Guy got arrested for making racist comments on twitter about Muamba

GarethSouthgate · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:17

K-2 said:
Since Muamba's collapse there has been a very deliberate media campaign to garner public support and sympathy for the man. While I do not disagree with this in principle and have no ill feeling towards the player, I believe much of the media coverage has been completely uneccessary and is far from being in the nation's interest.

I personally find this supposed outpouring of Diana-esque public sorrow and sympathy rather false and pathetic. If you wish to pray for him for example, by all means do so but why must the intention to do so become public? As is so often the case with this type of thing, it has become less about Muamba and more about the individual supposedly grief-stricken by their plight.

I'm only guessing here but it may be the case that these tweets were the product, not of a racist intent on inciting hatred but purely as an act of rebellion against public opinion. Regardless of his motivation and level of belief in what he posted, a prison sentence is a ridiculous overreaction, not to mention a complete waste of public money.

What a bizarre attitude. There are many, many football fans in this country and something like this is pretty rare so it's quite obvious that a lot of people will have an interest in the whole story. Not only that but there were literally thousands of people who saw it happen right in front of them.

Yet you're surprised by the reaction of the media?

GarethSouthgate · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:17

Von Smallhausen said:
John Terry is charged with a sec 5 public order offence which carries a fine only.

What was the guy in this thread charged with?

LeJosh · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:18

RDM said:
If he was convicted purely on emotion then it should be a pretty easy appeal to win. "As you can see, my client broken no laws, best release him"

I'm sure it was masked under a law that if it truly were enforced for every idiot: preaching nonsense, then there would be a lot more prisoners.

He got prison time because of who he directed it towards, if it was "just" another member of the public, it would be a non-issue.

Considering racism is extremely prevalent in football.

Moothead2 · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:18

sammo62 said:
Suarez was never charged by the police, Terry has been.

Ah, I see. Just shows even more inconsistency then to be honest.

LeJosh · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:20

sigma said:
What was the guy in this thread charged with?

56 days of prison.

GarethSouthgate · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:21

LeJosh said:
56 days of prison.

I meant, what was the actual offence?

Marky · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:24

sigma said:
I meant, what was the actual offence?

Doesn't mention what he was actually charged with on BBC News.

K1LLSW1TCH · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:25

He's going to get bummed so hard by the biggest black guy in whichever prison he's being sent to.

LeJosh · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:25

sigma said:
I meant, what was the actual offence?

Whoops, sorry.

I can't find that information on Sky or BBC. :\

K-2 · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:28

Marky said:
Doesn't mention what he was actually charged with on BBC News.

Yes, but it does say that he 'admitted inciting racial hatred over remarks about the Bolton Wanderers player, who collapsed during a FA Cup tie at Tottenham.'

After reading his initial tweet about Muamba, I'm not sure how it could be construed as inciting racial hatred, considering the fact it doesn't actually refer to race.

Burnsy2023 · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:31

Moothead2 said:
And sending them to prison sends the wrong message.

How does it send the wrong message? Are you saying we should tolerate racism?

Marky said:
So why put one person in prison to "send a message" when they won't be acting on it again in the future.

Who says they won't be acting on it in future?

Marky · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:34

Burnsy2023 said:
Who says they won't be acting on it in future?

They won't! You think John Terry will go to prison for his racist remarks? Highly unlikely. As I already mentioned, there are thousands of cases of racism every day, you think they're going to imprison all of these racists?

K-2 · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:36

Burnsy2023 said:
How does it send the wrong message? Are you saying we should tolerate racism?

Do you really think that stopping people from using racist language, online or otherwise, is actually going to stop them being inherently racist? Personally, I'd rather know what type of person I'm dealing with rather than living alongside a bunch of closet racists, too scared to open their mouths from fear of being thrown in jail.

Andy · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:40

sigma said:
What a bizarre attitude. There are many, many football fans in this country and something like this is pretty rare so it's quite obvious that a lot of people will have an interest in the whole story. Not only that but there were literally thousands of people who saw it happen right in front of them.

Yet you're surprised by the reaction of the media?

No, but it is so typical of them. What about Madeleine McCann? How ridiculous was that?

The number of complaints does not equate to the severity of the crime. It is just a word, some people need to toughen up! Call me a pomme/rosbif/Soutie/Island Apes/TeaSwigger and i won't care.

Burnsy2023 · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:40

K-2 said:
Do you really think that stopping people from using racist language, online or otherwise, is actually going to stop them being inherently racist? Personally, I'd rather know what type of person I'm dealing with rather than living alongside a bunch of closet racists, too scared to open their mouths from fear of being thrown in jail.

But by not taking it seriously, aren't we just condoning it?

Marky said:
They won't! You think John Terry will go to prison for his racist remarks? Highly unlikely. As I already mentioned, there are thousands of cases of racism every day, you think they're going to imprison all of these racists?

They don't have to do it to all of them. People just need to know it's taken seriously enough to be an option during sentencing.

Marky · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:42

Burnsy2023 said:
They don't have to do it to all of them. People just need to know it's taken seriously enough to be an option during sentencing.

Then why should one racist get away with a fine (or sometimes let off all together) when one gets prisoned for 56 days. It's ridiculous. Putting this guy in prison won't stop him from being a racist in future - He just won't be racist in public. Racism should probably be dealt with counselling rather than imprisonment.

Burnsy2023 · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:43

Marky said:
Then why should one racist get away with a fine (or sometimes let off all together) when one gets prisoned for 56 days. It's ridiculous.

Because we have different sentences depending on the actual case and it's merits. You do realise that's the way the criminal justice system works right?

Undeterred · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:45

K-2 said:
Yes, but it does say that he 'admitted inciting racial hatred over remarks about the Bolton Wanderers player, who collapsed during a FA Cup tie at Tottenham.'

After reading his initial tweet about Muamba, I'm not sure how it could be construed as inciting racial hatred, considering the fact it doesn't actually refer to race.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/64/contents

LeJosh · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:46

Burnsy2023 said:
Because we have different sentences depending on the actual case and it's merits. You do realise that's the way the criminal justice system works right?

Yeah, the more money/fame and connections you have, the harder it is to be imprisoned.

Marky · 27 Mar 2012 at 16:46

Burnsy2023 said:
Because we have different sentences depending on the actual case and it's merits. You do realise that's the way the criminal justice system works right?

What is a lower level of racism than posting it on a Twitter account? You think he should get prison - What other racist "case" is lower than that that in your eyes doesn't deserve prison?