Done it many times to people i did not like.

All you need is a laptop and a wireless router.

Just drive around any town and look for some idiot that leaves his wireless connection unsecured.

I have also been called into the human resources department and told i was going to be fired for it.

They backed down when they never could PROVE it was me that did it.

This guys problem was that he got caught because he used a computer that was tracked back to him.

Originally posted by ANNEDThis guys problem was that he got caught because he used a computer that was tracked back to him.

Uhhh...it was on his facebook page. The page even identified where he worked. He also had 200 facebook friends many of whom worked for the city.

He was not trying to be anonymous, he just thought he was sharing amongst friends.

A white guy woke us one day and decided to wish he could be hung like a black guy.............ouch. In bad taste? Yes. Deserved firing? No. Shunned by his coworkers and friends. Sure, why not. Come on folks. freedom of speech, but shunned by friends and coworkers. Sure. It's the American way.

Strickly speaking, assuming its a right to work state, his job has every right to fire him for this, even if his facebook page mentioned nothing about where he worked.

The legal action that is threatened is BS though, as his words, however tasteless, are protected as free speach.

Originally posted by Sonya610

Petronzio posted a greeting on Monday, Martin Luther King Day, saying, "Chris would like to wish everyone a happy James Earl Ray day." Ray is the man who assassinated King.

The page also included a Kentucky Fried Chicken ad superimposed on a picture of the White House and a racist slur referring to Obama.

Probably because it wasn't just limited to a political joke.
It was a racial remark worded in a way to celebrate the murderer of a black man and for what and to who he (King) stood for. People have been arrested for making racial slurs in public, but usually have the charge lifted.

"The Thought Police are Coming!

About flipping time! "

*Beware of people who say things like the above.

They are responsible for letting it get to this point. They will turn you in for a cash reward.

I'm awfully offended by half the posts on this site! I deem they should be removed!

Seriously, beyond the sarcasm, give me a F.Break. With everything going on the world, we're going to go so far as cheer for someone who lost his job for making stupid, hurtful jokes? I hope he doesn't have kids some of you are hoping in this day and age to go hungry because their father offended someone.

Talk about sick.

And offended??????!!!! Get over it, grow a thicker skin, best advice I ever heard.

And anyone who doesn't practice political correctness is automatically labeled hateful. God help us if we step on anybody's feelings.

I remember a time when you had to act in order to be persecuted; now all you have to fo is think for yourself, say what others don't want to hear.

Rudeness is not an admirable trait, but it was never a crime.

P.s. to compare this idiot to Hitler boggles my mind. Hitler wasn't a murderer because he was a bigot, an idiot, or a racist. His actions made him one. The traits made him an a**hole.

hate speech/bias speech/tasteless jokes?
they're part of freedom of speech.
i doubt he'll be convicted of anything.
the only thing he seems to be guilty of is telling a bad joke.
in his own mind he's a funny guy.
perhaps among his friends, he's hilarious.
but, prosecution for horrible humor?
seems a bit much.
i agree with a previous poster who said the phelps clan has said far worse.
they've yet to be charged with any crime.
i may not like what some of my fellow citizens say but, freedom of speech goes both ways.

Wow.. anyone who is on Facebook now, search for groups related to 'offensive jokes', there's hundreds. Some of them are awesome.

I see the groups as more than just a few tongue in cheek laughs, I see them as representative of our freedom of speech. As long as what's written on there isn't provoking any violence or real serious hate it's fair game imo. And if anyone has a serious reason for wanting a joke removed then fair enough.

But as soon as someone gets locked up for writing a joke on the internet then I've lost faith in western freedom.

We're not goddamn Nazis, loosen up a bit.

Originally posted by kyred
A white guy woke us one day and decided to wish he could be hung like a black guy.............ouch. In bad taste? Yes. [snip]

This is a hate crime! You are saying white men are not hung like a black guy!

/sarcasm

Where does hate crime laws stop if you apply them to thought? Who decides what thoughts are hate crimes? A slippery slope indeed, one America needs to stay off of or we all slide in.

I noticed General Eyes said something about drinking a pint. We dont uses that term here in the States. I assume you are British and not even an American using a British term. You cannot begin to understand our way...we are free men and women.

We say what we want and if others dont want to hear it or read it, then they can just choose to ignore it.

Like this: I think our government is full of elitists that bend over for the banks and big business, then stick it to the rest of us.

If we let the former slide then even a statement like I just made will be considered a hate crime one day. This is why political correctness has become the norm. We have been set up and conditioned for this crap for decades.

LET FREEDOM RING!

Originally posted by Sonya610


Have the rules changed? Can we no longer make fun of the president without risking prosecution?

The thought police are coming...

This is getting wilder by the day. I love the quote...the thought police, I may have to borrow that one in the future.

While that is a really harsh joke, I do find humor in it.

Nothing is safe to say out loud anymore.

Hmm seems to me a good number of people need to watch The People vs. Larry Flynt to gain a true perspective of just how far the protections of freedom of Speech go.

For those that are a bit more interested in the case and don't particularly care for watching Woody Harrelson (or more specifically Courtney Love try to act, eventhough the role was not much of a stretch).

Larry Flynt was sued by Rev Jerry Falwell over satire in a libel case. The joke article in question deals with how Falwell lost his virginity to his mother in an outhouse. It was agreed that it was tasteless humor and that it could be considered libel except for the expressed fact that since Falwell was a public figure he was open to satire.

In my opinion, the city worker has a case for wrongful termination and since the reasons for his departure were made public he could be entitled to a very large settlement as he can show damages from potential earnings. While I don't agree with what the city worker posted, it is his right to be as tasteless as he wants to be.

I will also add that in the pursuit of comedy that sometimes the subject matter is not always well received. While I do try to keep mine to the high ground there are a good number of bad jokes out there that are indeed quite humorous. What keeps me from using them is that given the anonymity of the internet it prevents people from understanding that the level of the humor does not reflect how I personally am and what my opinions are.

The city worker may or may not be bigoted at all. The guy may just suffer from a lack of good judgment and sense of humor. But if we want to study the negative effects of stereotypes and how it can become hate speech and should not be protected, then we have to realize what the limitations and pitfalls of legislating morality are.

We can begin with the benediction given by Rev Lowery. And how racial divisions condoned by President Obama not only here but throughout his campaign could be used as misguided focal points should the economy continue fail and millions more find themselves unemployed. But in that context, maybe the reason I fail to get ahead man is because I look too much like I do not embrace what is right.

considering the enormous controversy and resulting fiasco inspired by the infamous "Nappy Ho's" comment, how far does this insanity have to go?

to declare these minor slanders, that must be taken in context i might add, to even be offensive, let alone illegal, is ridiculous. the majority in this country are either clinically insane or they're just plain brain dead? besides, this is a two way street and everyone knows it. get some help!

Originally posted by nixie_nox
Freedom of speech is limited by anything that can harm another person, including hate speech and pornography.

Freedom of speech gaurentees the exchanging of ideas and information using any media. There is no educational value in what this man has said.

It is not protected if it:

creates clear and present danger, or creating a dangerous situation.

Fighting words, or instigating violence.

Well there you go then.... My point exactly.
Cheers for that