The Facebook Comment That Ruined a Life

Post by spacehome » Thu, Feb 13, 2014, 9:20 AM UTC

zacinbusiness wrote: post #13

billyjobob wrote: post #9

Wow, I didn't realise US police were that bad. After reading this I don't think I could ever feel safe enough to visit the US. Sounds like you'd have a better chance of getting justice in an African dictatorship where at least the dont-rape-me bribe would be affordable. Tourists really should be warned about this, because it's not the image the US tourist boards present to us at all.

Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia - fear these places.

Post by spacemanmatt » Thu, Feb 13, 2014, 9:21 AM UTC

zacinbusiness wrote: post #28

dirktheman wrote: post #20

I think anyone agrees that this whole situation has been blown out of proportion on a massive scale. But threatening to shoot up a school, in the light of recent events... really? What if he actually DID shoot up a school, and afterwards people discovered that authorities WERE warned? People need to realize that what you post on the internet can be interpreted different than what you actually meant. Besides, threaten…

The problem is that it's not a crime to be an idiot. A lonely teenager who's already angsty gets into a flame war with an internet troll. That happens every day. And much worse things are said between people. What happened here is a dumb kid was dumb, and either the troll or some busy-body made the call to the cops. And, more importantly, an over-achieving DA with aspirations of being a district court judge thought t…

Post by spacemanmatt » Thu, Feb 13, 2014, 9:23 AM UTC

kevingadd wrote: post #19

StavrosK wrote: post #12

Is he charged with anything? I only saw a reference to a "terrorist threat", what kind of fucked up country is one that gets you ten years in jail for joking about committing a crime? Don't you actually have to commit the crime to go to prison, usually?

Outside the internet, death threats are serious business and usually a crime, regardless of whether you have the actual intent or ability to kill someone. Likewise there's that tired old example of yelling fire in a crowded theater (though i don't think that applies here)

Post by fragsworth » Thu, Feb 13, 2014, 9:25 AM UTC

dirktheman wrote: post #50

alan_cx wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"But threatening to shoot up a school, in the light of recent events... really? " Yes, absolutely, really. If you are in playground type ranting slanging match, you go of the most extreme things to say, which could cause shock in the recipient. Right now, things like school shootings are the current shock fodder, and well in peoples minds. So people will use that subject. Same with pedophiles and terrorists. And of c…

I'd say it depends on the occasion. For instance, when Louis C.K. says something similar while performing a comedy show, it's absolutely clear that he's not actually going to shoot up a school. It's meant to shock his audience. When you're posting these things on the internet to people you probably don't even know in person (so they have no way to know wether you're joking or not), things can get hairy quickly. I'm s…

Post by dirktheman » Thu, Feb 13, 2014, 9:29 AM UTC

ItendToDisagree wrote: post #64

dirktheman wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I stand corrected. Achmed the dead terrorist was hilarious!

Anything can be funny. If you want a perfect example (regarding rape, something widely held to be not funny) look up the George Carlin rape bit. It doesn't matter what the subject is. Anything can be funny.