This isnt a matter of if the jokes are out of order or not
Its a matter of the right to free speech. Yes they will be seen as in very poor taste to many people especially family and friends but the thing is most jokes will upset a minority of people who the joke is having a laugh at, rightly or wrongly.
We are lucky enough to live in a country where we can say what we like. One of the small prices for this is occasionally being upset by what some of these people say. I personally dont agree with the views and downright racist comments of say national front members, however I dont want to live in a country where the freedom of said idiots to say what they like are taken away. The other great freedom we have in this country is the freedom to ignore. If these jokes and in particular sikipedia offend you then simply dont go there. There is no need to be outraged that this site and these jokes exist, just make that choice not to go to the site.
This country needs to be thankful for the freedoms we have and not effectively shit its pants and get offended when on occasion these freedoms mean that the odd ugly head rises from them.
I dont need the star or any other public news organisation telling me what I should and should not get offended by. I would prefer to make my own choices thank you very much.
I honestly feel very sorry for the family of this poor girl who has lost her life in such tragic circumstances but personally I hope that if I should succumb to tragic and public death that people will write sick jokes about it and have a good laugh. I wont be there to enjoy it but Id die happier knowing that someone might get a laugh out of it no matter how sick and inappropriate it might appear to other people.
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lord turkey boy and the cleft of venus, Sat 7 Feb 2009, 21:30,
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yes yes - freedom of speech is freedom to be offended etc
But noone seems to be arguing against free speech (though I know in the report one person suggested removing the comments). Freedom of speech doesn't mean that you have a duty to convey any shite that enters your head. Take that mentalist church in the US...a fine example of free speech...doesn't mean that people have to be ok with it.
Another point - the country shitting its pants is the other side of the freedom of speech arguement. If one side is offended, the other has the right to express its offence. So, perhaps you should be the one ignoring the Star?
Also, I get your point about having people tell jokes about you after you're dead but of course you won't mind - you're dead. How about if your child/parent was to die...I doubt you'd be singing the praises of freedom of speech while strangers are chuckling about the death.
I'm not trying to be arsey - I'm just saying that even though I agree with your idea of freedom of speech meaning freedom to be offended, it doesn't mean you have to be a prick and make inappropriate jokes. It's about common sense.
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thiswasmyclone, Sat 7 Feb 2009, 21:43,
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Believe me there are plenty of jokes on that site that offend me to the core
but it would be somewhat hypocritical of me to be able to laugh at one and then be chanting 'ban this sick filth' to the ones that upset me. I simply choose not to go to those sections and respect the rights of other people to either find them funny or offensive and make the same choice that I have.
I do choose to ignore the star and any other publication or area of the media that try to impose its own views on me. The problem is that this type of journalism is all about sensationalism and rousing the masses to be outraged. I am guessing that few people would have specifically known about these jokes concerning this tragedy until they were brought to their attention by this paper. I know I didnt but I know that many people will now be aware and suitable outraged after the publicity of the newspaper. Likewise how many people were offended by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brands now infamous incident at the time? It was only several days after when the national press brought it to the attention of the wider general public that wouldnt have been the original target audience and effectively instructed the moral majority to be outraged and to complain until the BBC did something about it. I am sure that many people who will be genuinely offended by this including this girls family and friends would have been none the wiser but for the reporting of a newspaper trying to whip up its readers in to a fury in order to sell more copies. I am sure many people would be outraged by the content of 'Southpark' my answer is dont watch it and if sick jokes offend you, dont visit web sites where the aim is to provide the visitor with jokes aimed at being sick and offensive.
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lord turkey boy and the cleft of venus, Sat 7 Feb 2009, 22:07,
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fair enough
it makes a nice change around these parts that we can discuss it politely
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thiswasmyclone, Sat 7 Feb 2009, 22:41,
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hahaha
I was thinking exactly the same thing as well :)
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lord turkey boy and the cleft of venus, Sat 7 Feb 2009, 22:48,
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