this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2023
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[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Imaging living in a country where you can be arrested for wearing an offensive costume...

oh wait, i do 🙄

[–] Arrakis 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The force said a man was arrested on 1 November on suspicion of using a public communication network to send offensive messages and other offences.

I think there may be more to this story than just "wearing an offensive costume", but without seeing what was said in the posts that's sheer conjecture.

Edit

Turns out there was more to the story! Whodathunkit!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

using a public communication network to send offensive messages and other offences.

This is often used to prosecute "Offensive" social media posts. I think they got count dankula using something similar to that

[–] Arrakis 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

People often forget that their right to free speech ends where it impacts the rights of others.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't think there is a "right not be offended" and i also don't think there should be. if only for the fact that offense is entirely subjective.

[–] Arrakis 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I didn't say anything about offense...

You can't call someone a racial slur and claim it was free speech, for example.

Edit

Is it really that controversial that hate speech isn't the same as free speech? Really?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

if calling someone a racial slur is not about offense then what is it about?

[–] Arrakis 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Maybe you should look up the definition of hate speech.

I'm not saying it's what happened here, but the idea it's about "offense" is something worthy of the Daily Mail. The law doesn't deal with opinion in reality, only headlines.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

maybe you should look up the definition of free speech.

Free speech and hate speech laws are not compatible

[–] Arrakis 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Yes... That's exactly what I've been saying, your right to free speech ends when it becomes hate speech. I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make.

Re: your edit. Are you trying to say that hate speech should be allowed? I'm genuinely baffled.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

if i am not free to speak hate then i do not have free speech

your argument can be turned around, your "right" not to be offended ends where it infringes on my right to free speech.

What is considered "Hate" speech is essentially a line arbitrarily drawn in the sand

[–] Arrakis 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Hahahaha

Alrighty then. We shall agree to disagree. Good thing the law is on the side of sense, and not your fixation on offense (which, again, is nothing to do with it).

Re your edit: if you actually knew what hate speech is defined as in law, you'd know that's not true.

It seems all the edgy teenagers are out in force today, so I'm outta here! Toodle-ooo!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you're not willing to talk about offense then why are you commenting on an article about someone arrested "on suspicion of using a public communication network to send offensive messages"

[–] Arrakis 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Because "offensive messages" defined in law is not the same as "being offended". But like I said, I'm tired of dealing with edgy teenagers today so I'm not going to try and explain to you further, I lack the crayons. Laters.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If something is to be considered offensive then it must by definition cause offense to someone. otherwise how do you tell if something is offensive?

Seriously, do you understand words or not?

[–] Arrakis 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Connotative meaning and denotative meaning of words are why the language used in laws is so specific. If you knew anything about the law or how it works, you'd know that.

Any more questions you want answered I'd suggest either Google or your teacher.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What has the difference between connotative and denotative meanings go to do with the word "offensive" in "offensive messages". used in that context "offensive" requires someone to be offended, that is its main meaning... otherwise it has no meaning.

Anyway i thought you were checking out like three messages ago, why are you still here trying (and failing) to guess my age?

[–] Arrakis 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Since you've already asked and had this one answered, I'll just copy/paste it for you, but I'd again suggest you look up the meaning of the terms:

Because “offensive messages” defined in law is not the same as “being offended”.

You asked a question, I answered. It's only polite after all. With each comment you make, you're only making your ignorance of law more clear to those who actually understand what you're talking about. If you're not a teenager, well, you have some learning to do I guess.

E: it's kind of sweet you're going back just to downvote my comments. I like that you're dedicating so much time to me <3

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago

if you are not free to speak certain things then by definition you do not have free speech.