In a ray of sunshine on the common sense front, [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20033097Frankie Boyle[/url wins case against [iMirror[/i, which erroneously claimed he was a racist after misunderstanding his humour.



I don't like Boyle, personally, but this seems a sensible decision, on the basis of what I've read.

I think he's a big wuss, gives it out but cant take it. Of course he's not rascist, but when has he ever bothered about whether his insults have been accurate?

I'd go a long way with that. As I said, I don't personally like him – or find much of what he does remotely funny.



You can question whether he was right to pursue such a case, but on the other hand, it illustrates how comment (comedy or otherwise) can be misconstrued subjectively – and where would we be if the judgement had gone against him?

I don't disagree with them finding in his favour. But they should have awarded him token damages. I think the defense suggested the price of the newspaper. Or perhaps a voucher for a swimming session at the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre.



Live by the sword...

Personally I like Frankie Boyle. I have never heard him say anything which could be taken as being racist except in an ironic sense when he has been having a go at racists. He would appear to suffer from a similar sort of misinterpretation that Alf Garnett suffered from.

Yes, that's what I said isn't it....

Part of any damages award is punitive, how else are those who tend toward slander to be disuaded?



As it is, [url=http://www.reprieve.org.uk/Frankie Boyle has donated his award to Reprieve[/url

Back to the plot, now we've got an international ref, Klattenburg, being investigated not only by the FA, but also ludicrously by the Met, for alleged 'racialist' language, yet whilst the implication is that he has said a Very Bad Thing, we are not allowed to know what it was.



By trawling the depths of the net the only thing I've seen reported is the term, "Spanish tart". Klattenburg has been charged with nothing so nothing is sub judice. The FA have powers to act, but my question is, and irrespective of whether this ref used that term or not, do we really have the money and the time and resources to prosecute a person for calling another person a "Spanish tart"?



If I go down to my local Nick and report that a bloke at the pub last night called me a "Spanish tart", is he going to get his collar felt? Should he? The courts could soon become rather busy.

FA, you will love [url=http://tompride.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/police-question-disability-activist-about-criminal-posts-on-facebook-update/this little story[/url, which, on the basis of what is known, could be even better than that.

If that's all he said then the whole thing is ridiculous, and I'm suspicious that the allegations just happen to have come from Chelsea.



Also, apparently the complaint to the Met was made by a lawyer who wasn't at the game, didn't watch it on tv and didn't listen to it on the radio. All he knows are the media reports.

I'm not surprised to be honest, I think there are too many police officers who push the boundaries of the law and relish taking on "easy prey".

Not like the old days.



A mate of mine and his missus were well known to the local constabulary for the odd "domestic". One evening the local bobby (affectionately known as Fatty Friar) turned up with a green-as-grass new sidekick, in response to a neighbour's call about a "row next door". The discussion went along these lines:



Fatty Friar: Evening Raymond, is everything OK with you and Janice?



Ray: Yes Mr Friar, just the usual argument, that's all



Fatty Friar: (shouting through the doorway) Janice, is everything OK love?



Janice: Yes Mr Friar, Ray's just being an ar[is[/iehole as usual, nothing to worry about



Young copper: Well I'm coming in to make sure everything's OK



Ray: Step one foot over that threshold and I'll lamp you



Fatty Friar: Janice has said she's OK, we've got other things to do, let's go



Young copper: I'm not botherd about other things, I'm going in



At that, he stepped into the hallway. Ray chinned him and he went ar[is[/ie over tit back into the garden. Faqtty Friar bent down to help his young colleague to his feet, looked at Ray and said: "It's tough but they've got to learn the hard way sometimes, give my love to Janice, g'night"



I'm certainly not condoning domestic violence but Ray & Janice each gave as good as they took, the community bobby knew them well and understood the relationship, the college kid didn't even know the law he was supposed to be upholding.