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12 weeks in Jail for offensive web posts about poor April Jones

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    #62
    Bacchus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,699 ✭✭✭Bacchus


    Qualitymark wrote: »
    There are jokes that are an incitement to hatred and contempt, though.

    Are they? I haven't seen the 'joke' but I can't imagine how a sex/child joke would incite hatred or contempt. It's just a tasteless joke from a moron.


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    #63
    sunflower27
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,822 ✭✭✭sunflower27


    El Weirdo wrote: »

    I don't particularly find knock-knock jokes funny, should I call plod if someone posts one on my Facebook page?

    Of course you can, but it is hardly going to be a serious issue is it now. :rolleyes:


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    #64
    HeyThereDeliah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 967 ✭✭✭HeyThereDeliah


    dave1982 wrote: »
    Shocked to see the Mods of Boards.ie coming out to defend this clown.

    If anyone was to stay impartial I'd think it would be ye.

    A young girls has been abducted and jokes are being made about a sexual nature of a 5 year old and ye think its OK?

    I'm glad this asshole paid a price excessive but tough tittie for him.

    About time people know hiding behind your keyboard don't work.

    You are missing the point completely no one agrees with the joke but sending someone to prison for trying to be funny is OTT, what next someone on boards gets arrested for posting something offensive.
    Lets close down the Internet because if this is the way it's going we are all in trouble.
    As for the mods not being impartial why would they need to be everyone is entitled to their opinion.


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    #65
    Abi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,058 ✭✭✭✭Abi


    HeyThereDeliah wrote: »

    You are missing the point completely no one agrees with the joke but sending someone to prison for trying to be funny is OTT, what next someone on boards gets arrested for posting something offensive.
    Lets close down the Internet because if this is the way it's going we are all in trouble.
    As for the mods not being impartial why would they need to be everyone is entitled to their opinion.
    Now thats OTT.

    Boards itself has it's own designated forum for off colour humour for a reason, it's content may offend others. I agree sending him away was a bit heavy handed, but it seems to me he's being made an example of. If it makes fücking clowns like him think again, so be it.


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    #66
    Einhard
    Registered Users Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭Einhard


    So far so utterly predictable...

    The mob get all violently riled up about a violent crime directed at a young girl and in their moral outrage start demanding that the death penalty be re-introduced, threaten death and physical violence on those who make jokes about the incident, and outline exactly how they would torture the main suspect tin the disappearance to death...and all out of their boundless compassion for little April. :rolleyes:*








    (* I really hate using these guys, but sometimes the utter brainless stupidity of such a large part of the population becomes so apparent that its the best way to sum up one's feelings
    ** I'm talking about the wider online reaction, not that on this thread))


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    #67
    Pompey Magnus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭Pompey Magnus


    dave1982 wrote: »
    Shocked to see the Mods of Boards.ie coming out to defend this clown.

    If anyone was to stay impartial I'd think it would be ye.

    A young girls has been abducted and jokes are being made about a sexual nature of a 5 year old and ye think its OK?

    I'm glad this asshole paid a price excessive but tough tittie for him.

    About time people know hiding behind your keyboard don't work.

    Imagine a parallel universe where someone on Boards made a post saying Mark Bridger should be tortured by police to get information even though he had not been found guilty of any crime.

    Now imagine that poster got a knock on the door the next day from the Police and found himself arrested and charged for encouraging human rights abuse.

    Pretty retarded Universe, yeah? Well it would be still less retarded than this one as calling for torture of a member of public should be more worthy of arrest than a sick joke.


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    #68
    The Big Red Button
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,390 ✭✭✭The Big Red Button


    Abi wrote:
    I agree sending him away was a bit heavy handed, but it seems to me he's being made an example of. If it makes fücking clowns like him think again, so be it.

    I guess I'm just opposed to the idea of using a case like this to make an "example" for others.

    It's all well and good when it's some random guy you'll never meet. What if it was your boyfriend, brother, friend, that was brought to court, sent to jail for three months, criminal record for life? Employment prospects ruined, subject to god knows what kind of abuse from the public when they get out ...

    Can you honestly say that no one close to you has ever made a distasteful offensive joke? (Either on Facebook or elsewhere.) Would you honestly be OK with the idea of them being jailed for it?


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    #69
    Bacchus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,699 ✭✭✭Bacchus


    Abi wrote: »
    I agree sending him away was a bit heavy handed, but it seems to me he's being made an example of. If it makes fücking clowns like him think again, so be it.


    Darn tootin'! Let that be a lesson to others. Conform! or be punished!

    :rolleyes:


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    #70
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    I think it was the sexually explicit 'jokes' rather than the 'hide and seek' jokes that got him banned.

    A line exists. He crossed it.


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    #71
    HeyThereDeliah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 967 ✭✭✭HeyThereDeliah


    efb wrote: »
    I think it was the sexually explicit 'jokes' rather than the 'hide and seek' jokes that got him banned.

    A line exists. He crossed it.

    I agree he crossed the line with the joke considering the nature of the crime but the punishment is OTT.
    He was made an example of to please the public and make the police look good.


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    #72
    lukesmom
    Registered Users Posts: 4,400 ✭✭✭lukesmom


    I think it would have been better if he had been spoken to by police and locking him up was way over the top. he's obviously an idiot but I'd worry about the abuse he may get from the hate mob public. Collective insanity.


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    #73
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    HeyThereDeliah wrote: »
    I agree he crossed the line with the joke considering the nature of the crime but the punishment is OTT.
    He was made an example of to please the public and make the police look good.

    In your opinion. What he published was an offence- he was punished accordingly


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    #74
    HeyThereDeliah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 967 ✭✭✭HeyThereDeliah


    efb wrote: »
    In your opinion. What he published was an offence- he was punished accordingly

    It is my opinion yes.

    What about all the jokes about fat people, gay people maddie jokes etc are all these the same crime ?
    Should anyone who makes a poor joke be punished ?


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    #75
    Abi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,058 ✭✭✭✭Abi


    chatterpillar wrote: »

    Can you honestly say that no one close to you has ever made a distasteful offensive joke? (Either on Facebook or elsewhere.)
    I can honestly say I'm stuck for an example from anyone I know tbh. If I made a crack like that in RL, I doubt anyone would talk to me. Hiding behind a screen and being a sick bell end has to have its repercussions.

    Would you honestly be OK with the idea of them being jailed for it?
    I said by my own admission I felt it was heavy handed. I believe he should have been made an example of, just not with such severity.


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    #76
    El Horseboxo
    Registered Users Posts: 5,339 ✭✭✭El Horseboxo


    As sick and offensive as the joke may have been it was just that though. A joke. An idiotic attempt of being funny with a sick and tasteless joke. It is very worrying if jailing people for that is now on the table. I wonder what would happen if there was a mass posting of similar jokes in protest on Facebook. As disturbing as that sounds it could highlight how ridiculous and dangerous it is to set a precedent of arresting and jailing people over jokes of a sick nature.


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    #77
    StephenHendry
    Registered Users Posts: 1,146 ✭✭✭StephenHendry


    El Horseboxo wrote: »
    As sick and offensive as the joke may have been it was just that though. A joke. An idiotic attempt of being funny with a sick and tasteless joke. It is very worrying if jailing people for that is now on the table. I wonder what would happen if there was a mass posting of similar jokes in protest on Facebook. As disturbing as that sounds it could highlight how ridiculous and dangerous it is to set a precedent of arresting and jailing people over jokes of a sick nature.

    i agree with you, there was a guy who posted some really sick stuff about tom daleys (gb olympic diver) dad who passed away from cancer and he got cautioned by the police over it, i don't think posting offensive stuff on facebook warrants a jail sentence, no matter how short but a word from the police to kop on should suffice imo


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    #78
    El Weirdo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,647 ✭✭✭✭El Weirdo


    sunflower27 wrote: »
    Of course you can, but it is hardly going to be a serious issue is it now. :rolleyes:
    So how is this case any different?


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    #79
    TeddyTedson
    Registered Users Posts: 10,758 ✭✭✭✭TeddyTedson


    El Weirdo summed it up perfectly for me. Sick and tasteless- yes, worthy of jailtime- absolutely not!

    I think people will come to this conclusion if they step back and look at it without letting their emotions run away with themselves.


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    #80
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    I haven't - there was nothing sexually explicit about the tweets on Ton Daley's dad- there wasn't.

    People need to understand they don't have a carte blanche to write whatever they want on the Internet.


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    #81
    Melion
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 10,259 ✭✭✭✭Melion


    Jesus what will happen to sites like sickipedia if people are getting jailed for jokes?


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    #82
    Tomk1
    Registered Users Posts: 776 ✭✭✭Tomk1


    El Weirdo wrote: »
    Why? What fucking business is it of the Police that he makes bad jokes?

    Surely the very subject of this thread is an example of some of the more pressing matters they should be attending to.
    I think it's more to do with protecting the angry royaled up mob aka normal people emotional upset over the missing/dead? girl, seeking an outlet for their anger, in the heat of the moment actions, after which they would regret, & another incident is the last thing the police would need at this time diverting from the investigation. (sky-reality-news would luv-it)
    HeyThereDeliah wrote: »
    I agree he crossed the line with the joke considering the nature of the crime but the punishment is OTT.
    He was made an example of to please the public and make the police look good.

    A jail term is way OTT, over reactionay, a night in the cell and caution with a Facebook retraction/apolpgy, but a criminal record for a silly distasteful joke.
    -
    I realise at times having a humour element to a dreadfull event is the only way of excepting to hear/converse about it, as you don't want to be dragged down by full facts. ie telling a joke about a priest in a bar is acceptable maybe frowned upon but with a smile, bringing up the straight subject of clerical abuse in a bar is a conversation stopper.


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    #83
    Einhard
    Registered Users Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭Einhard


    http://news.sky.com/story/994920/april-jones-man-jailed-for-offensive-web-posts

    A man has been jailed for 12 weeks for making grossly offensive
    comments on his Facebook page about missing youngster April Jones.





    Matthew Woods, 19, from Chorley, Lancashire, made a number of derogatory
    posts about April and missing Madeline McCann after getting the idea from
    Sickipedia - a website that "trades in sick jokes".





    He also wrote comments of a sexually explicit nature about the five-year-old,
    who went missing last week from near her home in Machynlleth, mid Wales.





    Chorley Magistrates' Court heard members of the public were so upset about
    his postings that they reported them to the police.





    A "vigilante mob" of around 50 people later descended upon his home
    address in Eaves Lane and the defendant was arrested on Saturday night at a
    separate address for his own safety.

    We condemn fanatical Muslims for reacting in a violent manner when they hear something they don't like, yet when someone posts an offensive joke on his own Facebook page, a violent mob descend on his house to cause him harm. And then, rather than deal with the people who sought to harm him, we imprison him for the crime of making comments that cause us offence. Muslim extremists would admire those principles alright...


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    #84
    Einhard
    Registered Users Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭Einhard


    efb wrote: »
    People need to understand they don't have a carte blanche to write whatever they want on the Internet.

    We don't? Why not? Because it might hurt your feelings?


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    #85
    hardCopy
    Registered Users Posts: 5,969 ✭✭✭hardCopy


    HeyThereDeliah wrote: »
    dave1982 wrote: »
    Good

    I have no idea what the joke was and don't agree with it but neither do I agree with taking people to court over posts on Internet sites.
    I think a talking to from the police would be enough.

    It shouldn't even take up police time.

    It's never too soon for jokes.


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    #86
    lukesmom
    Registered Users Posts: 4,400 ✭✭✭lukesmom


    hardCopy wrote: »
    HeyThereDeliah wrote: »
    dave1982 wrote: »
    Good

    I have no idea what the joke was and don't agree with it but neither do I agree with taking people to court over posts on Internet sites.
    I think a talking to from the police would be enough.

    It shouldn't even take up police time.

    It's never too soon for jokes.

    Nice

    And you would mind if your little girl was missing and some twat decides to post a highly offensive sexually explicit 'joke' about her? Come off it.


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    #87
    _feedback_
    Registered Users Posts: 4,269 ✭✭✭_feedback_


    What would you think about somebody posting sexually explicit or violent things that they would like to do to the suspect? Should they be locked up?


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    #88
    eviltwin
    Registered Users Posts: 17,495 ✭✭✭✭eviltwin


    I think people get very precious about certain subjects. I bet most of us here have in our time laughed at a joke that was in bad taste. Its not like he posted the joke on the main Find April FB page, it was his own page and presumably no one connected to April would have ever known about it only for someone reporting him. Making a big deal of it just makes it worse.


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    #89
    Bacchus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,699 ✭✭✭Bacchus


    lukesmom wrote: »
    Nice

    And you would mind if your little girl was missing and some twat decides to post a highly offensive sexually explicit 'joke' about her? Come off it.

    Of course he'd mind (unless he really is evil...). The point he is making (I think) is that there are people who are going to make insensitive jokes and timing doesn't even come into for them. Having the police deal with such "crimes" (cause the jail sentence implies bad jokes are crime now) is a waste of their time. Also, the jail sentence is way OTT and only serves to justify the mob.


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    #90
    Happyman42
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,066 ✭✭✭✭Happyman42


    Crazy stuff.
    Billy Connolly made a joke about the guy beheaded in Iraq and got rebuked for it, but stayed free from prison and a criminal record. Jimmy Carr frequently flirts with the boundaries of taste yet remains free. But a young lad, who maybe should have known better, is in jail???
    Scary stuff, the futile desire to control the internet is bringing the fascists out of the woodwork.


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    #91
    Shinaynay
    Registered Users Posts: 225 ✭✭Shinaynay


    For me , this has everything to do with the high profile nature of the case- same goes for Tom Daley.
    Off topic, but I remember reading about an Irish Olympian whose phone got nicked and there was about 4 guards assigned to finding it!! For fcuksake!!


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