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Over-reaction to fifteen y/o's admittedly nauseating comments

135

Comments

  • #62
    rockbeast
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,548 ✭✭✭rockbeast


    efb wrote: »
    Millions...

    Hyperbole much?

    Perhaps I should understate it for you then.

    efb Vs one spotty 15 year old.

    My money's on the kid


  • #63
    efb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 35,514 ✭✭✭✭efb


    rockbeast wrote: »
    Perhaps I should understate it for you then.

    efb Vs one spotty 15 year old.

    My money's on the kid

    Good. I'll clean up like I did at eurovision


  • #64
    PauloMN
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional North East Moderators Posts: 10,890 Mod ✭✭✭✭PauloMN


    Very idiotic thing to do. The young lad has apologised though, and I think he'll always have to live with the consequences of that poor decision. I'd say his close family are truly embarrassed by the whole thing.

    I've said it before though, footballers and Twitter do not mix - I'd insist on players not using Twitter full stop personally. It's too easy for people in the public eye to say something stupid/offensive and immediately regret it.

    http://www.u.tv/News/Football-player-sorry-for-Oscar-tweet/4c457471-500b-4ab4-9e4c-1301cd46e71d

    I think the club have done the right thing by suspending him - it shows that what he did was completely unacceptable. Based on the fact that he has made a swift and seemingly genuine apology, I don't think the club should sack him at this point, but they should make it clear that any further incidents of that nature would mean instant dismissal.

    As for the police, if there's laws about grossly offensive stuff being posted on social media etc., then they need to do their investigations.


  • #65
    anncoates
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,925 ✭✭✭✭anncoates


    Mr Pseudonym wrote: »
    I was also wondering about that. Does anyone know if "Under Smiler's bed" is some sectarian allusion?

    I hazard a guess that smiler is somebody's nickname, probably a friend.


  • #66
    anncoates
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,925 ✭✭✭✭anncoates


    Frank Lee Midere wrote: »
    Yeah. Also people posting on the Internet giving out about other people on the Internet.

    Where have you written this? Or are you exempt from your profundity by numbers analysis?


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  • #67
    caustic 1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,314 ✭✭✭caustic 1


    I have teens and they come out with some offensive shi t thinking it's funny. When told it's unacceptable sometimes they accept this other times they say I'm over reacting saying it's only a bit of fun. Now I know for a fact they would never ever say something like this. However I know teens say stuff for friends trying to be bigger and better and more outrageous every time. We have all done it. Granted perhaps nothing like this but proof that there are those that would. I know they will regret their actions but I don't see what a witch hunt for their scalps will achieve. Unfortunately social media nowadays they can't take it back. It's recorded whereas when I was growing up if it was said it as time went on it became hearsay.


  • #68
    hatrickpatrick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,798 ✭✭✭✭hatrickpatrick


    As a believer in free speech, I defend his right to make such comments, but equally defend others' right to condemn him for it. If you can't take it you shouldn't dish it out, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen, etc.
    No sympathy for him whatsoever. Trolls who aren't prepared to face the backlash for their trolling are pathetic.


  • #69
    Vito Corleone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,753 ✭✭✭Vito Corleone


    The witch hunt from grown adults is far worse than the actions of the two children in my opinion.


  • #70
    Beano
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,357 ✭✭✭Beano


    Diego Simeone wrote: »
    I pretty much agree, I'm generally against police involved in these sorts of things.

    However, the tweeters were minors and their views may as a result of ignorance and negative influences. Some sort of educational programme may not be a terrible thing.

    some sort of reeducation? In a camp perhaps?


  • #71
    Jester252
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,533 ✭✭✭Jester252


    I love twitter. It gives people, who sociality has placed on a pedestal, an uncensored mouth to the world.


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  • #72
    bumper234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,250 ✭✭✭✭bumper234


    hatrickpatrick wrote: »
    As a believer in free speech, I defend his right to make such comments, but equally defend others' right to condemn him for it. If you can't take it you shouldn't dish it out, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen, etc.
    No sympathy for him whatsoever. Trolls who aren't prepared to face the backlash for their trolling are pathetic.

    God forbid someone should say something nasty about that terrorist Gerry Adams though:rolleyes:


  • #73
    vanman99
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 183 ✭✭vanman99


    there's thinking stuff, there's saying stuff and then there's putting stuff on t'internet. You can say and think what you want (unless you live in North Korea). But you cannot put those thoughts out into the world with out taking responsibility for your own actions. Silly little boys they may well be, and it may be deemed an over reaction, but bigotry is bigotry, and common decency is common decency, the message should be this is not acceptable. Nasty pieces of work these two that they somehow think these are acceptable comments to make.


  • #74
    kingchess
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 795 ✭✭✭kingchess


    bumper234 wrote: »
    God forbid someone should say something nasty about that terrorist Gerry Adams though:rolleyes:
    I presume that gerry can defend himself-a dead child can not.


  • #75
    SpaceTime
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,085 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    Best reaction is Twitter closing their accounts and maybe blocking their IP (very doable on mobile in particular).

    While these incidents are petty vile, I think the UK police are wasting a lot of time and energy on pursuing them.

    Social media providers need to be a bit more proactive about banning users though.
    If you did it on Boards you wouldn't last long !!


  • #76
    ryan101
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,671 ✭✭✭ryan101


    hatrickpatrick wrote: »
    As a believer in free speech, I defend his right to make such comments, but equally defend others' right to condemn him for it. If you can't take it you shouldn't dish it out, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen, etc.
    No sympathy for him whatsoever. Trolls who aren't prepared to face the backlash for their trolling are pathetic.

    A far more sensible approach is to treat other people in your community with a bit of respect and don't make such nasty comments about other people in the first place. Trolls that are prepared to face backlash, or don't care, are equally pathetic.


  • #77
    bumper234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,250 ✭✭✭✭bumper234


    kingchess wrote: »
    I presume that gerry can defend himself-a dead child can not.

    I fully agree and as someone who donated money to the Oscar Knox appeal and followed his story i'm personally sickened by the comments made by these idiots.


  • #78
    Cienciano
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,208 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    Vito Corleone wrote: »
    The witch hunt from grown adults is far worse than the actions of the two children in my opinion.
    Exactly, just in case you haven't heard the comments all the national newspapers will tell you what happened. If the comments were confined to twitter and the lads were dealt with it would be all over. But the papers will give it maximum coverage and drag the story out. Probably the last thing the family of Oscar Knox are delighted


  • #79
    wazky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,516 ✭✭✭wazky


    bumper234 wrote: »
    God forbid someone should say something nasty about that terrorist Gerry Adams though:rolleyes:

    You really can't help yourself, can you?

    Your like a broken record.


  • #80
    bumper234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,250 ✭✭✭✭bumper234


    wazky wrote: »
    You really can't help yourself, can you?

    Your like a broken record.

    What? he said he
    hatrickpatrick wrote: »
    As a believer in free speech, I defend his right to make such comments, but equally defend others' right to condemn him for it. If you can't take it you shouldn't dish it out, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen, etc.
    No sympathy for him whatsoever. Trolls who aren't prepared to face the backlash for their trolling are pathetic.

    I simply mentioned that it's only in certain circumstances that he feels this way. If you don't like my comments you know what to do.


  • #81
    wazky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,516 ✭✭✭wazky


    bumper234 wrote: »
    What? he said he



    I simply mentioned that it's only in certain circumstances that he feels this way. If you don't like my comments you know what to do.

    If it wasn't so tiresome it would actually be funny seeing you trying to force your nonsense agenda in nearly every thread.


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  • #82
    bumper234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,250 ✭✭✭✭bumper234


    wazky wrote: »
    If it wasn't so tiresome it would actually be funny seeing you trying to force your nonsense agenda in nearly every thread.

    What imaginary agenda would this be oh wise and powerful oz?


  • #83
    monflat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭monflat


    bumper234 wrote: »
    I fully agree and as someone who donated money to the Oscar Knox appeal and followed his story i'm personally sickened by the comments made by these idiots.




    A little chap 5 yrs old who had cancer for 2&1/2 yrs a poor littte innocent child.

    His parents obviously knew they were dealth a sentence with his diagnosis.

    However teenagers dont "think" and obviously didnt think before he tweeted this.
    Its good that an example is been made of this.
    Other thoughless individuals may think twice before takin to the social media to make stupid comments.

    God help poor oscars parents and family. They dont need this extra mess.


  • #84
    wazky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,516 ✭✭✭wazky


    bumper234 wrote: »
    What imaginary agenda would this be oh wise and powerful oz?

    Does it take much effort to be that angry all the time?


  • #85
    bumper234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,250 ✭✭✭✭bumper234


    wazky wrote: »
    Does it take much effort to be that angry all the time?

    What makes you think i am angry?

    Anyway off topic so as i said already if you don't like my comments you know what to do. :cool:


  • #86
    wazky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,516 ✭✭✭wazky


    bumper234 wrote: »
    What makes you think i am angry?

    Well your either angry or you have an unhealthy fixation with Jurry Adams.


  • #87
    Mr Pseudonym
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,237 ✭✭✭Mr Pseudonym


    djerk wrote: »
    Tbh ive never ever heard anyone speak with such a lack of any kind of moral sensibility. fair enough, weve all done and said stupid things we didnt mean when we were teenagers.. but dancing on a 5yrs old grave, at least for most of us, wasnt one of them.

    Really? Never?

    Were they "dancing on his grave", though? To them, it's likely that the plight of Oscar and his family was as distant to them as that of the kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria; would this have got the same coverage had they made similarly crass comments about them?

    anncoates wrote: »
    I hazard a guess that smiler is somebody's nickname, probably a friend.

    I had wondered the same.

    hatrickpatrick wrote: »
    As a believer in free speech, I defend his right to make such comments, but equally defend others' right to condemn him for it. If you can't take it you shouldn't dish it out, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen, etc.
    No sympathy for him whatsoever. Trolls who aren't prepared to face the backlash for their trolling are pathetic.

    Well, Free Speech must come with limitations - no right to "incite hatred", for instance. The response, IMO, has been much disproportionate from what they "dished out".

    Cienciano wrote: »
    If the comments were confined to twitter and the lads were dealt with it would be all over. But the papers will give it maximum coverage and drag the story out. Probably the last thing the family of Oscar Knox are delighted

    I entirely agree that that would be the case. But, do we really want newspapers to self-censor in that way? In this instance, it was fellow Twitter users who brought the Tweets to wider attention; had they merely reported them, almost all would be oblivious (including, most likely, the Knox family).


  • #88
    bumper234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,250 ✭✭✭✭bumper234


    wazky wrote: »
    Well your either angry or you have an unhealthy fixation with Jurry Adams.

    :rolleyes:


  • #89
    Legs.Eleven
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,987 ✭✭✭Legs.Eleven


    Mr Pseudonym wrote: »
    I agree wholeheartedly. But I'm uncomfortable that, more than their actions, the two tweeters, themselves, have been vilified.

    I see what you're saying here. This could hang over them for years on end. I do agree they should've been thrown out of the club but with no police involvement. I think their comments were disgusting and inexcusable but their naivety is what lead them to post them on Twitter.

    I don't think young people understand the repercussions of what they say and do online yet. Tbh it's only something I copped onto in the last number of years myself.


  • #90
    anncoates
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,925 ✭✭✭✭anncoates


    It's not really the emotive side of it vis a vis the child (although that's certainly bad enough) or that kids don't say stupid things online, it's that it's a blatantly sectarian comment from somebody involved with an institution within the NI community and they're perfectly right to punish him for it.

    Northern Ireland has serious issues with generational sectarianism. How does anybody here know for certain that this really is spotty troll stuff or nascent tendencies of a darker hue? If your own child says something callous and horrible, do you let them off with it because they're kids? No. You punish them while keeping things in context.

    So by all means, don't legally prosecute or lynch the kids in this case, but for sure the club should come down on him with both feet and he should be made aware of the repercussions of his actions.

    Plus we've all seen the internet kangaroo court in action before but maybe this simply has elements of spontaneous mass offence at what was said: no bad thing in the North really.


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  • #91
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 25,909 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    This rubbish of trying to make taking offence into something for the police to deal with can lead to stuff like this: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/12/police-ask-blogger-remove-legitimate-tweet-ukip


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