BS: Facebook troll jailed

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 05:08 PM

I don't have a problem differentiating between 'free speech' and the objections to it. We are free to say whatever (or nearly) but anyone else can object to its content.

Say a little kid punches another. He or she gets punched, perhaps even harder than the first punch. He complains to authority. Authority says, if you don't want to be punched, don't punch.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: akenaton
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 02:39 PM

Sorry that post was directed to the gnome.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: akenaton
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 02:37 PM

Freedom of speech is routinely attacked on this forum by you and your mates. Thankfully the people who operate this site do not share your mindset and most of your worst excesses have been removed.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 02:37 PM

Beg pardon. I think I may have misquoted you.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 02:36 PM

Wikipedia, on Freedom of Speech, by country. It seems rights vary greatly, and I'd think prosecution would be based on a person's country's laws.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 02:35 PM

DtG you say (quote) "the consequences of free speech have been brought to heel."

Without wishing to appear inflammatory, I'd like you to please clarify which particular "consequences of free speech have been brought to heel", in this instance?

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 02:20 PM

Please note. There has been no "Suppression of free speech" here. Free speech was given it's full due. What has happened is that the consequences of free speech have been brought to light. And abuse of free speech has been brought to heel.

Surely there is nothing wrong with that is there? I say once again. With freedom comes great responsibility.

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 01:21 PM

Robert Riley, 42, has been jailed for eight weeks by Swansea's Magistrates Court for remarks on Twitter about Mrs. Maguire, the Korean ferry disaster, and racist remarks about Judaism and Islam.
He is the second person sentenced.

BBC News, Southwest Wales

Let's hope for more!

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 01:00 PM

Off and on, I have been reading Dorothy Sayers translation of Dante's Divine Comedy, and I have found several appropriate tortures suitable for mudcat trolls.

If a judge makes a determination, it can be overturned on appeal. In the end, the judicial process will decide. The courts are the guardians of the Constitution.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 12:37 PM

While no one can condone the ugliness of this young mans remarks, I find the *implications* for 'free speech' of this decision troubling. Who gets to determine what are "reasonable views"? It would seem one judge in this instance. Perhaps other judges might find other views 'unreasonable'? Who gets to decide which views are "reasonable" enough to be publicly expressed?

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: akenaton
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 11:30 AM

Occasionally free expression can have negative consequences, but the alternative, suppression of free speech to protect any sort of political ideology, is a thousand times worse.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 07:40 AM

I agree absolutely, Leeneia, but the point I am trying to highlight is the stance against inappropriate usage of free speech. In this case on the internet. Someone a lot cleverer than me once said that freedom comes with great responsibility. I wish more people would realise that.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 07:33 AM

A boy of 15 stabbed a Spanish teacher aged 61 and killed her. A man of 21 said he was glad it had happened. He gets a short prison sentence. Okay by me.

Here's what I'd like to see. I'd like to see more investigation of the people who encouraged that boy of 15 to attack BEFORE the attack occurred. Possibly there were no such people, but more likely there were.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 07:20 AM

A BSBS thread? Must have missed that one.

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 06:20 AM

Hopefully, Dave, the lesson has been learned, as matters have calmed somewhat of late, partially by the provision of a BSBS thread. The question might be one of the definition of reasonableness, if not tolerance and respect of other peoples' views.
An example of that is the sense that the Irish Tuam child murder situation has arisen because their definition of reasonableness is not ours. Reason alone is not an absolute, we have considered many things reasonable in the past which have since been disproven, from the structure of the universe to the ethics of feudalism. Reason backed by scientific proof, in the form of empirical observation, reproductability, and consistent coherency may be, as long as it remembers that it is not yet a complete science.

Subject: RE: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 05:57 AM

Sorry - Just checked and the link does not seem to work for me. If it does the same for you C&P the link:

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/facebook-troll-jailed-for-insults-over-stabbing-of-leeds-teacher-ann-maguire-1-6654088

D.

Subject: BS: Facebook troll jailed
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jun 14 - 05:54 AM

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/main-topics/general-news/facebook-troll-jailed-for-insults-over-stabbing-of-leeds-teacher-ann-maguire-1-6654088

I particularly like the judges comment, "You're entitled to express reasonable views, as are all of us. What none of us are entitled to do is abuse that freedom."

Some on here would be wise to take heed.

Cheers

DtG