Jail for a racist tweet

[fillet]

llewdebkram said:

fillet said:

llewdebkram said:
Both the UK and USA have freedom of speech, as long as you don't offend anyone and what you say falls within the limits of the powers that be who make the rules.

Wrong.

He was prosectuted for "inciting racial hatred", this is a crime in the UK since a good 5 years or so. Basically gives a remit to prosecute any racist behaviour.

Too right as well.

Racists should be burnt alive and their dead bodies fucked up the arse by every colour and creed living on this planet. If it wasn't for racism millions of people would be alive today who aren't.

There's passive racism which isn't a big deal where ignorant people don't realise their comments are having an overall negative effect and encouraging active rasists to continue doing so. This guy was not doing that, this wasn't some illinformed "joke" referencing a certain race as a certain animal for example (disgusting but not malicious). He was talking like an evil piece of shit and knew full well what he was saying.

I myself was not commenting on whether i think this guy was being racist or not, or indeed whether he should have gone to prison.

My comment was more to do with the gradual erosion of everyones freedom of speech unless an opinion fits in with what is seen as 'normality'.

Sorry yes I realise that, only the "wrong" bit was in response to your comment, not in a smartass "wrong!!!!" tone. Just clarifying. :)

edit - fully agree with you. It's a shame laws like this will be abused as a blanket for prosecuting many the law wasn't even targetted at. I suppose in this case he has been made an example of and to be honest in this particular case looking long term it's kinda a good thing imo. It does make you think though being on the internet and all and getting prosecuted for something you say on it sits quite uneasy with me.

Take internet forums the world over, on another forum today I was asked to put tartar sauce up my arse and fuck a fish (!!!!) all for the reason of disagreeing with someone. This would never happen in real life and that person would never act as such in real life. Which comes to the point of should someone be judged on their actions on the internet in the same was as real life, or should we learn that our actions have consequences?

I suppose with the oncoming threat of world terrorism maybe we do need harsh laws to govern the internet. It doesn't really invade ones free speech like recent draconian piracy legislation does and maybe a sharp warning to deter people from being pricks could be a great thing.

...Might make internet forums become almost like talking in real life and promote intellectual well thought out discussion...

Or i could be dreaming and living in a deluded bubble.