Man Goes to Jail for Being an Internet Troll

[NickCooley]

Hmm a country where scumbags are locked away or a country where they're allowed to run free. I'm glad I live in the UK.

 

[orangeapples]

He deserved it. All trolls do.

 

[Angron]

i dotn mind trolls all that much, troll a forumall you want we can just ignore you...

preying on families who lost loved ones and in such a nasty way...he got what he desired IMO

but then my opinion doesnt count cause apparently im not allowed to hang people who look at me funny...

 

[bjj hero]

There's a differnce between threatning peoples lives and saying what you think or what you believe will get a rise out of people. There are people in the U.S. that go around to military funerals and shout at greaving families "God hates fags". They don't get arrested because they're protected by the first amendment, however tasteless their actions may be.

OT: I would like to go to one of their funerals if one of their followers dies and shout God is a lie. See how they like it.

WBC has been covered over and over on this thread. I have also given examples of freedom of expression stifled by your own government. We just have a different take on freedom of speech than America.

 

[magicaxis]

I want it illegal to be a dick in my society! i live in australia and we are apparently the most racist nation towards everyone else in the world. Dunno if thats true or not, but the fact is i want to be able to get someone in prison if they start screaming racist slurs at someone.

 

[veryboringfact]

Details of his horrifying posts - which boasted of imaginary acts of paedophilia and necrophilia - were read out in sickening detail at Manchester Magistrates Court. "


So there was a little more to it (necrophilia and paedophilia being illegal in their own right), so I don't know what to think about it any more..

There was more, but it was still just more idle chatter, the court did not rule any actual illegal sex act took place.

While I completely understand your approach and appreciate your willingness to make an informed decision, to me it is the basic principle that I see to be violated, for this reason I find it disgusting that any genuine legal action was taken at all, and would still do even if he had been fined a merely symbolic 5 quid. When people make distasteful comments you ignore them, you don't put them in jail.

With that said my passion is solely directed at a corrupt and fascist judicial system, I have no sympathy for the twat in question whatsoever.

 

[TimeLord75]

"Any society that puts people in prison for being a dick is a society that's in deep trouble indeed."

I disagree. I disagree rather strongly. What's the problem with enforcing civil behavior? Humanity has generously demonstrated, time & time again, that it is utterly incapable of carrying on in a (ironically) "humane" fashion. So f**k 'em. Lock his ass up & make him swallow the key. He can be released with he retrieves it his own damn self.

 

[Burgled]

"Freedom of speech" is overrated, the guy had it coming.

 

[jrameizl]

I'm sorry but this is just another reason why America > Europe. Free Speech is free speech, the ONLY exception is when your speech presents a clear and present danger (Yelling fire in a movie theater for example)

You may not like what this man did but at least in America he has the right to do it. Just look at the westbourough Baptist church idiots at soldiers funerals. They are complete idiots and their words cut directly into the hearts of the grieving, but they have every right to do it.

This is what makes freedom, just because you don't like something doesn't mean it should be illegal. I can't understand how any modern democracy can put someone in jail for this.

"I may not like what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
-Voltaire

 

[Dogstile]

This seems like a breach of free speech (I know that it didn't happen in the US, but still)...
He does seem like a massive tool but that is what free speech is about. This could be concerning to people on the internet in the UK.

Yeah, hate speech is illegal in the UK. We don't have free speech here

 

[Lancer873]

There's a difference between respecting Free Speech and promoting harassment.

What's more, freedom of speech, doesn't just mean "freedom of speech you like or agree with" but the freedom to say what you want without these kinds of consequences. Once you start regulating the jerks, it turns into people simply wanting to regulate anyone they don't agree with.

There is no requirement that you have to be nice to anyone, that you have to like everyone, or that you have to remain silent about those you don't like. That's what freedom is all about.

Yes, words can hurt, and do a lot of damage, but as Heinlan put it "You can either have freedom or safety, never both".

....the police shoulx not have been involved, and sending him to jail was both overkill, and an affront to human rights.

So whose rights is more important, those of the man, or of those he harassed?

What about Article 5 -"No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment"? Or Article 29 section 2 -- "In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society."

If you believe that he's entirely innocent of denying the grieving families their rights to Article 5 and 29.2, that there was no malevolence intended, then okay, I can respect YOUR right to that opinion. But I wouldn't go tell it to them, if I was you.

(As a side note, necrophilia IS illegal under UK law and holds misdemeanour/felony status in over 20 states in the US. He could be held on that charge alone, even if it was only an allegation.)

That... and UK doesn't have a written document of government at all.

Really though, I don't think we have to worry about this becoming a big trend. I personally think moderator action should be the number one anti-troll method, but I also think this guy had it coming to him, if not for being a total, unforgivable jackass on the internet, then for being stupid enough to actually announce who he was in real life.

 

[Paksenarrion]

Is it just me that sees the irony that he's managed to be extremely succesful as a troll?
He 1) Got a rise out of people
2) Got a rise out of people affected by an issue, and
3) He got a rise out of the authorities.

Looks like he'll also get a rise out of his cellmate...*puts on shades*...when he bends over.

 

[steverivers]

I'm sorry but this is just another reason why America > Europe. Free Speech is free speech, the ONLY exception is when your speech presents a clear and present danger (Yelling fire in a movie theater for example)

You may not like what this man did but at least in America he has the right to do it.

Any society that tolerates and vaunts the right to go about viciously bullying people with such a sick mindset and further traumatize people already traumatized isnt exactly a place most civilized people would wish to live.

You say it's wrong, but until you empathize and put yourself in their position and think about how *you* would feel if it happened to you, its easy to judge from a high horse.

As with all things in life, having a green light to everything is irresponsible and allows evil people to exploit it.

Intelligence lies in finding a happy middle ground where common sense occurs.



The man wasnt jailed for being an internet troll. Internet trolling is not a jailable offence in the UK.

That man was jailed for preying upon people in the most sickest way imaginable. The medium of the internet had nothing to do with matters.

If he had done it over the phone, through their letterbox, or to their faces - he'd still of had the same thing happen.


And need i remind the US folks here that its the US trying to ban videogame content in California?

 

[I_am_acting]

I'm sorry but this is just another reason why America > Europe. Free Speech is free speech, the ONLY exception is when your speech presents a clear and present danger (Yelling fire in a movie theater for example)

You may not like what this man did but at least in America he has the right to do it. Just look at the westbourough Baptist church idiots at soldiers funerals. They are complete idiots and their words cut directly into the hearts of the grieving, but they have every right to do it.

This is what makes freedom, just because you don't like something doesn't mean it should be illegal. I can't understand how any modern democracy can put someone in jail for this.

"I may not like what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
-Voltaire

pretty much why i'll always rate europe below the US, till those freedoms get taken away that is

 

[Snowpact]

Good riddance, I say. One down, a million or so more to go. Because you have your right of free speech, but not the right of free assholery, in my most humble opinion.

 

[Daverson]

If you knocked on the door of someone who's mother had just died, and claimed to have "joined" with her corpse, you'd be arrested. Just because claiming this on the internet is easier, doesn't make it any more justifiable.

 

[Khischnik]

I never could troll, but I've always found trolls to be really funny. It's a shame he had to go to jail for it, though. Especially being that he's 36, he should have grown out of that immature phase by now. Perhaps he needed a wake-up call?

 

[Substance-E]

This seems like a breach of free speech (I know that it didn't happen in the US, but still)...
He does seem like a massive tool but that is what free speech is about. This could be concerning to people on the internet in the UK.

Actually, no that's not what free speech is about. Free speech is about being able to express your thoughts and ideas about the government and in artistic media without worrying about the government bringing down the hammer on you. Free speech is not about letting dicks say anything they want to grieving families because they find it to be fun.

OT: A little strict of a sentence, but he deserved it.

actually you are wrong(sc) free speech is just that FREE SPEECH! the ability to say whatever the fuck you want whenever the fuck you want you fucking sheep. this troll did go to fucking far yes. but prison cannot hold him for just talking(not in the US at least). the UK is a stupid monarchy with stupid laws that assist crime(see anti gun laws). nuff said you failure

I'm guessing fuck is on your word of the day calendar. But my point was that the first amendment was added so that American citizens had the right to dissent from the government and have your own thoughts, and express yourself in whatever way you want. Not just to spew unwarranted hate speech. It was to allow the people to tell their government that they were wrong without fear of arrest or execution. That way America didn't end up exactly like the country that it succeeded from. It didn't mean that you should be able to say and do whatever you want just to make others miserable.

*claps*

Maybe if some people actually payed attention in school they would know this.

Honestly, it's nice to see some justice come to someone who decided to go out of their way to be a sack of shit.

If you are sooooooooooo "offended" by the idea that you might get nailed for being a dick, then, oh I don't know, don't be a dick. It's radical thinking I know, but there it is....

 

[jrameizl]

I'm sorry but this is just another reason why America > Europe. Free Speech is free speech, the ONLY exception is when your speech presents a clear and present danger (Yelling fire in a movie theater for example)

You may not like what this man did but at least in America he has the right to do it.

Any society that tolerates and vaunts the right to go about viciously bullying people with such a sick mindset and further traumatize people already traumatized isnt exactly a place most civilized people would wish to live.

You say it's wrong, but until you empathize and put yourself in their position and think about how *you* would feel if it happened to you, its easy to judge from a high horse.

As with all things in life, having a green light to everything is irresponsible and allows evil people to exploit it.

Intelligence lies in finding a happy middle ground where common sense occurs.



The man wasnt jailed for being an internet troll. Internet trolling is not a jailable offence in the UK.

That man was jailed for preying upon people in the most sickest way imaginable. The medium of the internet had nothing to do with matters.

If he had done it over the phone, through their letterbox, or to their faces - he'd still of had the same thing happen.

What the man did was morally wrong indeed, but he broke no law (in the USA). The right to free speech applies to the kindest and the most viscous of words. If I were in their position I would plead for someone to come and stop it, but that doesn't make it right for government to come in and stop. I don't like when people call me white so does that mean that should be illegal? It's a fine line and when you cross it there's no coming back.

I'd rather live in a society where people insult my dead children than a society that restricts my right of Free speech, and I'd hope you do to.

What people are saying here is frightening me. you're giving up the most base of human liberty just because you're "morally offended". Morality is a subjective concept, and the view of the majority don't outweigh the views of the minority.

"They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin

 

[steverivers]

Exactly, Daverson. And thats why i think the Escapist poster of this article is completely wrong for posting it in the manner they have.

They are implying in the article that this guy was jailed because he was an internet troll.

That is absolute rubbish.

I'll say again -

============================================
If he'd done it over the phone, or on their doorstep to their faces, if he'd done it through their letterbox - it still would've happened.

It's called harrassment.

The internet being the medium had nothing to do with it, and its sensationalism by the escapist journalist to make it out to be something to do specifically about the internet.
============================================