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British Students Arrested for Making "Racist" Tweets

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BlackCupid
Posts: 1533 - Karma: 9
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17434587

A student has admitted posting racially offensive comments on Twitter about footballer Fabrice Muamba.

Liam Stacey, 21, appeared at Swansea magistrates' court after tweeting about the Bolton Wanderers player who collapsed during a FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The 23-year-old, who suffered a cardiac arrest, remains critically ill.

Stacey, a Swansea University student from Pontypridd, admitted a racially-aggravated public order offence.

He was arrested after his comments on the social networking site were reported by other users.

He has been released on bail and is due to be sentenced on 27 March,

Prosecutor Lisa Jones told the court: "Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch and was believed to have died."

The court heard shortly afterwards Stacey posted the offensive comments.

Complaints

Magistrates were told police forces across Britain received complaints following the comments.

Stacey tried to "distance himself" from the tweets by claiming his account had been hacked, the court was told.

Magistrates heard he later tried to delete his page but he was arrested on Sunday at his student house in Swansea.

Click for larger imageFabrice Muamba, 23, collapsed during a match on Saturday

When interviewed by police, Stacey said he had been drinking since lunchtime on Saturday and was drunk when he made the comments.

He told police: "I was at the bar when I heard what had happened to Muamba. I don't know why I posted it.

"I'm not racist and some of my friends are from different cultural backgrounds."

Bailed

Stacey was close to tears as the evidence was given about his tweets.

The court heard he later texted a friend and said: "I said something about Muamba that I shouldn't have and tweeted back to some people who abused me. Getting police on me now which isn't good at all."

Stacey was told in court that he could be jailed over the comments.

He has been bailed until he is sentenced and has been ordered not to use Twitter and other social networking sites.

Here are the tweets in question:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA5v2eZ5ZZE&feature=player_embedded


Mar 20 2012 12:38AM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
It was written by Reza Kahlili and it pointed out various similarities between the attacks in France and past state-sponsored terrorism by Iran.

Seeing as how he was a CIA double agent for years in Iran, I'd say his words carry some weight.

Also the fact that Iran has carried out similar attacks on Jewish communities in the past (and has declared a global jihad against the Jewish people), it's not a far-fetched idea, but I guess too much for the groupthink pervasive in this thread.




Mar 20 2012 3:43PM
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maynaiseman
Posts: 1088 - Karma: 129
The authorities need to read this thread from start to finish.
https://www.newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/614959/
Mar 20 2012 3:58PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
You should take a long shower.
Mar 20 2012 3:59PM
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maynaiseman
Posts: 1088 - Karma: 129
That could end disastrously.
Mar 20 2012 4:03PM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within groups of people. It is the mode of thinking that happens when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative ideas or viewpoints.

The UK of today is a far cry from the UK of Winston Churchill. You've all become spineless.

Explain to me how saying, "ya so and so is a n***er because he plays on a soccer team I don't like" on a twitter warrants arrest, while racial hatred of this sort receives none?
Click for larger image


Why the double standard?
Mar 20 2012 4:21PM
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Smuffy
Posts: 4686 - Karma: 3,408
how could anarchy not be ideal? dumbhead

also, that picture bandelero just posted reminds a little bit of these people... you know, totally normal christians.
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Mar 20 2012 4:41PM
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Anathema
Posts: 21048 - Karma: 5,061
time to do a 360 and walk away
Mar 20 2012 4:43PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
Hilarious how you try to undermine one psychological phenomenon without just understanding that maybe not everyone has "a group", but just builds their own beliefs based on the world they see and hear around them, not the people or strict nor loose ideals.

And talk about criticizing groupthink and posting a picture of muslim protesters - surely not a part of group, are they.
Mar 20 2012 4:45PM
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JDA
Posts: 572 - Karma: 566
https://twitter.com/#!/Walken4GOP <-- This guy is also making racist tweets to the UK but being protected by the country he lives in.

Mar 20 2012 4:45PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
>Christian Conservative
>#Romney2012


wololololol
Mar 20 2012 4:48PM
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Skavengers303
Posts: 964 - Karma: 192
for some reason i also don't like the idea of racial comments being punishable by the government. I mean in America racist asshole have to be careful of where they make such comments not because of fear of being arrested, but because of fear of rejection from peer.I am a true believer that behavior modification should be Strictly done by social pressures. we don't need a baby sitter to run our lives. I feel like we can decided what is right and wrong on our own.

I can see where this law is coming from, and am not putting down the UK because of it. its just that i would most likely be against a law like that here, because i see it as just one more law taking away my freedoms. and the question then arises, how many rights of our need to be striped for that picture perfect utopia? a government should be instated for protection and the organization/stability of a society, not a controller or nanny.
Mar 20 2012 4:50PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
That law is in place because of a multitude of reasons, one being as mentioned earlier, the great colonialist background and the masses of different races, ethnicities and cultures they have helped migrate to the UK.

On top of that, like also said before, this is not a slippery slope type of law, it is one that helps protect the citizens of a nation, with many of them coming from backgrounds that might lead to racist outbursts and actions, all public incitations like these should be nipped in the bud.

Many people have that facade - they have multicultural or ethnich friends or acquaintances and tolerate slash hang out with them, yet inside harbor hateful shit like this guy, and it came out with a little swift power of the spirit drink.

It is in place exactly for the reason of stability and protection of a society.
Mar 20 2012 4:59PM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
Here we go again,

comparing the 20 (or slightly more?) members of the inbred Westborough Baptist church to the swarms of Muslim fanatics across Europe and the Middle East.

One is led by a "pastor" who preaches to a small group of his own family and hold up stupid placards for attention. The other is led by numerous high islamic religious leaders, in positions of power, who preach hatred of the West and the complete domination of Islam over the world to a horde of followers on an international level. One is responsible for almost all the acts of terrorism around the world and countless deaths, the other for stirring up controversy  on mainstream news channels.

You're a moron if you keep pretending that Christian and Islamic ideologies are alike. And save me any quotes from Deuteronomy or Leviticus.



Mar 20 2012 5:15PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
seriously lol @ all people who think that their racism is something that has to be protected.

seriously, grow the fuck up. freedom, yea nice, but where is the border to anarchy? i cant ride over people with my car because i feel like it. there is NO ABSOLUTE FREEDOM and shit would hit the fan if there was. why seperate psychological and physical violence? there is no justification for it. the problem is that a lot of people just fear imaginary enemies and communists on every corner.

a huge argument could be made that a law system could entirely be based on something like the golden rule. and to me, that would include something against racial comments.


thank you guys. logic 1, fuckheads 0.
Mar 20 2012 5:16PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
Organized religion is cancer, we all know that. Doesn't matter which side you're playing for or were born into, but it doesn't factor in race and hate crimes in modern society.

There are many players in the game, as I mentioned before, and making assumptions based on one person's opinion before there's any reliable information is just inane.
Mar 20 2012 5:24PM
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Skavengers303
Posts: 964 - Karma: 192
I think you guys are misinterpreting me. i am not arguing for racism. I am more trying to say that many morality issues are more easily resolved through societal pressures then through governmental law.

this law is intriguing to me however. i mean we do have laws protecting employees rights, in which racism of any kind is grounds for employment termination. we also have some laws regarding racial harassment. but the situation come off as excessive that if i were to make a joke about racial stereotypical in my own house, police officers could barge in and arrest me.


Mar 20 2012 5:27PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
But what about societal pressures that are towards being racist? Take that Texas twitter guy, for example, or many like him, out there, spreading the word in hick towns or places where "the norm" is to be xenophobic, learn to hate what isn't "normal". I mean, in Finland there are still people who haven't seen an actual black person in their whole lives yet.

Some counties/areas where the only real wisdom comes from those who rise up and are the most vocal and passionate about a subject such as race or ethnicity, they can create a societal pressure for the worse. Or, actually, have and will create until these things can really change.
Mar 20 2012 5:33PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
i wasnt talking to you. sry that i didnt make that obvious. youre thinking waaaay to rational and you dont resort to calling names, so again, i wasnt talking to you.
Mar 20 2012 5:39PM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
"if there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable."

-William J Brennan, Jr.

Known for being judicially liberal and having progressive views during his term at the Supreme Court.
Mar 20 2012 5:41PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
Again.... does not apply to the UK.

Good day to you.
Mar 20 2012 5:44PM
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tommyp1ckles
Posts: 1337 - Karma: 55
So to change peoples opinion on different races we should give certain races special protection and treatment? you cant beat racism with different types of racism. regardless of what you think we cant police peoples thought and if you want to change someones opinion then harboring resentment by arresting people for something as stupid as a racist twitter post is just silly.
Mar 20 2012 5:46PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,846
i never said that.   and yes stop with this argument that it will go nuts from there,  its bs.



Description of Slippery Slope

The Slippery Slope is a fallacy in which a person asserts that some event must inevitably follow from another without any argument for the inevitability of the event in question. In most cases, there are a series of steps or gradations between one event and the one in question and no reason is given as to why the intervening steps or gradations will simply be bypassed. This "argument" has the following form:

  1. Event X has occurred (or will or might occur).
  2. Therefore event Y will inevitably happen.

This sort of "reasoning" is fallacious because there is no reason to believe that one event must inevitably follow from another without an argument for such a claim. This is especially clear in cases in which there is a significant number of steps or gradations between one event and another.


Mar 20 2012 5:46PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
That's your problem right there...
Mar 20 2012 5:48PM
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Ac31stuff
Posts: 557 - Karma: 10
what is he being charged with emotional distress to the family if that is the case i agree with the law but if its just for tweeting thats not right because people should be allowed to have opinions even if they are ignorant and pigheaded.
Mar 20 2012 5:50PM
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Mike-O
Posts: 14593 - Karma: 1,089
Learn to read, seriously, and after that, learn to understand, and after that, if if you still don't get it, learn and read until you stop being ignorant and pigheaded yourself.
Mar 20 2012 5:53PM
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The_Big_Tuna
Posts: 799 - Karma: 75
Click for larger image
Mar 20 2012 6:02PM
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Flozz
Posts: 144 - Karma: 13
Just as well or he might have had you for "inciting psychological violence" as per your earlier post.

I don't think anyone is advocating racism here and I think you're aware of that. It just make me genuinely uncomfortable when the first response to a situation like this are calls for government intervention.

No surprises either that this situation is taking place in Britain. Home to one of the biggest nanny governments around. (not a dig just an observation)
Mar 20 2012 6:08PM
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Abu_Hajaar
Posts: 2749 - Karma: 3,907
Every single British rap artist is going to get life without parole.
Mar 20 2012 6:27PM
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razors-chaz
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 1,250
i am intrigued as to why you say this, please explain.

As i mentioned before this guy is being made an example of as this story of the footballer collapsing has been all over the news.with football being the national sport of the uk (and the source of some racism) it is right to tackle the problem of racism through this. the only way to change the mindset of the population on a thing like racism, which is fairly deep-set in the uk culture, is by enforcing legistlation.

I definitely cant believe people supporting it as freedom of speech. freedom of speech is the right to have and voice an opinion but this isnt an opinion, but racially ensighted verbal abuse.

to anybody who is thinking convicting somebody over remarks on social media is taking things too far need to think about how integrated and public it has become. to the more general case of being held responsible for actions on the internet what are youre views on conviction over something like child porn? (a definitely more serious case but still valid in context)
Mar 20 2012 6:48PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
Yeah, okay... sure. Because the westboro baptist church is the ONLY ONE who pulls this shit.

Here's something you fail to understand. There are christian troops in many Muslim countries right now, who are armed with christian and jewish made weapons. That looks PRETTY fucked up to these people. Put yourself in their shoes for once.

...How many muslim based troops are stationed in a predominantly christian country? I can think of one, and that's Lebanon... and if you know anything about that country, it's a fucking hellhole when it comes to religious groups fighting each other. If there was a shitload of turmoil here, and saudi troops were sent into the USA to stop the infighting between say... mormons, catholics, and protestants or something, then what the FUCK would you think? You'd want to take up arms too right? and wouldn't you call yourself a freedom fighter in that case?

...your worldview on religion is so fucked up. I have doubts you've even met a real muslim. Hell, if it weren't for muslims, you'd probably be baggin on black people... or latinos (oh wait... you already do haha)


Mar 20 2012 7:04PM
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sherwood4099
Posts: 1173 - Karma: 22
Threads like this make me swell with pride for being an American. In America we draw the line at physical, actionable threats. Not words not opinions. When I saw the post above about how freedom should not be absolute it depressed me even when. It comes to freedom on speech that's such an authoritarian stance. Europes a great place to visit but damn I love my country!
Mar 20 2012 7:10PM
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sherwood4099
Posts: 1173 - Karma: 22
Thanks to the USA you've never been occupied
Mar 20 2012 7:13PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
Oh, by the way folks... this thread is about a drunk dude from Wales getting arrested for making some racist tweets on the internet - Which is fucking bullshit, because he probably did it just because he doesn't like Bolton Wanderers FC or something.

This guy is from South Wales, and is possibly a supporter of say... Swansea FC, which plays in the premiership with Bolton. Bolton knocked Swansea out of the FA Cup back in January. With how piss drunk he was, and with how important football is to folks, I'm not entirely surprised by his actions, considering I've seen way worse.


...needless to say, the fact that he was arrested for the ordeal is a complete waste of time what with all the other bullshit Britain and particularly South Wales has going on.
Mar 20 2012 7:14PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
completely irrelevant.

the fuck dude, everyone goes a little off topic once in a while, but what the fuck dude? seriously, the fuck?







jk, dont get all too fired up because you read my name.
Mar 20 2012 7:15PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
Thanks to the United Kingdom, English is your first language.

...shut the fuck up with the WW2, "we saved your bacon, and we're going to throw it in your face'' crap - especially being how pussy young this country's established government is in comparison.


Mar 20 2012 7:17PM
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sherwood4099
Posts: 1173 - Karma: 22
Whatever see you next time you guys need your asses saved. You mad?
Mar 20 2012 7:17PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
They have the bomb, ya derp. Nobody's gonna fuck with that.
Mar 20 2012 7:18PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
if you think the US intervened in WWII to "save the world", then please go on and enlighten me.

without pearl harbor, you would have saved 0 asses from the nazis. You mad?
Mar 20 2012 7:19PM
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sherwood4099
Posts: 1173 - Karma: 22
That was the outcome regardless
Mar 20 2012 7:20PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
This thread is officially special ed...
Mar 20 2012 7:24PM
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Skavengers303
Posts: 964 - Karma: 192

Actually i can definitely see what you're saying. social norms are subject to change with time, and looking back in history, some pretty evil disgusting things were once acceptable if not praised. governmental law i guess provides a more stable norm. even though it still is susceptible to change, it will greatly outlive social norms.

Now whats your opinion on the idea that this kind of law strengthens the notion that different races actually have a significant difference between them? and that a purely open minded society is impossible to exist as long as laws of that nature continue to exist?

what i mean is that racism and stereotypes are derived out of the idea that there really is significant difference between races, which in turn creates an in-group out-group mental structure. when only societal pressures are used to encourage the withholding of racist behaviors, there leaves open the chance that people will finally become desensitized to cultural and racial differences and will view everyone as equals. The whole concept of racism will disappear. with governmental law however, racism will always exist to some extent because that law acts as a reminder that we are separate groups.


Mar 20 2012 8:20PM
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BlackCupid
Posts: 1533 - Karma: 9
This thread got out a little out of hand.

-Bandolero made some good points, and you guys acted like little kids trying to refute his arguments.

-Some people seem to think banning racist speech is eradicating racism. That's absurd. Racism will exist whether one can pronounce it publicly or not.

-Many people think the student was being racist. I disagree with this. Nothing he posted suggested a belief that blacks are inherently inferior. He might have been racially offensive, sure, but not racist.

-The use of the word "nigger" is not inherently racist. Was Ralph Ellison a racist when he used the word in Invisible Man? Are rappers racist for using the word in their music? Also, there are numerous examples of people using the word to refer to people other than blacks. In Jean Rhys' A Wide Sargasso Sea, the word is used to insult both blacks and whites. Many social activists such as Dick Gregory and rapper Greydon Square think the eradication of the word would cause more harm than good.


(It's probably necessary to build the author's credibility when citing a rapper: Greydon Square is college-educated, with degrees in both physics and computer science.)

-The people who claim racism isn't part of freedom of speech are ridiculous. If you're only allowed to express your beliefs when they're socially accepted, you don't have freedom of speech. It's society who deems racism to be unacceptable. What happens if society deems your political beliefs unacceptable as well? There is little difference between saying 'blacks are inferior' and 'republicans are inferior.'

The fact that the British government is willing to stretch the law to prosecute somebody when there is public outcry against his speech is terrifying. Stretch the law a little now, and you can stretch it a little more the next time. Rigidity in law should be the standard.

-The people who keep claiming a slippery slope fallacy are making a fallacious argument themselves. Nobody is suggesting that the destruction of freedom of speech will inevitably occur after this. However, we are one step closer to it. That is dangerous. I wonder if people claimed a slippery slope fallacy when others expressed dismay at Hitler's militarization of the Rhineland.

Summary: This shows a trend towards Orwellian government. That is scary.
Mar 20 2012 10:04PM
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hey-dude-its-me
Posts: 4238 - Karma: 412
^jesus that was painful to read, you definitely fit the mold for the type people who would give banalero credibility tho
Mar 20 2012 10:07PM
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hey-dude-its-me
Posts: 4238 - Karma: 412
haha well the arrow thing was a fail so I'll quote this as the highlight. not a slippery slope but one step closer, wtf
Mar 20 2012 10:08PM
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Ac31stuff
Posts: 557 - Karma: 10
For the most part i agree but what if a student commits suicide because of homophobic bullying (this is in the news like twice a month) what do you think in that situation
Mar 20 2012 10:09PM
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AT-AT
Posts: 3281 - Karma: 3,256
Well i was going to  make a post on my opinion.....
Mar 20 2012 10:11PM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
How the hell was that painful to read? It was well thought out and coherently written, which is much more than can be said for anything you've ever posted.

Don't get your feelings hurt just because I called you out in a previous thread for being at a 6th grade reading level.




Mar 20 2012 11:06PM
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hey-dude-its-me
Posts: 4238 - Karma: 412
This thread got out a little out of hand.

-Bandolero made some good points, and you guys acted like little kids trying to refute his arguments.
no he didnt, maybe

-Some people seem to think banning racist speech is eradicating racism. That's absurd. Racism will exist whether one can pronounce it publicly or not.
you can say 'some people' think anything, but get real the vast majority of people don't think that's true at all. also you're not acknowledging any positive aspects just focusing on the fact that its not a pancea.

-Many people think the student was being racist. I disagree with this. Nothing he posted suggested a belief that blacks are inherently inferior. He might have been racially offensive, sure, but not racist.
It was pretty racist...

-The use of the word "nigger" is not inherently racist. Was Ralph Ellison a racist when he used the word in Invisible Man? Are rappers racist for using the word in their music? Also, there are numerous examples of people using the word to refer to people other than blacks. In Jean Rhys' A Wide Sargasso Sea, the word is used to insult both blacks and whites. Many social activists such as Dick Gregory and rapper Greydon Square think the eradication of the word would cause more harm than good.
none of this is relevant to anything, at all. thats not just me saying it because I dont have anything else to say, those are all completely seperate from this.




(It's probably necessary to build the author's credibility when citing a rapper: Greydon Square is college-educated, with degrees in both physics and computer science.)


-The people who claim racism isn't part of freedom of speech are ridiculous. If you're only allowed to express your beliefs when they're socially accepted, you don't have freedom of speech. It's society who deems racism to be unacceptable. What happens if society deems your political beliefs unacceptable as well? There is little difference between saying 'blacks are inferior' and 'republicans are inferior.'
implying society doesn't have a right to deem things unacceptable... huh? also slippery slope.

The fact that the British government is willing to stretch the law to prosecute somebody when there is public outcry against his speech is terrifying. Stretch the law a little now, and you can stretch it a little more the next time. Rigidity in law should be the standard.
more slippery slope

-The people who keep claiming a slippery slope fallacy are making a fallacious argument themselves. Nobody is suggesting that the destruction of freedom of speech will inevitably occur after this. However, we are one step closer to it. That is dangerous. I wonder if people claimed a slippery slope fallacy when others expressed dismay at Hitler's militarization of the Rhineland.
third slippery slope while somehow thinking you're making a compelling denial about doing what you're doing. unnecessarily evoking Hitler/Nazis=instant loss of credibility

Summary: This shows a trend towards Orwellian government. That is scary.
Mar 20 2012 11:25PM
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hey-dude-its-me
Posts: 4238 - Karma: 412
see above.

also my feelings aren't hurt, I called you out for being unnecessarily hateful and you wrote a bunch of paragraphs trying to seem smart, I told you I was unimpressed, you got pissed and wrote more shit I didn't read
Mar 20 2012 11:27PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24725 - Karma: 29,944
...he acted like a little kid in turning this thread onto a topic that should be reserved for other threads.

Where he got off turning this into a muslim thing is beyond me.
Mar 20 2012 11:43PM
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