Man Charged Over Offensive Facebook Post [Britain] - Polidicks

We neither know what he said nor in what means he said it. Yes, the charge is incredibly vague and lets us arrest trolls. However we also recognize that shouting fire in a crowded theater is illegal because it creates a massive disturbance. Had he walked up to the family and said some such a thing in person, he would have been charged with some disorderly conduct or harassment and this wouldn't be an issue. We make it an issue because he posted it to a publicly available (and in some senses forcibly available) forum of discussion. (Be careful not to confuse a forum of discussion in this sense with the general term web forum, like facepunch. Think "a bar" as opposed to "a chat room.")

HAHAHAH GO CHORLEY WOOP WOOP! Yeah you guys should know this is probably normal behavior round here, believe me. [editline]8th October 2012[/editline] oh its exciting when your hometown is in the news

iirc, when some boy made offensive comments about Tom Daley on Twitter nearly everyone was ok with the police's decision to prosecute him

[Quote]Communications Act 2003 §127 - Improper use of public electronic communications network [/Quote] What? Could anyone enlighten me on what the proper use of communications network is?

They decide it arbitrarily on a case by case basis because the law is vague as fuck

Yeah, a guy posting sexually explicit jokes about a missing five year old girl REALLY needs his freedom of speech defending. Fucksake.

[QUOTE=Mr.Fancy_hat;37960530]What? Could anyone enlighten me on what is the proper use of communications network?[/QUOTE] "Like" everything you see. The reason most social networks don't have the "dislike" button anymore. Feelings. Are not to be offended.

[QUOTE=Mr.Fancy_hat;37960530]What? Could anyone enlighten me on what is the proper use of communications network?[/QUOTE] Porn But goddamn, that's so fucking asinine. There's a little thing called "free speech", and it looks like whichever dumbass sued him forgot about it completely.

[QUOTE=Im Crimson;37959163]This is rather unusual but I don't see why people act that surprised; I'm pretty sure that you'd get arrested if you texted somebody something grossly offensive or made threatening phone calls as well. Just because typical internet trolls get away with message of similar qualities anonymously it isn't automatically OK to do it everywhere. EDIT: Alright, those comments seems sort of harmless to be honest, or at least not warranting an arrest. But if they are "jokes" referring to an actual case of child abuse there is definitely cause for concern at least.[/QUOTE] Threatening phone calls are different because that means said person who called you knows your number and potentially where you are. Threatening phone calls are threats to potentially harm someone, what this guy said isn't. Over the internet it's most likely some dumbass trying to scare you.

UK is a nanny state.

[QUOTE=Bastiat;37961076]Yeah, a guy posting sexually explicit jokes about a missing five year old girl REALLY needs his freedom of speech defending. Fucksake.[/QUOTE] You clearly have no idea what free speech means.

[QUOTE=Bastiat;37961076]Yeah, a guy posting sexually explicit jokes about a missing five year old girl REALLY needs his freedom of speech defending. Fucksake.[/QUOTE] We aren't denying that the jokes were tasteless, just that he shouldn't be arrested for making them. It's funny how you're less likely to get in trouble for it if you've said it IRL. Some would be pissed, but not to the point where they would call police officers on you.

[QUOTE=Bastiat;37961076]Yeah, a guy posting sexually explicit jokes about a missing five year old girl REALLY needs his freedom of speech defending. Fucksake.[/QUOTE] I don't think anyone is defending what he said but rather the fact he should be allowed to say it. Defending freedom of speech is not the same as defending what was said.

[QUOTE=zombojoe;37962085]UK is a nanny state.[/QUOTE] Indeed, to advise against such behaviour or posting of such content would be fair enough I guess but using authority for the sake of authority and arresting someone or forcing them to give up fruits of their labour seems a bit too far to be honest. People aren't gonna stop being cunts just because a law is passed.