Bristol SU banned Charlie Hebdo

There's no point me posting the image, but look up "nobody was killed because of this picture" on google.

You seriously can't see the debate surrounding Charlie Hebdo and the intellectually stimulating questions within that debate?

Maybe you don't want to pay attention to it, but don't you think university students should be mature enough to decide for themselves what value there is in the publication and the questions raised?

brb publishing a magazine with an image of Jesus Christ engaging in coitus with a swastika constructed entirely of malnourished black slaves (which also happens to be on fire) set against a backdrop of orphans being gunned down by a police officer


do you think this magazine should be distributed in my local school?

There should be no rules against it being distributed, but it would not be because nobody would want it.

There is a difference between saying we want things to be able to be distributed, and saying that we want them to be distributed. It is pathetic to ban particular magazines from the Student Union to protect the feelings of students, but it is entirely reasonable not to stock it because nobody is interested in it, which is very likely if a lot of people are offended by it.

No warning? nothing!

i just googled nobody was killed because of this picture and i deeply regret it. especially due to the fact i was sat in class and everyone can see my screen!

haha!

its a cartoon, do christians get upset when thy see Jesus surfing and smoking a doob?

#CharlieEverywhere

What if a significant number of students are interested in buying hardcore porno magazines from the union, but they refuse to stock it. Are they in the wrong?

I'm sure there are quite a few universities not stocking it. That has nothing to do with freedom of expression. The magazine is crass and offensive.

Please enlighten me but I doubt you could list a single interesting question that could arise from those images. In fact I doubt you could list a single interesting question that arises from the events that followed.

It's up to the university to determine what material should be distributed. Some lecturers aren't allowed to present pornographic materials/gore during their lectures even if it might be relevant to say the progression of French theatre.

What if a significant number of students are interested in buying hardcore porno magazines from the union, but they refuse to stock it. Are they in the wrong?

No such thing as being right or wrong, our personal take on pornography has no role to play. You may say it's wrong, I could say it's right and then we'd need a show of hands. Technically speaking there is nothing wrong with stocking anything that is not illegal and it's entirely up to that or any other institution to decide what role to play in a situation like this.

What if a significant number of students are interested in buying hardcore porno magazines from the union, but they refuse to stock it. Are they in the wrong?

I'm sure there are quite a few universities not stocking it. That has nothing to do with freedom of expression. The magazine is crass and offensive.

Please enlighten me but I doubt you could list a single interesting question that could arise from those images. In fact I doubt you could list a single interesting question that arises from the events that followed.

It's up to the university to determine what material should be distributed. Some lecturers aren't allowed to present pornographic materials/gore during their lectures even if it might be relevant to say the progression of French theatre.

An incomplete list:
Freedom of speech
Censorship
Muslims reaction to the above topics
The validity of hate speech laws with regards to freedom of speech
The status of freedom of speech in the West
Moral questions outside of legislation (e.g. Is it right to mock religion?)
The value of political correctness

Don't try to deny that these questions and debates have been brought to the fore during the last week because of CH and subsequent events.

I don't know how you expect me to "enlighten" you when you're holding a monopoly on the definition of "interesting", but there we go. No one can convince someone who has made his mind up.

I'll say again that no one is denying that the university is allowed to do this. I'm not sure why you bring up the prohibition of gore and porn because that's stupid as well.

There should be no rules against it being distributed, but it would not be because nobody would want it.

There is a difference between saying we want things to be able to be distributed, and saying that we want them to be distributed. It is pathetic to ban particular magazines from the Student Union to protect the feelings of students, but it is entirely reasonable not to stock it because nobody is interested in it, which is very likely if a lot of people are offended by it.

brb publishing a magazine with an image of Jesus Christ engaging in coitus with a swastika constructed entirely of malnourished black slaves (which also happens to be on fire) set against a backdrop of orphans being gunned down by a police officer


do you think this magazine should be distributed in my local school?

There is no stifling of freedom of speech here. Seriously, learn what freedom of speech means. You can stand for freedom of speech without endorsing everything everyone says. I support the freedom of speech of racists who want to write a racist magazine but it doesn't mean that I want to buy it or my university to distribute it.

Nothing justifies the attacks in Paris. And we should support Charlie Hebdo's right to exist but we also have to right to criticise it. If the Bristol University Union feels that the magazine is offensive and doesn't fit with their ethos, then it is reasonable for them to not distribute it. They're is stopping anybody else from buying it or reading it.

You can condemn the attacks and support freedom of speech and the right of Charlie Hebdo to exist without agreeing with the magazine itself.

What's wrong with selling porn magazines to adults?

What you also don't seem to realise is that, this is the students' union. It should reflect what they students want. It is not an authority deciding what is good for anyone.

That has everything to do with freedom of expression. The freedom to be crass and offensive is the freedom of expression.