Forums Forums National News Man Admits Offensive Web Posts

I don't agree that freedom of speech gives you the right to be grossly offensive. If he'd said some thing racist which is also grossly offensive, is that ok too under the guise of free speech?

There are lines in all walks of life that shouldn't be crossed. IMHO.

My views aired in private behind closed doors should, if I said I was going to Bomb place A then place B fair enough if someone reports it but having an opinion between friends should stay that way.

When I happen to use Facebook which in my opinion is a load of shite and should be withdrawn from the net due to it being a government controlled site so they can keep tabs on people, I have noticed that you read a friend post every one else who has commented can see it too.

This guy would of been exposed through what they call a "page" to do with the youngster. Someone would of seen his sick comments and posted it on the page comments for it to go viral and get recognised hence him being in custody now.

Facebook is public.

Besides, some things you don't joke about.

face book is not behind closed doors and sick is sick, I did not hear about this on that site, but on the news.

all I can say any so called friends of his, who don't take offence to his sick vile jokes, must have the same depraved sense of humour.

I too believe in free speech, I do not condone what this man said about April or Madeline but it was only words, they may not have been appropriate at all and 100% sick in content, but it was only words!
What is the difference between jokes we've all heard (and probably retold) about Rod Hull when he died falling from the roof? Or in fact, Joan Rivers who has made jokes about 9-11 on tv?
Also, try googling the Westboro Baptist Church in USA who make the most vile comments about people who have died and turn up at funerals of servicemen with banners and placards causing nothing but more heartbreak for the families, yet they are not in prison because all they are doing is practicing freedom of speech (according to the judge who ruled against the father of one soldier who took them to court for such appalling behaviour)

We are turning into a world of people who become 'offended' by the slightest thing these days instead of treating the so called offending words with the contempt they deserve and simply ignoring them.
This person should not be in prison for words no matter how awful they were, and by putting him in there I feel we are moving down a very slippery slope

Elizabeth you say it's only words but if they'd been racist or homophobic, people would have fully expected him to be arrested so where do you draw the line?

Zubee, have you seen the homophobic slurs that are openly spewed by the Westboro baptist church? They are never arrested. Things such as "you're dead because you're gay and god's glad about that" and this is openly shouted at funerals of servicemen.
Again, as I said I do not agree with that person who wrote horrific things about April & Madeline but he wasn't shouting it in the streets, it was on a website and if it hadn't been on the news, how many of us would have known about it? I'd never even heard of sickipedia or whatever it's called and I'll bet no-one on here had either.

The moment we start jailing people for writing stuff on websites even if they are racist or homophobic comments(and don't forget this lad was allegedly pissed out of his mind when he wrote them) then god help us all.

People who posted about rioting in recent troubles were jailed , only words ???

The difference is though, whether they posted things that actually stated they were involved in the riots or did they just talk about the fact that the riots had taken place? If they admitted their involvement then that's completely different to just talking about them, and therefore were rightfully jailed.
But if the postings about April and Maddie did not admit any involvement with the abductions, then I still don't agree that he was jailed