Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:23 pm  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-la ... e-19869710 This guy seems to be a complete muppet, and what he said may have been distasteful. But 12 weeks in jail for a few posts on Facebook?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-la ... e-19869710 This guy seems to be a complete muppet, and what he said may have been distasteful. But 12 weeks in jail for a few posts on Facebook?

[Wanderer]

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:29 pm  

I guess the Fabrice Muamba stuff was just 'distasteful' too.

No sympathy with these idiots.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:36 pm  

At what point does something become 'grossly offensive'? When does Facebook cease being something between friends and start being a 'public communications network'? If someone posts something that is only visible to their friends list, is this still classed as a public communication? How does this differ from Twitter? Oh, and remember this for another example of ridiculous application of the criminal law: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19009344 The irony is that, in another thread on this board, people are making fun of a disabled person. Yet this is deemed ok? You can give someone a good beating round town, and avoid jail. Post something on Facebook and get locked up. There is something not quite right about that, isn't there? If we start jailing people for causing offence, where do we stop?

At what point does something become 'grossly offensive'? When does Facebook cease being something between friends and start being a 'public communications network'? If someone posts something that is only visible to their friends list, is this still classed as a public communication? How does this differ from Twitter? Oh, and remember this for another example of ridiculous application of the criminal law: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19009344 The irony is that, in another thread on this board, people are making fun of a disabled person. Yet this is deemed ok? You can give someone a good beating round town, and avoid jail. Post something on Facebook and get locked up. There is something not quite right about that, isn't there? If we start jailing people for causing offence, where do we stop?

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:57 pm  

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.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:01 pm  

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

But there isn't. It is entirely subjective from person to person. And that is what the problem is.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:12 pm  

Not that I want to condone any insensitive comments made about any tragic event. But being sentenced for ANY views aired on social media is disturbingly getting close to being tried for a thought crime.

How many times do we think before we speak on the internet, on a forum, etc? There lacks a barrier or a filter that sometimes we have in other 'real' social contexts. This questioning barrier of is this thought of mine appropriate to air in relation to those that will hear it doesn't seem so immediate on the internet.

Besides, what's the difference between telling a mate a joke about a tragic event in a pub, or on an network that is (in theory) a collection of your friends? Not to dwell upon this, but joking about tragedies, other people's gross misfortunes, even terrorists attacks is something that a minority get a kick out of. Is it in poor taste? Absolutely. But is it a criminal offense? If so, I hope the police are keeping a keen eye on Frankie Boyle's twitter account.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:25 pm  

Is it really necessary to jail someone for it? I'd have thought a stern word from the police would be sufficient. As mentioned you can avoid jail for fighting on a Friday night, or putting people's lives at risk by driving dangerously.
Seems extreme to me.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:54 pm  

Him wrote:

Is it really necessary to jail someone for it? I'd have thought a stern word from the police would be sufficient. As mentioned you can avoid jail for fighting on a Friday night, or putting people's lives at risk by driving dangerously.
Seems extreme to me.

It is completely extreme.

He should have got legal aid, gone not guilty, and done a human rights special on freedom of expression. All the way to the Supreme Court. At public expense, of course.

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:15 pm  

The Video Ref wrote:

The irony is that, in another thread on this board, people are making fun of a disabled person. Yet this is deemed ok?

Paul Wood ?

Re: Another jailed for causing 'offence' : Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:54 pm  

Poor taste? Yes!

Worthy of a prison term? No!