'just guilty of setting up a facebook page'? that's not what they were found guilty of is it?
at least, luckily, no-one was stupid enough to act on it, it appears, but it makes no odds, they attempted to start a riot.
would it have been any different if they'd been giving out leaflets?
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spesh., Wed 17 Aug 2011, 11:03,
Reply)
This is purely conjecture and opinion
but I think it may actually be different if they were handing out leaflets, yes. And I'd probably be more comfortable with the sentence too.
Handing out leaflets takes effort, planning and money. The mere fact of doing it is much more of a statement of intent than any half arsed idiot being able to set up a FB page in 30 seconds flat. I'd be a lot more inclined to take these idiots seriously if they were standing on the streets pushing pieces of paper with times and dates and messages on into people's hands.
As it is, and I don't know their motives of course, two people who were already likely to struggle to achieve anything in life have now been turned over to the hands of a failing prison system that is going to fuck them over good and proper for what could well be no more than a fleeting moment of stupidity.
Edit: Sorry, I've just realised it looks like I am following you around responding only to your points, that wasn't intentional, it just happens that your posts have been the ones that have inspired my thoughts.
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scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 17 Aug 2011, 11:13,
Reply)
well that's alright then, we'll tell the EDL to stick to facebook and they'll be ok
edit: reply away, there would no point either of us posting if you didn't would there? :)
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spesh., Wed 17 Aug 2011, 11:19,
Reply)
Well I think that over simplifes my point somewhat
It comes back to taking each case on it's merits. If there was a coordinated, organised effort by the EDL to incite violence using FB that's still different to giving a computer to two moron's and ending up with a shitty but ultimately ineffective one off FB group.
I should say again, I'm not arguing that legal action should not have been taken, I just feel quite strongly that locking two people up for four years for stupidity isn't right, sets a dangerous precedent and is abusing the law to set an example.
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scarpe We Stole Bikes, Wed 17 Aug 2011, 11:26,
Reply)
I would reply to this but I will end up never leaving the house today if this goes on which is a waste of a day off.
and anyway we both have our opinions on this - whether the sentence is too harsh is probably quite subjective anyway.
but thank you for the discussion :)
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spesh., Wed 17 Aug 2011, 11:38,
Reply)