Man arrested for trolling on Facebook

[joemegson94]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2036935/Natasha-MacBryde-death-Facebook-internet-troll-Sean-Duffy-jailed.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

I was wondering what you, fellow escapists, thought of this story.

Personally, while I agree with the consensus that posting offensive messages about dead teenagers is, of course, wrong, the fact that he was arrested for it is completely unreasonable.

It annoys me when people advocate free speech, but only as long as no-one gets offended.

That's why I say release this guy from prison, so someone can punch him in the stomach and let him get back to his life.

 

[Ruwrak]

The only response possible is the following.

'Trololol'

Oh, and the jailed people will take care of him. IF there is one thing prisoners really dislike, it's people who do something to children.


Edit: Let it be clear that I disaprove of the actions the person did. The above comment is ment to be mocking in his direction, not towards the others in the articles. I -do- respect the dead.

 

[funguy2121]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2036935/Natasha-MacBryde-death-Facebook-internet-troll-Sean-Duffy-jailed.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

I was wondering what you, fellow escapists, thought of this story.

Personally, while I agree with the consensus that posting offensive messages about dead teenagers is, of course, wrong, the fact that he was arrested for it is completely unreasonable.

It annoys me when people advocate free speech, but only as long as no-one gets offended.

That's why I say release this guy from prison, so someone can punch him in the stomach and let him get back to his life.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2036935/Natasha-MacBryde-death-Facebook-internet-troll-Sean-Duffy-jailed.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

I was wondering what you, fellow escapists, thought of this story.

Personally, while I agree with the consensus that posting offensive messages about dead teenagers is, of course, wrong, the fact that he was arrested for it is completely unreasonable.

It annoys me when people advocate free speech, but only as long as no-one gets offended.

That's why I say release this guy from prison, so someone can punch him in the stomach and let him get back to his life.

But that would be assault.

 

[Mace Tulio]

Countless people write slanderous things on memorial pages to try and cause distress, this is the internet.

I wonder why this guy is being singled out.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

annonimity causes people to think its fine to be a***holes
tbh, i think thats fine, shows the sort of person they are.

but to post such vile things on a memorial is pretty unforgivable, and I believe their should be consiquences. That said, i think being sectioned would be more effective than being locked up.

 

[Gaiseric]

Whoa...

That was some nasty things to do to the dead and their families.

 

[Richard Eis]

It's not really a free speech issue. Free speech comes with consequences related to other laws. It doesn't mean you can say what you want without any pushback. Also this guy was technically vandalising other peoples work, defamation of character etc...

I don't really see the point of jail though, this guy clearly has mental health problems and jail isn't going to help him. If anything it may make him worse. Then he will be released in 18 weeks.

 

[staika]

Aww man I had the perfect picture idea but the picture doesn't exist D:
I was going to say "At least he went out.........Like a troll" Yeah that lacks the kick of a picture D:

OT: I never knew internet trolling was a punishable offense IRL besides people don't troll on facebook they can tell who you are just by looking at your profile >.>

 

[Baradiel]

The difference between normal trolling and this was that he posted videos mocking a young girls death, linked/sent them to the family, posted them on group walls and generally broke the law.

Its slander and harassment. If he came up to the people in the street, or sent them to their houses, it would be exactly the same.

Freedom of Speech is a fallacy. Wherever you are, you have to take account for the results of what you say. It doesn't matter whether youre the WBC or this guy.

 

[joemegson94]

Aww man I had the perfect picture idea but the picture doesn't exist D:
I was going to say "At least he went out.........Like a troll" Yeah that lacks the kick of a picture D:

OT: I never knew internet trolling was a punishable offense IRL besides people don't troll on facebook they can tell who you are just by looking at your profile >.>

Apparently he had an anonymous profile. His ip address must have been traced.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I guess freedom of speech doesn't exist any more. This reminds me of V or Vendetta. They can't throw him in jail for this. Sure he's a ****, but if you allow things like these to happen you're next. The governments are slowly taking away your rights. None of this shit was possible before you gave up your rights to the government in order to feel a little safer from the terrorists. Ah the terrorists, the bogyman for the adults.

 

[Spambot 3000]

Maybe he should've just deserved a big fine instead.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

I say they were perfectly justified to throw him in jail for this. People think for some reason freedom of speech is some holy thing that should be upheld in any and all cases. I think in only the most extreme cases, like this one. You should be held accountable for what you say.

And it doesnt matter that he has aspergers, i know people with aspergers and they might be a little bit blunt at times, but they arent total dicks like this guy.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

This was discussed in detail yesterday.

First of all, he wasn't charged with "having an opinion" or "speaking his mind". Putting aside for a second that this happened in the UK, where freedom of speech laws are different than in North America, this wasn't a "Freedom of Speech" issue. He was charged under section 127 of the Malicious Communications Act, a law which has been on the books since 2003 in the UK. So all you slippery slopers positive that this means Big Brother has come at last, this is the first time you're hearing anything about the Act being used in this way.

So what did he do to get charged? He specifically targeted the families of dead teenagers for over two years and and bombarded them with taunts, jibes, and gruesome pictures of their dead loved ones. He was given a caution for a similar offense back in 2009 and chose to ramp his activities up. So anyone curious about where the line on "trolololololol" is legally, you might want to stop short of systematically taunting and harassing the families of the deceased for YEARS after a court has already warned you to stop. There's your line. Oh noes, our freedoms!

Would you defend a vicious physical assault on the grounds that a slippery slope might occur and you'll get tossed in jail for playfully punching your friend on the shoulder? The courts gave Sean Duffy all the rope in the world and he hung himself with it. Frankly, at the rate he was going, someone was going to find him and kill his loathsome ass. The courts probably did him a favor by locking him up.

 

[Idsertian]

Don't we not have the right to free speech here in the UK? Pretty sure we don't.

OT: Oh great, they mentioned he's autistic with Asperger's. Now watch all the knee-jerk "experts" cram the rest of us, who would never even dream of doing something like that, in with this dick. Thanks a lot you utter prick. /rant

CAPTCHA: ellaru are...what? ellaru are what? Tell me CAPTCHA, I must know!

EDIT: BloatedGuppy ninja'd me in a much more eloquent way. Read his/her post, ignore mine.

 

[Vidi Kitty]

I like free speech and all, but defending this is along the lines of "I have the right to own a gun, and guns shoot things, so who can blame me when I shoot someone?"

I am both pro free speech and pro guns in a not crazy way, but grotesque abuse of any right should come with some sort of punishment. Let him say all his hate full crap, then make him regret trying to trash peoples lives for sport.

 

[Corax_1990]

Seems a bit extreme to me, but then again the British government has flipped out a bit after the London riots being largely organised using FB and other social networking sites. Jailed for trolling, eh, sometimes they have it coming. However, this guy was an isolated alcoholic with Asbergers ffs, he seems to have been using this platform to get some attention, even if it was negative. They should be helping this guy with treatment, what do they really think Jail is gonna do for him? Im not saying he's not at fault here, but this guy is clearly mentally unwell.

 

[Ruwrak]

Seems a bit extreme to me, but then again the British government has flipped out a bit after the London riots being largely organised using FB and other social networking sites. Jailed for trolling, eh, sometimes they have it coming. However, this guy was an isolated alcoholic with Asbergers ffs, he seems to have been using this platform to get some attention, even if it was negative. They should be helping this guy with treatment, what do they really think Jail is gonna do for him? Im not saying he's not at fault here, but this guy is clearly mentally unwell.

It's not just this. Like BloatedGuppy mentioned before, he did this over years to several people, has been warned. That he has a mental issue does not lessen the offense. Yes, treatment should be offered, but it's a questionable surface if he is going to learn something from it.

But just because he has Asperger does not mean he can go free without prosecution by law. I think it's a good thing to let go to jail. He still participates in the social system, and therefor is judged by the social system.

I doubt the UK government has something to say about it really. I would say it's a matter for the judge, and it is, the government has far more important things to do (such as cleaning up the riots and put on plans to make the UK a better place. You know, the thing governments try to do generally?)


Edit:

It seems police have become a lot more active as of late, anybody notice?

Actually, the media is reporting about it alot more nowadays. It's not that the police has done nothing in the past. It's just you don't hear much about it unless the media tells you about it.

 

[rtbailey]

There is trolling, then there is being an antisocial jerk stain blighting the internet and humanity as a whole.