to think burning a poppy makes you a twat..

[EdgarAllanPond]

but not a criminal?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Two-carpets-/130801686273?pt=UK_Home_Garden_FittedCarpets_Underlay_SM&hash=item1e74635701story

very worrying for freedom of speech.

I thought it was really offensive. I think it is very sad he did it. But it should never, ever, ever be a criminal offence. Where do you draw the line? Who decides what kind of 'offenisve' behaviour is criminal? I am sure the fact that I don't cover my hair is 'offensive' to some religious people. Do they get to decide I should be locked up?

I think it was Terry Pratchett who said the freedom to be offensive is the most important freedom as it is the freedom on which all others were based. One person's 'offense' is another person's hilarious joke.

I find it really worrying and frightening. I am sure I have said and posted loads of things on Facebook and Twitter that some might find offensive. So now I am potentially a criminal too??

And who the hell made the pictures public? A much more dangerous and provocative step than showing yourself up as a complete cock to your friends on Facebook.

I have no problem with free speech, and if someone has a gripe or moan, then let them have their say and get into a debate - but this twat does realise that if/when he goes for a job or meets a new girl he will we googled and these things never disappear? Hahaha.

Well exactly, shine a light on his twattishness, show him up for the fool he is. But a crminal record???

I think he is only 19. Hands up everyone who wasn't a twat at 19.

Me! I was terribly sensible and all growed up. I at least would have had the sense to know that doing this was not a good idea.

Good for you. However, lots don't. So how many new prisons are we going to need to build to house all the twattish teenagers?

Who says he needs to go to jail? And a child of five knows the difference between right and wrong, so a nineteen year old certainly should. Good god, at 'only nineteen' I was in my final year of my first degree.

You are confusing two very different things. A person who doesn't accept your definition of 'wrong' should not automatically be a criminal. And whether or not he goes to prison, he will still have a criminal record which may cause lots of problems in the future.

And the last person convicted of this offence did go to prison - for 12 weeks.

It's insane.

He did it because he knew it wasn't acceptable and/or to piss people off. Not my definition. Hardly an offence that warrants a prison sentence thought.

I agree with you. I doubt he was motivated by a deeply thought through philosophical position about pacifism for eg. But being an offensive twat just cannot in a civilised society, merit a criminal conviction, prison or not.

Who is deciding the level of offense?

There is a difference between expressing an opinion that may be out of step with the norm and committing a confrontational act to deliberately cause offence.

I may not like some things which others do but it doesn't make it right for me to, disrespect their views and burn them publicly

Intent. He did it to be offensive - I'm sure he's not sitting there thinking 'I never thought anyone would be upset by that!'

If being offensive was a crime, there'd be no one walking the streets! Especially if I was the judge.

mrscan't

would he though? or should he?

if you burn the French flag, would you get arrested?

i don't think you would (i certainly hope you wouldn't)

I am quite sure he did it deliberately to be as offensive as possible.

So what?

How does that make him a criminal? How does that merit a criminal trial, costing the taxpayer thousands, followed possibly by a prison sentence costing many more thousands, followed by massive consequences for his future ability to get a job?

Why not just delete his Facebook page and call him a twat.

You make this kind of thing a criminal offence and I agree tha a good proportion of this website would be helping the police with their inquiries. I find some people on here extremely offensive. But they are not criminals because of MY sensitivities...

Go Mrs DV!!!

Joy Division. I didn't realise what that was for a while...

Don't worry Mrs DeVere, we are printing the Tshirts now. I have also called Alison Pearson a cunt on twitter so I too am waiting for the knock on the door. deborah Orr also told me to fuck off, I find myself now very offended by that so will contact the Met soonest.

It's going to get very cosy in our prisons.

Haircut 100, not that was just a crap band...

Captain Beefheart (yeurch)

I told Lady Di to piss off. She nearly ran me down so I felt it was justifiable.

Ah memories! The only thing on the telly after midnight during my teenage years was Prisoner Cell Block H.