Racist idiot, abuses Muamba on Twitter. Ruins own life.

[narly101]

BBC News - Fabrice Muamba: Racist Twitter user jailed for 56 days

 

[aolstudios]

Seems harsh, but he brought it on himself so tough titty. NEXT

nah, seems fair

 

[Tooting Gull]

I'd say the thread starter got it about right. Bloke gets drunk, tweets racist stuff, gets jailed, probably thrown out of university and in all likelihood binned by his regular rugby club. I think that counts as a 'troll warning'.

 

[Gritt23]

Wowzers!

While it's pretty vile what he has done, what makes this such a heavy sentence compared to any other racist, or homophobic comments made on message boards, or social network sites?

Would someone posting homophobic comments about us get 56 days in prison?


Not defending what he's done, how can you, but I'm not sure I can understand the punishment.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Wowzers!

While it's pretty vile what he has done, what makes this such a heavy sentence compared to any other racist, or homophobic comments made on message boards, or social network sites?

Would someone posting homophobic comments about us get 56 days in prison?


Not defending what he's done, how can you, but I'm not sure I can understand the punishment.

I would say (possibly) that people need to learn how to behave in cyberspace, in what is essentially a new medium, and it will take time before people know what they can and can't do/say. In order to do this, examples have to be made of people - and while it might be a little unfair on the individual, unless it is seen to be done, everyone will not learn.

That may be the reason, or maybe not.

 

[Doc Lynam]

It wasn't just that he had form on other profile sites, which have been highlighted.

 

[Gritt23]

I would say (possibly) that people need to learn how to behave in cyberspace, in what is essentially a new medium, and it will take time before people know what they can and can't do/say. In order to do this, examples have to be made of people - and while it might be a little unfair on the individual, unless it is seen to be done, everyone will not learn.

That may be the reason, or maybe not.

Are we ok with individual judges making such an example though.

As I say I'm not defending him, but I bet social network sites are full of this sort of stuff, in fact didn't George Michael say something about getting homophobic comments on Twitter when he was seriously ill with pneumonia? I doubt any of them got as much as a caution.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Are we ok with individual judges making such an example though.

Does that not happen all the time, one judge sets a precedent and as long as it's not overturned on appeal is used for similar cases going forward - I don't know but I've watched a lot of Judge John Deed

As I say I'm not defending him, but I bet social network sites are full of this sort of stuff, in fact didn't George Michael say something about getting homophobic comments on Twitter when he was seriously ill with pneumonia? I doubt any of them got as much as a caution.

I think similar cases have been brought, not sure about similar sentences though - in fact wasn't someone prosecuted last week for racially abusing Colymore - or have I got that wrong ??

 

[teaboy]

Are we ok with individual judges making such an example though.

As I say I'm not defending him, but I bet social network sites are full of this sort of stuff, in fact didn't George Michael say something about getting homophobic comments on Twitter when he was seriously ill with pneumonia? I doubt any of them got as much as a caution.

That doesn't mean they shouldn't have though.

 

[User removed 4]

Wowzers!

While it's pretty vile what he has done, what makes this such a heavy sentence compared to any other racist, or homophobic comments made on message boards, or social network sites?

Would someone posting homophobic comments about us get 56 days in prison?


Not defending what he's done, how can you, but I'm not sure I can understand the punishment.

Nor can I when domestic burglars dont get jailed until they've done it umpteen times, i dont defend what he's done , but far worse crimes are committed without attracting time in prison.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Waste of money. At least suspend the sentence so he's not wasting already stretched resourses, it's not like he's a danger to the rest of society and needs to be locked up.

 

[El Presidente]

Waste of money. At least suspend the sentence so he's not wasting already stretched resourses, it's not like he's a danger to the rest of society and needs to be locked up.

Well said, the bloke is a complete bellend, but the sentence is disproportionate. At least the tabloids will be able to wring their hands in joy at the judge's outcome.

 

[El Presidente]

Nope, still should not be arrested.

Bullying, physical or psychological is of course unacceptable but the dynamics are complex.

It doesn't necessarily follow that any perceived reason for suicide should be made an arrestable offence, no matter how tragic.

Are you saying that internet trolls should be arrested too ?

I fear that you and others that seem quite keen for legal intervention in most things offensive, would then dictate to me what I should be thinking or saying.

With respect I do not think you have any qualification to dictate to others what is acceptable or unacceptable.

With respect, if someone called you a niggerloving cocksucker on NSC, we would take action.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Well said, the bloke is a complete bellend, but the sentence is disproportionate. At least the tabloids will be able to wring their hands in joy at the judge's outcome.

A fair comment, but a lot of me thinks if you act a complete bellend you stand a chance of being unlucky one day. There is a very clear message here.

 

[Gritt23]

I think similar cases have been brought, not sure about similar sentences though - in fact wasn't someone prosecuted last week for racially abusing Colymore - or have I got that wrong ??

Not sure I've seen a custodial term elsewhere, and for this to be the first, then 56 days seems a lot.

The guy who pleaded guilty in the Collymore case got 240hrs Community Service, and had to pay £150 of legal costs.

 

[Wozza]

Waste of money. At least suspend the sentence so he's not wasting already stretched resourses, it's not like he's a danger to the rest of society and needs to be locked up.

He was a danger to himself that night.

 

[aolstudios]

A fair comment, but a lot of me thinks if you act a complete bellend you stand a chance of being unlucky one day. There is a very clear message here.

this

 

[Gritt23]

That doesn't mean they shouldn't have though.

I don't disagree.

I just don't know where it starts and stops, where are the boundaries, and who has set them? If we had flagged up homophobic abuse on a Liverpool message board around teh time of the Cup tie, would someone be serving time for it? Could people on here get in trouble for gypsy / caravan comments to Palace fans? Obviously FAR less trouble than a prick offering up racism when the WHOLE COUNTRY seemed to be holding it's collective breath for Muamba, but could it be a police matter all the same?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Not sure I've seen a custodial term elsewhere, and for this to be the first, then 56 days seems a lot.

The guy who pleaded guilty in the Collymore case got 240hrs Community Service, and had to pay £150 of legal costs.

They seem to deal with these cases very quickly. The ones which I read in the papers seem to be done and dusted within a few weeks.

 

[User removed 4]

A fair comment, but a lot of me thinks if you act a complete bellend you stand a chance of being unlucky one day. There is a very clear message here.

Yes, burgle houses and in some cases, download childporn, with f***ing impunity, you wont get any time, we'd rather waste resources on locking up a fool who didnt physically harm anyone but made a prick of himself by posting racist comments on a social media site .