Tasteless jokes are now a crime?

I don't believe that there should be a law that addresses "hate" crimes.

If you beat someone up your punishment should be the same whether or not you say something hateful while beating that person.

I find the whole hate crime issue kind of stupid. A crime is a crime. The police should catch criminals and the courts should uphold the law. It shouldn't vary depending upon what a witness to the crime says that you said.

Originally posted by TasteTheMagick
reply to post by blupblup

 

Yeah...good thing stating an opinion (such as "you're ugly") is not a criminal offense and therefore NOT a hate crime. That shouldn't even BE a hate crime.

You clearly thought i said ugly was though, as you said it shouldn't be one?
sorry for your misunderstanding

I'm lost anyway....we're talking about hate crimes because you along with others said that you should be able to say ANYTHING... i am showing you what most civilized nations do.... they protect people from such disgusting insults and verbal attacks...



[edit on 23/1/09 by blupblup]

I agree with you Wildbob...a crime is a crime is a crime. The whole hate crime thing was a stupid thing to have been brought up in the courts. I was at my wits end when they started saying that a dog attacking a cat was a hate crime.

reply to post by blupblup


Sorry for the mixup. But you SHOULD be able to say ANYTHING. People don't need to be "protected" from words. They're not hurtful. So what if I call someone a few names? It really DOESN'T hurt anyone. People that find words to be hurtful need to grow up.

reply to post by TasteTheMagick


And as i said... that is just silly... words are more hurtful that anything physical could ever be...

Anyway..

"You say Tomato, I say Tomato"

Originally posted by blupblup
There is an issue of decency and civility and respect IMO.

All fine and good, but are you saying these should be ligislated? Are we going to imprison the rude? The ones with "unacceptable" views?

How very McCarthyish...

Originally posted by nixie_noxNot exactly. I don't believe it should hurt people. And it is easier then you think.

What if you have a preacher and someone runs around saying that they are a womanizer, a bad speaker, and got his credientials online. It could be funny, in jest, etc. It could hurt this man's hard earned reputation, cause conflicts with his wife, keep people from attending the church and causing the church to lose money.

That would be slander. Defined as KNOWINGLY spreading LIES about another person to destroy their reputation.

Making fun of another person is NOT spreading lies. Referencing James Earl Ray is NOT spreading lies.

This is a classic example of "Action, Reaction, Solution". If I were the FBI, I would be researching all involved!

I suspect this is nothing more than a Theatrical production with the intent of furthering an agenda of a police state, and some unscrupulous people making some money along the way. Of course there will be a law suit, kickbacks, and special lawyers making special payments, and special judges making special Judgments.

A closer look behind the scenes is definatley warrented.

reply to post by Amaterasu

Originally posted by Amaterasu
All fine and good, but are you saying these should be ligislated? Are we going to imprison the rude? The ones with "unacceptable" views?
How very McCarthyish...

For the 1000th time...

Hatred is a strong term that goes beyond simply causing offence or hostility. Hate crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offender's hatred of someone because of their:

* race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins
* religion
* gender or gender identity
* sexual orientation
* disability

This includes verbal insults


www.homeoffice.gov.uk...



[edit on 23/1/09 by blupblup]

Originally posted by blupblup
reply to post by TasteTheMagick

 

Can a guy walk up to a woman and say i want to rape you?

Sure. I am sure the female in question would not encourage him ACTING on that. But saying it? Sure. Say away.

Or walk up to a guy in a wheelchair and call him a f****** cripple?

If that is deemed as the behaior to choose by some jerk, go for it. It's rude and insensitive, but I don't think those behaviors should be legislated. Smacking the wheelchiar-bound individual, on the other hand... THAT would be unacceptable.

Seriously.... there are many, many i could list but it's a little warped to do so....

Still. ANYTHING you might suggest a person choose to SAY is protected. Warped or not.

If someone says something you don't like, don't listen. Don't acknowledge. Go somewhere else (and on the web, that's EXTREMELY easy). Express your opinion that the speaker is a worm. SAY what you want. It is action that is limited by ethics. NOT speach.

[edit on 1/23/2009 by Amaterasu]

reply to post by blupblup


Can you explain to me how words could be more hurtful than physical attacks? I almost wish you were joking because that is the funniest sentence I have ever read in my life.

Oh someone called me a nasty four letter word... how will I ever move on?

reply to post by TasteTheMagick


Well your "words are only words" is the shallowest and most immature thing I've ever heard....

so we are both happy huh?

I don't need to.... if you don't understand that... i honestly can't help you.

reply to post by blupblup


Now that's ridiculous. I'm honestly asking for you to explain just HOW words are hurtful to anyone? What is just so immature about me saying "words are only words"?

You're making no sense and I'm trying to have an actual conversation with you here.

Originally posted by blupblup
reply to post by Amaterasu

 

Originally posted by Amaterasu
All fine and good, but are you saying these should be ligislated? Are we going to imprison the rude? The ones with "unacceptable" views?
How very McCarthyish...

For the 1000th time...

Hatred is a strong term...

I didn't mention "hatred..."

...that goes beyond simply causing offence or hostility. Hate crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offender's hatred of someone because of their:

* race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins
* religion
* gender or gender identity
* sexual orientation
* disability

This includes verbal insults

Why? Why is speaking a crime? Next you will be saying THINKING these things is a crime. Got your thought police ready to cover THAT crime?

Crimes are stealing, kidnapping, assault, rape, murder, fraud. NOT speaking.

reply to post by TasteTheMagick


I can't explain it to you.... If you don't get it, you don't get it?
I've tried having a conversation... but I'm done...
My thoughts are there to see... my views on hate crimes and why the laws in the UK are good are there to see....

As i said, I think words are far more hurtful...

I've had fights.... been jumped, had operations, illnesses, stubbed my toe... etc etc.

None of that compares to some of the things that people have said to me... they stick in your mind...

I mean just George Bush declaring war on Iraq killed how many people...?
He declared the war using WORDS....
Racial hatred and tensions are increased by WORDS....


Here is a link to some stats on bullying

www.bullyonline.org...

I shouldn't have to do your research for you

where is the fun in that??

[edit on 23/1/09 by blupblup]

Originally posted by Amaterasu
Why? Why is speaking a crime? Next you will be saying THINKING these things is a crime. Got your thought police ready to cover THAT crime?

Crimes are stealing, kidnapping, assault, rape, murder, fraud. NOT speaking.

Glad you feel that way... and glad i live where i do

reply to post by blupblup


George Bush declared the war with WORDS yes, however he then carried out an ACTION...there's a big difference between speaking and action. I've been bullied...the words don't matter. It's a silly thing when adults are complaining about words. They're not harmful.

I don't get it because you're not making any sense. A word is meaningless. If you're going to take it personally, allow it to stick in your mind and be a big baby just because a stranger said something to you. By all means go ahead.

I'm glad I don't live in the UK where these insane rules over one's speech exist.

Originally posted by TasteTheMagick
reply to post by blupblup

 

I don't get it because you're not making any sense. A word is meaningless.

And that is the crux of the issue...where you and i differ...

perhaps when a few more adults are around later....they will carry this on with you.

I am done for now.

Thanks for the eye-opener


"the pen is mightier than the sword"

Well duh...er...i...er wonder where they dun got that from?

I won't bother tracking the article down for you.... it's up to you to educate yourself and research yourself.

The adage 'sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me' is just not true. Words may pack a harder punch than we realise and cause more pain than physical injuries, scientists have found. In tests, volunteers experienced more anguish when they recalled socially painful situations compared with physically traumatic experiences. The ability to relive pain takes place in the brain's cerebral cortex, Australian and US researchers said. Their findings are published in Psychological Science.

Source

[edit on 23/1/09 by blupblup]

Well, I have to mention that the "Thought Police" are already here and have been for over 30 years. Want proof? Here are a couple of examples.

No man can make any statement about women. It used to be that a man could not comment about women in mixed company. It is now the case that you can't make any comments about women when you are hanging out with the fellas.

No man can compliment a woman on her looks, what she is wearing, how she does her hair. This can be interpreted as sexual harassment. Anyone who engages in it runs a risk of being fired. I knew a guy that was put on probatioin at work because a female coworker asked him a yes or no question and he responded with "maybe". She said that he said, "Baby" even though that response made absolutely no sense in the context of the conversation.

A white person cannot use the N word for any reason, not even when quoting Chris Rock.

A white person cannot wear black face, not for any reason, never. Not even for comic relief. Take a look at the protests of the movie "Tropic Thunder". I went to the movie, plenty of black folks in there laughing their asses off. Of course most of the people protesting the movie were white.

Most of the time a white person cannot begin a sentence with, "A white person cannot...". I am sure that I will get at least one response calling me a racist or some such.

Nobody can use the words disabled, crippled, retarded, or tell any joke where the subject is a handicapped person. Again witness the protests over "Tropic Thunder", because they dared to use the word retard. If you do use these words be prepared for a speedy rebuke.

Take note that Disney Corp. will not release the movie "Song of the South", because they are afraid that they would be sued. Never mind that Uncle Remis is a likeable character and he tells a few folk stories (real ones) from the South. Some of these stories orginated with the slaves and actually have their roots in Africa. Never mind, can't take the chance that someone might be offended.

Remember the song, "Short People" by Randy Newman? He wrote it as a joke, since he is short. He got death threats over it.

Remember the cartoons showing Mohammed? People died over that incident. Never mind that the cartoonists were not Muslim and therefore were under no edict not to depict the Prophet. Doesn't matter, let's riot.

What we see is a global society that has zero tolerance for any words, expressions, jokes, stories, or opinions that do not conform with the "norm".

What is the "norm"? I don't know, you don't know, nobody knows, until they cross the line. Then WHAM! Your boss comes and escorts you to the door.

Anyway, don't ever post anything online that you have the least concern over. If you think that someone, anyone, will be offended, then just don't do it. Stuff on the internet live forever and the Thought Police are out there and they never forget.

It's too bad that the guy lost his job over his own self expression, but that stuff happens everyday. Now that his story has been picked up by the media, then he will probably be reinstated in a week or two. There are thousands who are not so lucky.

Originally posted by lunarminer
A white person cannot use the N word for any reason, not even when quoting Chris Rock.

You're wrong...this happens all the time. People may not like it, but it happens.

A white person cannot wear black face, not for any reason, never. Not even for comic relief. Take a look at the protests of the movie "Tropic Thunder". I went to the movie, plenty of black folks in there laughing their asses off. Of course most of the people protesting the movie were white.

Also wrong, it may be looked down upon by people, but it still happens. People protested "Tropic Thunder" as was their own right, but no one was arrested because of it. No one lost their jobs.

Most of the time a white person cannot begin a sentence with, "A white person cannot...". I am sure that I will get at least one response calling me a racist or some such.

Even if someone DID call you racist...so what? You're not going to lose your job, there's just going to be an ignorant person that disagrees with you.

Nobody can use the words disabled, crippled, retarded, or tell any joke where the subject is a handicapped person. Again witness the protests over "Tropic Thunder", because they dared to use the word retard. If you do use these words be prepared for a speedy rebuke.

Yes, people complain and moan about using those words...however people still use them. I use them all the time. Let people complain. They're retarded for doing so.

Take note that Disney Corp. will not release the movie "Song of the South", because they are afraid that they would be sued. Never mind that Uncle Remis is a likeable character and he tells a few folk stories (real ones) from the South. Some of these stories orginated with the slaves and actually have their roots in Africa. Never mind, can't take the chance that someone might be offended.

This movie is released in other countries, I tried to find it once but the system it came on made it incompatible with VCR's and such.