Man found guilty of being &quot;grossly offensive&quot; after teaching pet dog to heil Hitler

Original post by Axiomasher

It doesn't really matter whether something is presented as if a joke, you don't just get away with racism by using that tactic, or at least you shouldn't.

Of course context matters, don’t be ridiculous. He was turning something cute into something evil as part of a joke/prank on his girlfriend. He shows that he is not a Nazi and does not believe the statements he made as PART OF THE JOKE by saying that Nazis were the most evil thing he could think of.

Reply 82

Original post by ax12

Of course context matters, don’t be ridiculous. He was turning something cute into something evil as part of a joke/prank on his girlfriend. He shows that he is not a Nazi and does not believe the statements he made as PART OF THE JOKE by saying that Nazis were the most evil thing he could think of.

He can say what he wants to explain what he was doing but it was for the court to be convinced in the end. I don't know the man but anyone who makes a publicly viewable video in which they utter the words 'Gas the Jews' 23 times is either a neo-Nazi or is an utter moron, regardless of whether he uses a dog as an apparent joke prop. Either way I won't be shedding tears, will you please shed some extra ones for me?

Reply 83

ax12

[QUOTE="Axiomasher;76733008"]He can say what he wants to explain what he was doing but it was for the court to be convinced in the end. I don't know the man but anyone who makes a publicly viewable video in which they utter the words 'Gas the Jews' 23 times is either a neo-Nazi or is an utter moron, regardless of whether he uses a dog as an apparent joke prop. Either way I won't be shedding tears, will you please shed some extra ones for

Original post by Axiomasher

He can say what he wants to explain what he was doing but it was for the court to be convinced in the end. I don't know the man but anyone who makes a publicly viewable video in which they utter the words 'Gas the Jews' 23 times is either a neo-Nazi or is an utter moron, regardless of whether he uses a dog as an apparent joke prop. Either way I won't be shedding tears, will you please shed some extra ones for me?

‘Utter moron’ isn’t a reason to go to jail, we’re talking about a person’s life here.

Reply 84

The Sheriff determined that the video was "threatening and grossly offensive." and that Meechan was guilty of sending by "means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character". If he was a minor I might have had a little more sympathy but he's an adult and should have pondered for a moment where a video, in which he says 'Gas the Jews' 23 times, might take him. Nobody wants to take responsibility for what they say these days, it's just 'a joke'. No, it's not 'just a joke' it is grossly offensive to decent people.

Reply 85

Terry Tibbs

19

Original post by Axiomasher

The Sheriff determined that the video was "threatening and grossly offensive." and that Meechan was guilty of sending by "means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character". If he was a minor I might have had a little more sympathy but he's an adult and should have pondered for a moment where a video, in which he says 'Gas the Jews' 23 times, might take him. Nobody wants to take responsibility for what they say these days, it's just 'a joke'. No, it's not 'just a joke' it is grossly offensive to decent people.

Offense is taken, not given. It was just a joke, if you're offended that's your own fault.

Reply 86

username1044970

18

Original post by Terry Tibbs

Offense is taken, not given. It was just a joke, if you're offended that's your own fault.

Doesn't quite work that way in the real world, does it? Hate speech laws are not new; for much of human history, there have been legal and/or social repurcussions for grossly offensive speech.

Reply 87

Original post by Terry Tibbs

Offense is taken, not given. It was just a joke, if you're offended that's your own fault.

Really? So, will you be writing a stern letter to the Sheriff concerned? Good luck with that.

Reply 88

Original post by the bear

why should comedians be allowed to break the law ? oh because they are comedians.... wtf ?

He didnt break any actual laws. He was found guilty because the judge thought what he did was ''grossly offensive" , but thats completely subjective.

Reply 89

Original post by Axiomasher

But take away the cute dog, which has no idea what is going on, then all you have is a guy more-or-less chanting "Gas the Jews" in a public place.

That has got to be the dumbest argument ive ever heard. You're literally saying 'but if this happened instead of this then id be right'.

Reply 90

the bear

Original post by Radioactivedecay

He didnt break any actual laws. He was found guilty because the judge thought what he did was ''grossly offensive" , but thats completely subjective.

the judge was right.

Reply 91

Original post by Fran2311

But saying he doesn't support Nazis does not make the joke any less offensive. It's just not something that should be done.

You're saying if a random person, anyone at all found something offensive, it should be illegal? Thats the completely opposite of free speech, of what his country supposedly stands for. You're prosecuting a guy just because you disagree with him, really?

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 92

Original post by the bear

the judge was right.

Correction: "I think the judge is right."
Also, being grossly offensive isnt against the law. Many comedians do it, why aren't you criticizing them?

Reply 93

the bear

Original post by Radioactivedecay

Correction: "I think the judge is right."
Also, being grossly offensive isnt against the law. Many comedians do it, why aren't you criticizing them?

if you bothered to read the whole thread you would see what i had to say about them.

Reply 94

Stewpid

10

Nice to know the police have there priorities right.
Thousands of terrorists roam the streets while Daniel a has been jailed for a trivial reason. Antifa have won, Westminster is spineless hate crime is not a conventional crime-possibly the only law you can get convicted on the basis of interpretation or someones opinion.

Reply 95

Original post by Radioactivedecay

He didnt break any actual laws. He was found guilty because the judge thought what he did was ''grossly offensive" , but thats completely subjective.

If he has been found guilty of an offence under the law then he has 'broken the law' that's what the term means.

Reply 96