Freedom of speech issues?

[rory_20_uk]

I read this article. As can be seen it's on the BBC which isn't known for its sense of humour or being sensationalist.

Has this chap really been banned for life for an email? It seems extremely heavy handed to put it mildly.

[Vladimir]

Heard about it this morning. I thought you people loved "Obomber."

[CountArach]

If he weren't 17 this would be a non-story.

[Louis VI the Fat]

See, and you people thought us .org moderators were brutal!



Also, let's all name the poster we think most likely to secretly send hate mail to politicians. Me, I name:
Beskar

[rory_20_uk]

If he weren't 17 this would be a non-story.

So, banning anyone for life based on an email is normal behaviour in the USA?

[Beskar]

So, banning anyone for life based on an email is normal behaviour in the USA?

In America, threatening the President is a massive offense.

I know of some one when they were 13, they draw a picture of Bush jr getting killed, and the school found out and reported it, and he was taken away by the Secret Service and questioned.

[Beskar]

Also, let's all name the poster we think most likely to secretly send hate mail to politicians. Me, I name:
Beskar

Hah, I wouldn't go that far. It would be immature.

I might express displeasure though.

[al Roumi]

See, and you people thought us .org moderators were brutal!

Also, let's all name the poster we think most likely to secretly send hate mail to politicians. Me, I name:
Beskar

In America, threatening the President is a massive offense.

I know of some one when they were 13, they draw a picture of Bush jr getting killed, and the school found out and reported it, and he was taken away by the Secret Service and questioned.

Did they tell him what a naughty boy he was?

[Beskar]

Apparently he ended up on some register or something. I found it hilarious when he told me, then it dawned on me, if that was serious, it would be really disturbing.

[CountArach]

So, banning anyone for life based on an email is normal behaviour in the USA?

I don't live in the US, but I wouldn't find it that hard to believe.

[InsaneApache]

See, and you people thought us .org moderators were brutal!



Also, let's all name the poster we think most likely to secretly send hate mail to politicians. Me, I name:
Beskar

I must qualify for a Prime Minister or two back.

I remember my dad saying that the American authorities dislike the British. Mind you that was after they wouldn't let him live in the States with his Yank Mrs.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I remember my dad saying that the American authorities dislike the British.

Oh now don't you worry now, dear! Britons still are and always will be right popular with any French authority!
If I would have a say in it you'll always receive 'special' treatment.

[Meneldil]

What would happen if an American sent such kind of message? Would he be disallowed to enter the US? Exiled? Or worse, granted french nationality?

[Beskar]

What would happen if an American sent such kind of message? Would he be disallowed to enter the US? Exiled? Or worse, granted french nationality?

They get visited by the Secret Service.

I wonder what will happen if an American sends such a message to David Cameron, will he get banned from the UK, or will the UK say sorry and compensate the said American?

[caravel]

Has this chap really been banned for life for an email? It seems extremely heavy handed to put it mildly.

I suppose he's lucky he wasn't extradited.

[Vladimir]

I suppose he's lucky he wasn't extradited.

17 is too young for rendition. Now 18...

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Very sparse article as starting material.

there have been over 20 known attempts to kill sitting and former Presidents as well as Presidents-elect. Four attempts have resulted in sitting Presidents being killed: Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President), James A. Garfield (the 20th President), William McKinley (the 25th President) and John F. Kennedy (the 35th President). Two other Presidents were injured in attempted assassinations: then former President Theodore Roosevelt and then sitting President Ronald Reagan.

President Barack Obama has been the target of several assassination threats and alleged plots since first becoming a presidential candidate in 2007. Secret Service protection for Obama began after a death threat in 2007, when he was still serving as the junior Senator from Illinois and running for president.[36] Some commentators have suggested the unprecedented number of death threats against Obama are at least partially tied to racist imagery and words used by some of his critics to describe the president.[37] Among the most serious threats were an alleged plot by three men in Denver to shoot Obama during the 2008 Democratic National Convention,[36][38][39] and an alleged plot by two men in Tennessee to kill Obama as part of a planned murder spree targeting African Americans later the same year.[40][41]

What did the email say? A good bit of the article is quoting a "spokeswoman". He claims he doesn't remember exactly what he said. It seems like a fair guess that it was threatening and possibly racist

[Beskar]

There is another article which is in the weird news section which has some more information on, including some naughty words.

[Joooray]

There is another article which is in the weird news section which has some more information on, including some naughty words.

But if this really all because he called Obama a prick, I'd find a bit harsh.
Even if he was being racist and threatened to kill him, I still would be wondering if they have nothing else to do than banning people that had a few too many. But I at least would understand their concerns.

[Skullheadhq]

I read this article. As can be seen it's on the BBC which isn't known for its sense of humour or being sensationalist.

Has this chap really been banned for life for an email? It seems extremely heavy handed to put it mildly.

So, banning anyone for life based on an email is normal behaviour in the USA?

In America, threatening the President is a massive offense.

I know of some one when they were 13, they draw a picture of Bush jr getting killed, and the school found out and reported it, and he was taken away by the Secret Service and questioned.

What would happen if an American sent such kind of message? Would he be disallowed to enter the US? Exiled? Or worse, granted french nationality?

They get visited by the Secret Service.

I wonder what will happen if an American sends such a message to David Cameron, will he get banned from the UK, or will the UK say sorry and compensate the said American?

Amurrica, home of the free...

[Fragony]

At least harmless cartoonists don't get their door kicked in by a SWAT-team, like here.

State intimidation, yes Co-hen

I can tell from personal experience that such a thing can happen to you here as well. I, my words, 'nominated Tjibbe Joustra for the golden neckshot' on Geenstijl and was summoned and charged, was interrogated for 6 hours they had over 20 pages on me despite me not having a criminal record. It was like a scene out of 'Das Leben die Anderen'. Creepy. Good thing that I know that you don't ever ever EVER talk to the police, was 2 years ago heard nothing about it

[Meneldil]

I knew it. Fragony is secretly a terrorist.

[Beskar]

or associated with groups underwatch by the government.

[Skullheadhq]

Was interrogated for 6 hours they had over 20 pages on me despite me not having a criminal record. It was like a scene out of 'Das Leben die Anderen'. Creepy. Good thing that I know that you don't ever ever EVER talk to the police, was 2 years ago heard nothing about it

Do they have these kinds of files about everyone, what was in the files? I knew the privacy situation here is bad, but this bad?

[Fragony]

Do they have these kinds of files about everyone, what was in the files? I knew the privacy situation here is bad, but this bad?

Beats me, but they sure give themselve a lot of lattitude. The worst or best thing is they don't understand anything about anything, heard about cases where they wanted to know who 'ed' was when they heard an e-mail adress(@), such idiots can do that to you

[Skullheadhq]

Beats me, but they sure give themselve a lot of lattitude. The worst or best thing is they don't understand anything about anything, heard about cases where they wanted to know who 'ed' was when they heard an e-mail adress(@), such idiots can do that to you

Only bureaucracy's incompatance saves us from bureaucracy ;)

[Rhyfelwyr]

On the theme of freedom of speech/expression, koran-burners are arrested in the UK.

Police state! Panic! Uproar!

But at least Gateshead Council left us feeling all warm and fuzzy:

"The kind of behaviour displayed in this video is not at all representative of our community as a whole. Our community is one of mutual respect and we continue to work together with community leaders, residents and people of all faiths and beliefs to maintain good community relations."

[rory_20_uk]

They are turning the country into a massive Millennium Dome - a bland mess which has the main quality of not offending anyone anywhere.

[Fragony]

And the dhimmi-award once again goes toooooo

edit lol because it's england even watching it on video can get you dragged out of the bar by the bobbies, hardly surprising in a country where toddlers are haters because they don't like curry

[Rhyfelwyr]

In a way it's funny but then you realise it is also pretty terrifying. In 1697, Thomas Aitkenhead became the last man to be sent to the gallows for blasphemy in Britain, for denying the authority of the scripture and the Lorship of Jesus Christ.

In 2010, you go to jail for burning the Koran.

I'm almost speechless, but not quite. What the...