based on his "crime" I could be looking at a long time in prison given some of the jokes I've posted on FB over the years!
This is a completely outrageous sentence, made even worse by the number of crimes far worse than this that effectively go unpunished.
It was a joke. Some might find it funny, many wouldn't. This does not make it a crime.
Absolutely shocking.
This is a completely outrageous sentence, made even worse by the number of crimes far worse than this that effectively go unpunished.
It was a joke. Some might find it funny, many wouldn't. This does not make it a crime.
Absolutely shocking.
Parsnip said:
oyster said:
Riley Blue said:
He's being made an example of, I hope it works.
Me too.I'd like to live in a country with the freedom to express opinions, not the freedom to be offended by lowlife scum.
And I'm one of the most liberal people on here.
This case is a perfect example of people seeking out things to be offended by - same thing happened with the Andrew Sachs case - the majority of the people complaining will not have seen the original messages, they will have seeked out the "Look, look, a bad man is being naughty!" version and then tutted their way to the complaints section of FB or (in this case) grabbed their pitchforks to go and lynch the guy.
Man posts silly things on facebook when drunk, gets jailtime - madness...
What opinion was he expressing?
The inconsistency between judges surprises me as well. 12 weeks does seem a bit harsh, but from the reports his comments were pretty shocking.
However, I believe people should be held accountable for what they post on the internet. What makes it any different to saying the same thing in person to someone? Thats like saying something you write to someone in an email should be treated differently than something you wrote in a letter with your own handwriting.
However, I believe people should be held accountable for what they post on the internet. What makes it any different to saying the same thing in person to someone? Thats like saying something you write to someone in an email should be treated differently than something you wrote in a letter with your own handwriting.
s1962a said:
The inconsistency between judges surprises me as well. 12 weeks does seem a bit harsh, but from the reports his comments were pretty shocking.
However, I believe people should be held accountable for what they post on the internet. What makes it any different to saying the same thing in person to someone? Thats like saying something you write to someone in an email should be treated differently than something you wrote in a letter with your own handwriting.
Sort of.However, I believe people should be held accountable for what they post on the internet. What makes it any different to saying the same thing in person to someone? Thats like saying something you write to someone in an email should be treated differently than something you wrote in a letter with your own handwriting.
I'd go one step further.
Telling an offensive joke to a few mates might be deemed ok, as you may have some idea about whether they'll be ok with it or not.
Online is very different - the audience of the joke/comment/opinion is largely unrestricted. It is not really any different than standing up in the high street with a loudspeaker and doing it. And is that still ok?
rover 623gsi said:
It's bonkers that any joke can be deemed offensive enough to land someone in prison. Seriously, it's like f
king 1984. The judge who dished out this sentence is not living in the real world.
Has the verdict been made to protect society?king 1984. The judge who dished out this sentence is not living in the real world.Edited by rover 623gsi on Tuesday 9th October 14:52
Yes
Has it eroded human rights?
No.
Perhaps my only concern is the length of the sentence.
oyster said:
Has the verdict been made to protect society?
Yes
Can you explain this point further? Yes
A quiet word in his ear and a suggestion that those who are 'offended' heed the words of Jesus Christ and turn the other cheek would be more in the public interest.
Once you start prosecuting people for making non-directed jokes on social media platforms you begin to erode the freedom of expression that the UK affords us.
rover 623gsi said:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2214652/Un...
....
The solicitor said Woods explained what had started as a joke had gone wrong.
'He realises this will have a profound effect on him,' he continued. 'With the publicity that has followed he will be known as the man who made these comments on Facebook.
He has to live with this because of his stupidity. His future is uncertain. He does not know whether he can go back to his home address.
'He fully accepts he was the author of his own misfortune. Nothing like this is going to happen again. He appreciates what he has done and puts himself at the mercy of the court.'
He asked for a community service order to be considered but the bench was told that custody could be imposed for anyone who is convicted of using extreme language that causes substantial distress or fear to another.
The bench asked for a pre-sentence report from a probation officer and said it would keep all options open ahead of sentencing, which is set to take place from 2pm today.
The jail term was imposed just hours after the same magistrates fined a man £100 and ordered him to pay £100 compensation after he racially insulting a black woman.
The woman had been driving her car in Chorley when she heard the defendant directly shout at her: 'you black f****** c****'. When she stopped and confronted him he screwed up a piece of paper and threw it at her face.
WTF???
Seriously, I do not get this. A stupid, immature, drunk teenage who thought he was being clever and funny ends up behind bars and yet someone who makes a very direct and offensive insult to an actual person gets a £100 fine? Bonkers!
He will have been fined (as Terry was) for using the word, not 'c...', nor 'f......' but 'black'.....
The solicitor said Woods explained what had started as a joke had gone wrong.
'He realises this will have a profound effect on him,' he continued. 'With the publicity that has followed he will be known as the man who made these comments on Facebook.
He has to live with this because of his stupidity. His future is uncertain. He does not know whether he can go back to his home address.
'He fully accepts he was the author of his own misfortune. Nothing like this is going to happen again. He appreciates what he has done and puts himself at the mercy of the court.'
He asked for a community service order to be considered but the bench was told that custody could be imposed for anyone who is convicted of using extreme language that causes substantial distress or fear to another.
The bench asked for a pre-sentence report from a probation officer and said it would keep all options open ahead of sentencing, which is set to take place from 2pm today.
The jail term was imposed just hours after the same magistrates fined a man £100 and ordered him to pay £100 compensation after he racially insulting a black woman.
The woman had been driving her car in Chorley when she heard the defendant directly shout at her: 'you black f****** c****'. When she stopped and confronted him he screwed up a piece of paper and threw it at her face.
WTF???
Seriously, I do not get this. A stupid, immature, drunk teenage who thought he was being clever and funny ends up behind bars and yet someone who makes a very direct and offensive insult to an actual person gets a £100 fine? Bonkers!
Seems the old sensible days of 'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names...' are now well and truly long gone.
Orwellian? It's worse than he could have predicted. Wait till technology really moves on and the thought police really are around the corner. Glad I'm pension age. Pity the young generation. God, what have they got in store for you!
Life, not as we know (knew) it Jim.
Posted on another thread, feel it fits in here as well:
I was taught "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." When did we become such pussies that we need the police to protect us from hurtful words?
Freedom of speech should be universal, it's the corner stone of a free society.
It's a very short road from insults are offensive and criminal to criticising the government is offensive and criminal...
I was taught "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." When did we become such pussies that we need the police to protect us from hurtful words?
Freedom of speech should be universal, it's the corner stone of a free society.
It's a very short road from insults are offensive and criminal to criticising the government is offensive and criminal...
Didn't the Green lobby want to make it a crime to deny Climate Change?
Can't find the article but I did find this, for fk sake;
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/28703
Can't find the article but I did find this, for f
k sake;http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/28703
Oakey said:
Didn't the Green lobby want to make it a crime to deny Climate Change?
Can't find the article but I did find this, for fk sake;
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/28703
Talk about pointless and misguided petitions. I think what they really want to ban is denying MMGW. We all know the climate is changing, we just don't all believe the man made bCan't find the article but I did find this, for f
k sake;http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/28703
ks. Anyway, that's O/TOakey said:
Didn't the Green lobby want to make it a crime to deny Climate Change?
Can't find the article but I did find this, for fk sake;
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/28703
Hi Alex Can't find the article but I did find this, for f
k sake;http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/28703
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