Libel and threat to violence were the level set in this country for hundreds of years.

That system enabled free speech to exist within the most successful system in the world. I think the people who devised that were far from idiots.

Our current system though....

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

I recall many years ago the racist abuse hurled at visiting black players but when Hilaire did something special - and he was usually several shades darker than the players abused - it was Well done Vince and a cue for that song.

Says as much about the intelligence of those fans than anything else.

Really?

I grew up literally watching Dave Allen take the p1ss out of religion nearly every week during his series on the box.

The only taboo I remember on the telly was swearing and no one was arresting you for it.

No, today we have 'protected classes', and 'perception' of 'offence' which are bad laws and I will complain like feck about it every day of the week because these laws shouldn't exist.

I heard the other day that more people are arrested for what they say in this country than they are in Russia.

Edited by Stirlingsays (04 Sep 2023 8.54pm)

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

Yes, of course I have, every day he rings me up and tells me what to post on football forums about the topics of the day.

You still using 'lol' I see....still stuck in the past on that one then.

Edited by Stirlingsays (04 Sep 2023 9.08pm)

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

Perhaps, but our laws were definitely far more free on speech.....It was a free country but we just had social taboos...I would argue, better ones than today.

I do know that after WW2 the Soviets tried to pass laws on speech somewhat similar to today via international agreements and the allies rejected them.

Only for the champagne left to end up doing it generations later....and the right to cuck to it.

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

The parliament in Ireland has recently tried to bring in the most Draconian Censorship laws on Earth. Even down to what books you own. And the international outcry has been Loud.

the legislation has stalled, pending the next sneaky trick. And all in the name of 'hate speech'.

The Early Medieval. Remember Tyburn. People getting hung, drawn, and quartered for saying a few hurty words against the contemporary sacred-cows. Religion.

Modern France.....Bataclan Theatre.....islamic blasphemy laws being enforced at the tip of a Kalashnikov.

Censor All or Censor none.
Arrest both the offensive football fan, AND the latest homophobic hip-hop album, AND anybody owning an ancient Holy book with incitement to murder contained in its pages, AND any public figure calling us to murder people in Ukraine.....Hate speech travels in both directions.

Arrest whoever got inside the heads of the two monsters that did Lee Rigby. Did they shout hurty words in a Football stadium ?

How many football fans have been arrested for racist abuse ? and how many radical clerics ? and how many senior politicians have been done for incitement to violence ? There has been no clamour to 'negotiate with Vlad Putin'.....and a big clamour to kill all his soldiers.

Racist football fans. Try Russia. Try Africa. Try being a gay footballer in Saudi.

The West has moved into a new McCarthy Era. Where your very words (and even thoughts) can get you crucified.

What the Fan shouted from the terraces was wrong, we can assume, if we had all the facts. But stopping cops from chasing murderers & robbers to deal with this. While gangs of urban youth are trashing the West End ? a good use of expensive Police resources ? you decide.

Edited by PalazioVecchio (04 Sep 2023 10.15pm)

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford