General Discussion
I've decided to kill the 'India bans gay sex' thread started by Paul since it was clearly intended to express a homophobic prejudice rather than to start a legitimate debate on the news story. Since the comments by Paul were offensive - to gay men in particular - it breached the t&c's of the site.
Apologies to those who took the time to comment, especially Neilh who contributed a poem.
You're correct. The law in the country says that freedom of speech carries duties and responsibilities in respect of the rights of others. Maybe the freedom of speech brigade should take a dose of the medicine they like to dish out to others when it suits them - 'If you don't like it, don't live here'.
@FredBassett, I agree with free speech and rarely remove comments. I didn't remove the thread because of the news article. I believe that paul's comments were offensive and hateful towards a particular group of people and hence in breach of the terms of the forum. The thread could be reinstated but I think I am right. I am happy to consider people's objections. I don't want to be unfair or biased.
Unfortunatley webmaster you are being biased.... But as the webmaster you have the right to delete what you deem necessary. Did you take any notice of the interloper called ( Smella ) that nearly caused a riot on here, did you delete that thread? Just my thoughts.
Thank you webmaster. I rarely comment here but I have become increasingly alarmed by the highjacking of this site by racists and homophobes. These ignoramouses appear to labour under the erroneous belief that Free Speech means trading vile and spiteful prejudices (since prejudices is what they are since nothing they say appears to be based on fact) with others who are as equally thick and stupid as they themselves are. I'm delighted, Webmaster, that you have taken some control because I for one am prepared to go to the police if this site continues to allow plankton (and you know who they are) to flout the law with impunity. As someone earlier remarked if these morons dont like the constraints the law and civilized society places on us all, go and move somewhere else
I would suspect that sometime in the future. Everything you say and do will be monitored and if required censored and/or punished, if it does not fit within certain criteria decided by the god's in government. Watch Sylvester Stallone in the film Demolition Man - you'll get the idea.
If you keep on the right side of human decency you won't need governments to set your boundaries.
Libby@ The Police post here on a regular basis and it seems to me that no laws have been broken. I have been over the posts you refer to and i know for a fact there is nothing in them that would bring forward prosecutions i have heard worse remarks on TV. And have you ever considered that you may be in a minority who think the way you do and the comments here reflect the general mood of the nation.
LEATASH: Could the general mood of the public actually be reflected by the number of people on here who pressed 'Agree' on the Webmaster's original post? It seems that this forum has it's own silent majority. When have the police posted on this forum, certainly not since I joined up.
leatash: I venture that you do not know 'for a fact' whether or not any laws have been broken. Fortunately participants on Dawlish.com are not representative (of the general population), so no conclusions as to the mood of the nation can be drawn. And if the way I think puts me in a minority, God help us. Do you really want to live in an intolerant racist, sexist, homophobic hell hole? Because if you, and the likes of you, are left unchallenged, thats what will happen. Try using the evidence of your own eyes, given you all appear to be so stupid that you cant read anything other than the gutter press, to see that you are not being threatened by any minority group whatsoever. Get a grip for goodness sake.
Just think of Lee Rigby's family when you say there is no threat from minority groups . What more evidence do you need other than innocent people being slaughtered in broad daylight on a busy street. Open your eyes. If calling for murderous fanatics to be removed from our society makes us racist, then so be it.
Just hope and pray a member of your own family are not the next victim
Smoke and mirrors from FREDBASSETT, as usual. You are yet again tarring all, thanks to the actions of the few, because of your need to spread your vile racism and islamphobia
sorry Paul your up for forty ! Now let's look on the other side of the coin. Just say for example you were on holiday in one of their countries ( not that i would go myself ) and you were walking down the street and you were holding your partners hand and you stopped to kiss each other, you know what would happen you would be arrested and thrown in jail. Am i right or wrong?@Libby. in reply to your comments prior to my retirement i had a position were i had to deal with so called racist and homophobic offences and over a 15year period only one complaint that i can recall ended up in court. as the law stands at this moment in time no offences have been committed on this forum. folks word there comments so as not to fall into the legislation trap but lbby if you feel you have a case take it to the police i think you will be dissapointed at the outcome. there has been more laws broken by the participants of the above article than will ever be broken here have they been charged not on your life i would like to ask why not. now it may be @Libby that you believe that they should be allowed under the freedom of speech legistion to carry on why dont you produce the same leaflet and take them round restaurants in exeter, dawlish you would be in custody before you blinked. to finish i havent purchased a newspaper in 20yrs gutter or otherwise my evidence comes from crime stats you should look up crime by ethnicity you might be surprised.
Blah blah blah Leatash - I am perfectly aware of crime statistics and suggest that a racist judicial system and police force may offer an alternative explanation for the overrepresentation of ethnic minorities. Brooklyn Bridge - so bloody what? Its perfectly legal to protest in this country. To me, their mob of protesters dont look any different to the white, right wing mobs on the football terraces chanting their particular demands. All of them men, and all of them cocking their legs to see who can pee higher. They are what they are - MOBS - the lot of them, unpleasant and regretably part of our society and very little use to man or beast. And as for your old chestnut of going on holiday and when in Rome (I paraphrase). Is that the best you can come up with to support the demonization of an entire group of people? Ridiculous. Fred Basset - your prayers for the safety of my family come too late. My mothers home was broken into by two black men. They killed her husband and beat her with bricks before trying to hang her from an air conditioning unit. She survived four skull fractures and numerous other injuries to die 6 months later. They stole a watch. Do I hold Black people responsible for this? Of course I dont. I hold two individuals responsible. So do not assume you speak on my behalf, or on behalf of my family, when you spout your garbage. My family and I try to be better people. b.o.liking I call them (you?) stupid because nothing you all post convinces me that any of you have an IQ above that of a slug. Since you ask
Libby, I'm sincerely very sorry. Rising above that experience puts perspective on the xenophobic bile spilled by a handful of mouthy bigots here. They think they speak with authority from their predominantly all-white, heterosexual, non-Muslim enclave by the sea.
If your perception of Dawlish is as you describe maybe thats why so many people from outside the area choose to come and live here year on year. With foresight pehaps thats why developers are so keen to build as many new houses as quickly as they can, to meet the demand. Thanks for that one its all making more sense now
Fred I suspect people like the sea and the relatively cheap house prices in one of the country's most picturesque and expensive counties. It's a big leap of logic to connect it to racial profiling but good luck when you come to use it to sell your house.
BB I don't speak for Libby but nowhere does she say she's forgiven or forgotten. She's just not holding an entire race responsible for the unforgivable actions of two individuals. That's at the heart of this entire discussion and is at the heart of racism.
@Libby - rose tinted glasses. you obviously do not live in the real world, i would deduce, from your comments.
Mcjrpc Thank you for your kind words - and for your quite correct interpretation of my post - my delay in responding is due to technical problems (story of my life!) but I much appreciate your response!
OLD FART I obviously dont live in the real world eh? Quite how you deduce that I neither know nor care. To be frank, were I looking for advice on the world from someone, you would be third in a league of people containing the Ayatollah Khomenei and Ghengis Khan I would seek out. Hey Ho....
However, Khomeini and Genghis Khan are dead. Does this offer Old Fart some hope of a future reconciliation?
(possibly in a parallel universe, as you cannot agree what the real world is.)
Maybe Kim Jong-un and George Bush should replace Khomeini and Genghis Khan as contemporary living manifestations of psychopathy unleashed.
@Libby. I must say i'm a little chuffed that you would put me in third place to Ayatollah Khomenei and Ghengis Khan I can't think of any better company in this day and age to get rid of all the lame and limp that bog down this once great country. Oh, shame you missed out good old Adolf.