That's an improvement though - normally he plays like he's got a whole sack of potatoes round his neck.

A stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell give some indication of expected traffic numbers

Phew. I'm sure we can all sleep safer at night knowing that a dumb 12-year old kid has been arrested for hurty words on the internet.

Meanwhile, my local (black) drug-dealing, bike-stealing, bin-burning gang continues to act with impunity and terrorise our neighborhood with zero action or response from the police, despite calls. If only I could check what the scum were posting on Twitter though - maybe that's how we'd finally get rid of them.

Talk about agenda-driven policing.

Dealing with your local problem is causing it.

I know you're being flippant but this is actually true. If someone documents a crime online then yes they will be arrested. Countless people are arrested because they're so dim they record themselves beating someone up or smashing something up. Days of a 'bobby on the beat' or investigating anything that isn't open and shut are all but over... unfortunately.

Perhaps you haven't listened to many 12 year old boys.

Having been a teacher I can tell you that offensive abuse isn't uncommon. We are talking about children here and children explore and learn and that unfortunately can also be anti social like this.

You are just more interested in this abuse because it's racial. However, abuse is abuse.

There's a certain selectivity going on here. Much, much worse abuse than this is said and done everyday....yet it gets zero attention because most aren't interested.

Yet when it comes the way of a multi millionaire footballer, suddenly everyone wants a piece.

Edited by Stirlingsays (13 Jul 2020 1.00pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Well yes, it's fair to say that most 12 year olds aren't behaving like this on social media. Hence why it stood out. A high profile target too, so the outcome is predictable. It does have to be weighed against the fact that he's a kid though.

Some want to make an overly politicised 'example' of him as Hrolf pointed out, which is unfortunate. On the opposite end, some would no doubt love the idea of nurturing the boys outlook in a way that retains the worldview but loses the coarse delivery. Hopefully this isn't why this has happened in the first place. Personally, I'd rather him become a full and respectful member of society and know how to behave towards others and learn from his mistakes. The police will knock this nonsense on the head, and unless the family is social services material, they will be as ashamed of his actions as the target was shocked. It's a lamentable episode, but better it comes from a 12 year old who can learn from it, than an adult out to genuinely do damage. He's primarily guilty of wasting police time and embarrassing himself. I doubt he'll be doing it again in a hurry and it'll blow over. Tomorrow's fish and chip paper.

Edited by BlueJay (13 Jul 2020 2.08pm)