Saturday 13 November 2010

Is being stupid a defence?

Time magazine has recently reported on people getting themselves into trouble on Twitter. The two stories ( http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2031116,00.html) focus on a Politician who jokes about stoning a female Muslim and a man who threatened to blow up an Airport.

Now, it seems to me that these are ridiculous things to say and if you said them on Tv you would get slated and arrested. I think perhaps twitter should carry a warning, "are you mind bendingly stupid? Yes? Do not use twitter then.

The simple fact is we are responsible for what we say and do and to pretend otherwise is nonsense. I will use these examples to teach my kids about responsibility when commenting but I expect they will already know!
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1 comment:

  1. No.

    People should be able to say whatever the hell they want - stopping short at shouting "fire" in crowded places.

    All authority is inherently illegitimate. Remember that. Make that your starting point... "Authority" cracking down on "what people say" is an example of authoritarian overreach - in a direction that is incredibly dangerous.

    How many people were killed by terrorists in the 20th Century?

    Hmmm?

    Dunno - but in the 20th Century around 120 Million people were rounded up and murdered by their own governments... generally on grounds as flimsy as "what they were saying".

    So be careful what you wish for eh.

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