Harrystottle Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 (edited) Can you provide a list of words that are illegal or you somehow can't say anymore? (Of course you can't, because there aren't any). You can indeed say anything you want - and get a visit to the cells afterwards. ---------- Post added 16-03-2015 at 16:23 ---------- What do you want to say but feel you can't? Does it break forum rules but not british law? Probably both. I was speaking to someone from my old place of work last week and he had been given a telling off for saying the word "blouse". Hope I'm not in trouble with the mods now. Edited March 16, 2015 by Harrystottle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 The government decides which opinions are wrong and suppress then by using threats of punishment, and by doing so they end the right to free speech. ---------- Post added 16-03-2015 at 16:18 ---------- Yes I can but they can't be posted on here or said out loud in a public place because doing so would result in prosecution or a ban. There are certainly words that the forum won't appreciate you using. But there are no illegal words. Feel free to PM a list of illegal words though and I will retract my statement. ---------- Post added 16-03-2015 at 16:28 ---------- This looks a lot like the thread about the word gollywog, all it needs now is someone to insist that saying the word, even in the context of saying the word, is offensive, and it will be identical. ---------- Post added 16-03-2015 at 16:28 ---------- http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1377634&highlight=gollywog For reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InigoMontoya Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Here you go. The opinion of the Met on "freedom of speech" - http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/daniel-brett/protest-jeremy-clarkson_b_6862408.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy75 Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 There are certainly words that the forum won't appreciate you using. But there are no illegal words. Feel free to PM a list of illegal words though and I will retract my statement. ---------- Post added 16-03-2015 at 16:28 ---------- This looks a lot like the thread about the word gollywog, all it needs now is someone to insist that saying the word, even in the context of saying the word, is offensive, and it will be identical. ---------- Post added 16-03-2015 at 16:28 ---------- http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1377634&highlight=gollywog For reference. I found you an example which hopefully won't break forum rules, and is not my opinion. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/7668448/Christian-preacher-arrested-for-saying-homosexuality-is-a-sin.html A Christian street preacher was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a passer-by that homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God. Mr McAlpine was handing out leaflets explaining the Ten Commandments or offering a “ticket to heaven” with a church colleague on April 20, when a woman came up and engaged him in a debate about his faith. During the exchange, he says he quietly listed homosexuality among a number of sins referred to in 1 Corinthians, including blasphemy, fornication, adultery and drunkenness. After the woman walked away, she was approached by a PCSO who spoke with her briefly and then walked over to Mr McAlpine and told him a complaint had been made, and that he could be arrested for using racist or homophobic language. The street preacher said he told the PCSO: “I am not homophobic but sometimes I do say that the Bible says homosexuality is a crime against the Creator”. He claims that the PCSO then said he was homosexual and identified himself as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender liaison officer for Cumbria police. Mr McAlpine replied: “It’s still a sin.” The preacher then began a 20 minute sermon, in which he says he mentioned drunkenness and adultery, but not homosexuality. Three regular uniformed police officers arrived during the address, arrested Mr McAlpine and put him in the back of a police van. At the station, he was told to empty his pockets and his mobile telephone, belt and shoes were confiscated. Police took fingerprints, a palm print, a retina scan and a DNA swab. He was later interviewed, charged under Sections 5 (1) and (6) of the Public Order Act and released on bail on the condition that he did not preach in public. Mr McAlpine pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing on Friday at Workington magistrates court and is now awaiting a trial date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFKvsNixon Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Rights are meaningless without people acting responsibly and the ability to hold people accountable, and the right of freedom of speech is no different. So are people seriously suggesting that there should not be any accountability associated with our freedom of speech, and if people are irresponsible with their freedom of speech, there shouldn't be any consequences? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy75 Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Andrew Mitchell http://www.theguardian.com/global/reality-check/2012/sep/24/andrew-mitchell-swearing-police Someone swearing at the police (or, indeed, just swearing loudly and repeatedly at anyone) can be arrested under section 5 of the 1986 Public Order Act for causing harassment, alarm or distress through "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour". They can also be arrested under the common law offence of breach of the peace. http://www.theguardian.com/global/reality-check/2012/sep/24/andrew-mitchell-swearing-police £80 fine for swearing in public Swearing in public could result in boisterous people being fined £80 in a new police initiative to combat anti-social behaviour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFKvsNixon Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Andrew Mitchell http://www.theguardian.com/global/reality-check/2012/sep/24/andrew-mitchell-swearing-police Someone swearing at the police (or, indeed, just swearing loudly and repeatedly at anyone) can be arrested under section 5 of the 1986 Public Order Act for causing harassment, alarm or distress through "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour". They can also be arrested under the common law offence of breach of the peace. http://www.theguardian.com/global/reality-check/2012/sep/24/andrew-mitchell-swearing-police £80 fine for swearing in public Swearing in public could result in boisterous people being fined £80 in a new police initiative to combat anti-social behaviour. Isn't it the context of the situation that gets you arrested rather than the use of the words by themselves? I hear thousands of football fans sing songs with swearwords in them up and down the country every weekend. How many of them get arrested? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrystottle Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 So are people seriously suggesting that there should not be any accountability associated with our freedom of speech, and if people are irresponsible with their freedom of speech, there shouldn't be any consequences? Someone at Rotherham council tried to speak the truth about child sex abuse by mentioning that the majority of abusers were Pakistani men. She was told never to mention that again before being sent on an "appreciation of diversity" course. Many people just feel intimidated away from any contentious subjects, or contentious words, which of course was always the aim of the "strengthening" of laws against "hate speech". ---------- Post added 16-03-2015 at 16:41 ---------- Isn't it the context of the situation that gets you arrested rather than the use of the words by themselves? I hear thousands of football fans sing songs with swearwords in them up and down the country every weekend. How many of them get arrested? Come back in five years and we'll be finding out, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinfoilhat Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 The government decides which opinions are wrong and suppress then by using threats of punishment, and by doing so they end the right to free speech. ---------- Post added 16-03-2015 at 16:18 ---------- Yes I can but they can't be posted on here or said out loud in a public place because doing so would result in prosecution or a ban. Do you want to say them on here or in public? Are you sure they can't be said on here or in public? PM and I'll say them, or modify them if it's too sweary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFKvsNixon Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Someone at Rotherham council tried to speak the truth about child sex abuse by mentioning that the majority of abusers were Pakistani men. She was told never to mention that again before being sent on an "appreciation of diversity" course. Many people just feel intimidated away from any contentious subjects, or contentious words, which of course was always the aim of the "strengthening" of laws against "hate speech". I think that failures with Rotherham go much deeper than than a fear of not being PC, and it's a convenient smokescreen for the people involved when the truth is they've been criminally negligent in their jobs. That is an argument for another thread though. As to your final point, I have never met one person who's indicated to me that they don't want to take a conversation any further because they're scared of "hate speech" laws. Maybe they haven't because they believe their view to be socially unacceptable, but hasn't it always been the case that need to fit in with our peers has always censored what we've said? ---------- Post added 16-03-2015 at 16:52 ---------- Come back in five years and we'll be finding out, I think. People were saying this ten years ago on here, so you'll have to understand if I'm sceptical about your claim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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