Man arrested for trolling on Facebook
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What? This is a British case with a British defendant, ingoring the fact that (as it has been pointed out) this is about harassment not free speech how did the founding fathers enter the conversation?UmbrellaAssassin said:
I'm pro free-speech, but not if the speech's only intent is to harass and cause harm. Fuck this little prick; I hope he gets his ass kicked and violated repeatedly.
There's a big problem with this sort of shit; a whole generation is growing up thinking they can say or do whatever mean-ass thing they want and not face any sort of consequences.
There's a big problem with this sort of shit; a whole generation is growing up thinking they can say or do whatever mean-ass thing they want and not face any sort of consequences.
I agree with freedom of speech, but that is also slander especially the "whore" thing. Here in America thats at least 6 months. But as a person, even with Asperger?s he should be held responsible. And I think, based on what he said and how many times he did it, the punishment should be more severe.
Admittedly, it does piss me off when people use Asperger's to justify everything they do. I have it, but I know not to take the piss out of dead teenagers.
Doesn't look like you read the article.joemegson94 said:
1) This is Britain. Not the United States. Britain has a different set of laws regarding freedom of speech, and they are not quite as tolerant of abusive behavior. Such as: "Trolling is an offence under the Malicious Communications Act, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison."
2) Even in the US, there's a point where harassment rises to criminal levels. This guy was an alcoholic who routinely trolled childrens' tribute sites for kicks --- not commentary. It's the same as if I stand on the public sidewalk outside your house and scream epithets at you: at that point I'm not engaged in "free speech", I'm engaged in "public disturbance".
"You see I believe in freedom. Not many people do, although they will of course protest otherwise. And no practical definition of freedom would be complete without the freedom to take the consequences. Indeed, it is the freedom upon which all others are based."
--Terry Pratchett, Going Postal
There it is. You don't like it? That's fine. You're free to be wrong.
--Terry Pratchett, Going Postal
There it is. You don't like it? That's fine. You're free to be wrong.
What this troll did was sick and evil. There's no excusing it. He deserves some form of punishment, but 18 weeks in jail seems a little bit extreme - even if he had already been warned by the courts.
I believe that the punishment should fit the crime. No, I'm not talking about some Luciferesque ironic torture (although that would be funny "You trolled a grieving family on the internet, so I'm going to spend the next two years trolling every personal tragedy that you ever suffer,"). But he should get the five year ban from the internet plus a community service order or something. Not a five year internet ban plus five months in prison (it is five months ain't it? I'm bad at maths). This just seems like overkill and it isn't going to make this situation better in the long run. He won't learn a lesson from this, he'll realise that what he did was wrong, have his day in court and then grow even more bitter and isolated after being incarcerated for so long.
What do people really think he's going to do when he gets out? Go seek solace from the family and friends that he doesn't have? No, he'll get right back to trolling, only this time he'll be more careful not to get caught.
I watched a sky news report on this and I have to say that the grieving family's in question aren't exactly coming across like saints here either. True, they didn't choose to get harrassed, but they did choose to release pre-prepared speeches to the media outside the court house. Evading the reporters in this situation would be about as easy as setting your 'RIP' page to friends only.
Okay, I'm assuming a lot and I don't want to listen to the cynic in me. But a few of these family's seem to be enjoying the attention a bit too much.
I probably am just being a cynical douche hat though. I view everybody grieving in the media as some kind of McCanesque grab for attention. Even the genuine ones.
I has link for you, judge for self:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubSAmNc6--s
I will say that this thread has been a good read mostly for Bloatedguppy's posts. Take a bow, sir. You've managed to entertain and inform at the same time. Which is more than I can say for the BBC.
I believe that the punishment should fit the crime. No, I'm not talking about some Luciferesque ironic torture (although that would be funny "You trolled a grieving family on the internet, so I'm going to spend the next two years trolling every personal tragedy that you ever suffer,"). But he should get the five year ban from the internet plus a community service order or something. Not a five year internet ban plus five months in prison (it is five months ain't it? I'm bad at maths). This just seems like overkill and it isn't going to make this situation better in the long run. He won't learn a lesson from this, he'll realise that what he did was wrong, have his day in court and then grow even more bitter and isolated after being incarcerated for so long.
What do people really think he's going to do when he gets out? Go seek solace from the family and friends that he doesn't have? No, he'll get right back to trolling, only this time he'll be more careful not to get caught.
I watched a sky news report on this and I have to say that the grieving family's in question aren't exactly coming across like saints here either. True, they didn't choose to get harrassed, but they did choose to release pre-prepared speeches to the media outside the court house. Evading the reporters in this situation would be about as easy as setting your 'RIP' page to friends only.
Okay, I'm assuming a lot and I don't want to listen to the cynic in me. But a few of these family's seem to be enjoying the attention a bit too much.
I probably am just being a cynical douche hat though. I view everybody grieving in the media as some kind of McCanesque grab for attention. Even the genuine ones.
I has link for you, judge for self:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubSAmNc6--s
I will say that this thread has been a good read mostly for Bloatedguppy's posts. Take a bow, sir. You've managed to entertain and inform at the same time. Which is more than I can say for the BBC.
I knew there'd be the typical "Baww freedom of speech" tools. This wasn't trolling. Trolling is just being a jackass on a forum to get a rise from someone, this guy specifically targeted a handful of families and bombarded them with sick taunts, gruesome images of their dead children and vandalised memorials websites over the course of many YEARS, he had his warning and he decided to ramp it up a notch, now he's been slapped down and thank fuck for that. Shit like that is straight up harassment, slander and abuse.
For once I can actually say I'm glad I'm in the UK where this bullshit isn't tolerated.
For once I can actually say I'm glad I'm in the UK where this bullshit isn't tolerated.
Bullshit! His sentence should have been much harder.
Free speech sure but that is intentional bullying and causing unrest/duress (not sure which is more accurate.
I can understand the delicate side to it, it's one of those situations where the law just isn't the right system to handle it. 'Natural Justice' she be used to teach that fuck a lesson.
If he was within striking distance right now he'd be trying to cram his guts back down his nose after I kicked them out of him.
Maybe I'm just sensitive... maybe I can see how much pain is caused the victims... either way that type of thing is socially unacceptable.
I wish I had his address... and lived in the same country as him. Because in my country "this shit wouldn'ta gone down so eas'ly".
Free speech sure but that is intentional bullying and causing unrest/duress (not sure which is more accurate.
I can understand the delicate side to it, it's one of those situations where the law just isn't the right system to handle it. 'Natural Justice' she be used to teach that fuck a lesson.
If he was within striking distance right now he'd be trying to cram his guts back down his nose after I kicked them out of him.
Maybe I'm just sensitive... maybe I can see how much pain is caused the victims... either way that type of thing is socially unacceptable.
I wish I had his address... and lived in the same country as him. Because in my country "this shit wouldn'ta gone down so eas'ly".
Ah, okay then. Title and quick scroll through didn't reveal that kind of detail. Yeah, I guess that if you're given official warnings there is no reason to not put him in jail... Oh well. Still a bit of an overreaction if I'm honest.BloatedGuppy said:
omfg... wha...? Mr. Duffy is giving those of us with Asperger Syndrome a very, very bad name.
This, for me, is very upsetting.
This, for me, is very upsetting.