[Thanos]

As a just punishment take him to a Legion hall and let the old boys poke him a few (dozen) times with the pin that accompanies the poppy.

[EyeBrock]

I would think there are enough motivated squaddies in the Sceptic Isle to track this guy down and mete out a bit of respect. Confidence is high.

[andyt]

Newfy Newfy:

Ya, you're right we do and many black people call each other the "N" word. If I use it it's offensive and racist. So why should someone using offensive language towards soldiers in a deliberately targeted way be any different. If it was just a one on one situation then he would probably just get a smack in the gob, but post it in the public domain for all to see and doesn't that become in-sighting violence. I'm all for freedom of speech, but when you post something just to provoke a group of people it's crossing the line.

Never heard of anybody getting arrested for calling somebody a nigger either. Scorned, yes, but it's not illegal. Do you really want to go down the road where insulting somebody becomes illegal? Or do you want special legislation only for the military, so that insulting them becomes a crime? Personally I think Britain is way over the top with their pc laws. I thought we were bad. Neither calling somebody or a group a cute or a nigger is inciting violence. Your last sentence is pretty scary to me, can be misused in so many ways. Didn't we just have the discussions where Muslims are told to suck it up when somebody insults Mohammed (I agree they should)? Some people have tried to make the argument insulting Mohammed is inciting violence. Sure hope that never becomes the mainstream view.

[Newfy]

andyt andyt:

Newfy Newfy:

Ya, you're right we do and many black people call each other the "N" word. If I use it it's offensive and racist. So why should someone using offensive language towards soldiers in a deliberately targeted way be any different. If it was just a one on one situation then he would probably just get a smack in the gob, but post it in the public domain for all to see and doesn't that become in-sighting violence. I'm all for freedom of speech, but when you post something just to provoke a group of people it's crossing the line.

Never heard of anybody getting arrested for calling somebody a nigger either. Scorned, yes, but it's not illegal. Do you really want to go down the road where insulting somebody becomes illegal? Or do you want special legislation only for the military, so that insulting them becomes a crime? Personally I think Britain is way over the top with their pc laws. I thought we were bad. Neither calling somebody or a group a cute or a nigger is inciting violence. Your last sentence is pretty scary to me, can be misused in so many ways. Didn't we just have the discussions where Muslims are told to suck it up when somebody insults Mohammed (I agree they should)? Some people have tried to make the argument insulting Mohammed is inciting violence. Sure hope that never becomes the mainstream view.

Maybe the answer is for the law to be clarified. Now I don't know about Canadian law as I've been in the UK for 14 years now but over here you will most certainly get arrested for using racist or abusive language. There have been many high profile cases recently involving professional football(soccer) players directing racist terms at opposing players during a game. In the UK the Public Order Laws also allow the Police to arrest someone for swearing in public, normally after giving several warnings. You may not agree with this but I think it's a good thing. There is also the recent events surrounding the film about Islam. I believe someone involved with the film has now been arrested. I just don't think that there can be a rule for one and a different rule for another. I'm also not saying this should only be for soldiers. There are too many instances of what I can only describe as Trolls posting abusive and offensive messages to people, usually celebrities or sportsmen and women and the law is coming down harder and harder on these people and rightly so. Like others have said the line between free speech and what's unlawful is a very very thin one. Should it be illegal to offend someone? No, of course not. Should it be illegal to direct abuse and deliberately provoke a section of society in a way that would be likely to instigate a violent response? Yes, I think it most definitely should. Again I'm sure you will disagree but that's the great thing about free speech.

[Unsound]

Newfy Newfy:

Should it be illegal to direct abuse and deliberately provoke a section of society in a way that would be likely to instigate a violent response? Yes, I think it most definitely should. Again I'm sure you will disagree but that's the great thing about free speech.

The problem with this is you're allowing certain elements of society to determine what the laws will be simply by acting violent. If I start punching people in the nose whenever i hear the word "scandahoovian" will using that word become a hate crime?

[Gunnair]

Unsound Unsound:

Newfy Newfy:

Should it be illegal to direct abuse and deliberately provoke a section of society in a way that would be likely to instigate a violent response? Yes, I think it most definitely should. Again I'm sure you will disagree but that's the great thing about free speech.

The problem with this is you're allowing certain elements of society to determine what the laws will be simply by acting violent. If I start punching people in the nose whenever i hear the word "scandahoovian" will using that word become a hate crime?

Here endeth the lesson on why the law is dumb. It becomes reactionary based on what the individual or the group suddenly determines as a social norm and can be easily abused.

[andyt]

Newfy Newfy:

Maybe the answer is for the law to be clarified. Now I don't know about Canadian law as I've been in the UK for 14 years now but over here you will most certainly get arrested for using racist or abusive language. There have been many high profile cases recently involving professional football(soccer) players directing racist terms at opposing players during a game. In the UK the Public Order Laws also allow the Police to arrest someone for swearing in public, normally after giving several warnings. You may not agree with this but I think it's a good thing. There is also the recent events surrounding the film about Islam. I believe someone involved with the film has now been arrested. I just don't think that there can be a rule for one and a different rule for another. I'm also not saying this should only be for soldiers. There are too many instances of what I can only describe as Trolls posting abusive and offensive messages to people, usually celebrities or sportsmen and women and the law is coming down harder and harder on these people and rightly so. Like others have said the line between free speech and what's unlawful is a very very thin one. Should it be illegal to offend someone? No, of course not. Should it be illegal to direct abuse and deliberately provoke a section of society in a way that would be likely to instigate a violent response? Yes, I think it most definitely should. Again I'm sure you will disagree but that's the great thing about free speech.

Yes we disagree, and as you say, that's what great about free speech. I also think hurling insults is great about free speech. Not because the act is so wonderful, but because it shows we can deal with it. As somebody said, free speech is about what offends you, otherwise it wouldn't be an issue.

The film maker got arrested on charges totally unrelated to making the film. Again, the guy was being a total dick, there was no other reason for making that film. But what about somebody with serious intent taking a critical look at Mohammed? He would get caught up in the nanny net as well, and that would be stifling of thought. We should go with the old sticks and stones (and incitement to hurl same) adage, IMO.

[EyeBrock]

It's pretty much a tit-for-tat thing on offence being taken.

For years our leaders have been bending over backwards to accommodate newcomers religions, culture, symbols etc. We have all been told to respect others views ad naseum.

Now we are asking people to respect our symbols.

Arresting people for purposely causing offence to symbols that we find important to our culture is the right thing to do in this overly sensitive environment that has been created by our leaders.

[Gunnair]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

It's pretty much a tit-for-tat thing on offence being taken.

For years our leaders have been bending over backwards to accommodate newcomers religions, culture, symbols etc. We have all been told to respect others views ad naseum.

Now we are asking people to respect our symbols.

Arresting people for purposely causing offence to symbols that we find important to our culture is the right thing to do in this overly sensitive environment that has been created by our leaders.

Put the Lord's Prayer back in school or the Xmas pageant back in school and I'll wager it ain't new comers squealing about it.

Hint - atheists and the exceedingly liberal will be leading the charge.

[EyeBrock]

No, I agree. It's not the newcomers agitating all this, it's our leaders.

[Gunnair]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

No, I agree. It's not the newcomers agitating all this, it's our leaders.

Disagree. It's special interest groups and loudmouths scaring our milksop leaders with the political fallout bogeyman where there isn't one.

There may be the occasional loudmouth newcomer, but frankly they'll beak off more because they have so much homegrown support pushing them to beak off that I'll wager they feel it's a right when of course it ain't.

[EyeBrock]

It's up to our leaders to sift through all this stuff. Historically, politicos from all sides have seen offence where none is present and legislated accordingly. I blame them.

[ShepherdsDog]

Gunnair Gunnair:

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

It's pretty much a tit-for-tat thing on offence being taken.

For years our leaders have been bending over backwards to accommodate newcomers religions, culture, symbols etc. We have all been told to respect others views ad naseum.

Now we are asking people to respect our symbols.

Arresting people for purposely causing offence to symbols that we find important to our culture is the right thing to do in this overly sensitive environment that has been created by our leaders.

Put the Lord's Prayer back in school or the Xmas pageant back in school and I'll wager it ain't new comers squealing about it.

Hint - atheists and the exceedingly liberal will be leading the charge.

Because only they 'know' what truly offends others, even if those others aren't aware that they are offended.

[Gunnair]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Gunnair Gunnair:

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

It's pretty much a tit-for-tat thing on offence being taken.

For years our leaders have been bending over backwards to accommodate newcomers religions, culture, symbols etc. We have all been told to respect others views ad naseum.

Now we are asking people to respect our symbols.

Arresting people for purposely causing offence to symbols that we find important to our culture is the right thing to do in this overly sensitive environment that has been created by our leaders.

Put the Lord's Prayer back in school or the Xmas pageant back in school and I'll wager it ain't new comers squealing about it.

Hint - atheists and the exceedingly liberal will be leading the charge.

Because only they 'know' what truly offends others, even if those others aren't aware that they are offended.

Yep.

[Curtman]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

No, I agree. It's not the newcomers agitating all this, it's our leaders.

It's everyone who believes some stupid icon is more important than the ideals it represents. You put value in the poppy as a symbol of heroism, bravery, and sacrifice for freedom. You take it away when you command others to respect your icons.

$1:

Tom Williams, tweeting as @tomwilliamsisme, wrote: ''The scary thing is, the man wasn't arrested for burning a poppy - that's not illegal. He was arrested for putting it online.''

Jamie's Pants, under @thisisrjg, tweeted: ''We do not have a right to not be offended. We certainly don't have a right to lock up someone for offending some people'', while Thom Lumley, tweeting as @Hotstepperrr, wrote: ''Dear idiots at Kent Police, burning a poppy may be obnoxious, but it is not a criminal offence.''

The Internet is a place for free exchange of ideas. It's not the same as yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theatre. It's a place to challenge precepts and learn any thing you want. Save the icon worship for the next stanley cup riot.