front page of todays SUN and STAR

[leethefish]

I again am disgusted beond belief £50  fine this country is ruined
THE STAR shows a soldier maimed by a bomb in afganistan fine £60 for parking in  a disabled bay !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF

[boldie]

Sigh @ you actually making me look this up online. I feel dirty now for reading the sun and star online

The ticket given to the soldier (though I don't see how him being a soldier has any relevance here unless you say there should be one law for soldiers/ex-soldiers and another for civilians) was already wiped before he went to the paper.
Obv the parking warden was a twat BUT he was upholding the law (in a completely misguided way but then again I have yet to meet a parking warden who was not a complete and utter pillock about these things)

The fine given to the muslim was obv too low and I have already stated my opinion on that one somewhere else. Free speech obviously should not have been an argument for a low fine in this case as there are limits to free speech.

[rex008]

I can guess the story without even going there. Disabled person gets fined because their badge isn't visible. Fine later gets rescinded on appeal. Hate paper tells us the country is going to hell in a handcart? Close?

On the free speech thing, there was an interesting commentary piece in the Sunday Times this week about the Westboro Baptist Church (those mad yanks who picket soldiers funerals with "god hates fags" placards, etc) getting their rights to free speech upheld by the Supreme Court on an 8-1 majority decision. Writer (American, IIRC) said that he'd still rather live in a country that produces decisions like that than one that restricts free speech at all. Made for interesting reading. Obviously can't link to it as it's behind the Times paywall.

Where do you put the limit on free speech? "Free speech doesn't give you the right to shout 'FIRE' in a crowded theatre" came from a Supreme Court judge in a ruling that said that some restrictions were necessary. It's always something that's good for an argument anyway .

[boldie]

I can guess the story without even going there. Disabled person gets fined because their badge isn't visible. Fine later gets rescinded on appeal. Hate paper tells us the country is going to hell in a handcart? Close?

spot on

[AndrewT]

The guy that burned the poppies is essentially just a troll, exactly the same as people who stir trouble for the sake of it on the internet. He's just doing it for the attention.

People getting their knickers in a twist and making front page headlines is exactly what people like him want.

Just ignore the twat.

In fact, it would almost be worth a tabloid newspaper paying one of these guys to do something like burn poppies simply to provide material for an OUTRAGED FRONT PAGE...

[kinboshi]

I can guess the story without even going there. Disabled person gets fined because their badge isn't visible. Fine later gets rescinded on appeal. Hate paper tells us the country is going to hell in a handcart? Close?

On the free speech thing, there was an interesting commentary piece in the Sunday Times this week about the Westboro Baptist Church (those mad yanks who picket soldiers funerals with "god hates fags" placards, etc) getting their rights to free speech upheld by the Supreme Court on an 8-1 majority decision. Writer (American, IIRC) said that he'd still rather live in a country that produces decisions like that than one that restricts free speech at all. Made for interesting reading. Obviously can't link to it as it's behind the Times paywall.

Where do you put the limit on free speech? "Free speech doesn't give you the right to shout 'FIRE' in a crowded theatre" came from a Supreme Court judge in a ruling that said that some restrictions were necessary. It's always something that's good for an argument anyway .

That was my guess to the story as well.

What if someone who wasn't disabled had parked in the disabled bay and the soldier had arrived to park there but couldn't.  The traffic warden would have been right to slap a ticket on the other driver's car (without the badge) to act as a deterrent from them doing it again.

I haven't read the story either - so if the facts are different to that and the soldier was displaying a disabled badge, etc., then fair enough have a rant.


As for Westboro Baptist Church, they have the right to spout their bile until it starts restricting another's liberties I guess.  Their site was hacked a few weeks ago by the 'Anonymous' group.  Not sure that's the right course of action, but not going to lose any sleep over it.

[Acidmouse]

He was interviewed yesterday giving the reasons why he did it. Made no sense, but then again troll's don't care what's the truth or not. People should burn a particular book next to him if he does it again and see how he reacts.

[gatso]

I can guess the story without even going there. Disabled person gets fined because their badge isn't visible. Fine later gets rescinded on appeal. Hate paper tells us the country is going to hell in a handcart? Close?

spot on

not quite spot on. he didn't even have a badge to be visible biggest non story ever

I'm thinking of writing to the sun to tell them about the time I got a ticket for parking somewhere that I shouldn't. I was furious

[Woodsey]

I can guess the story without even going there. Disabled person gets fined because their badge isn't visible. Fine later gets rescinded on appeal. Hate paper tells us the country is going to hell in a handcart? Close?

spot on

not quite spot on. he didn't even have a badge to be visible biggest non story ever

I'm thinking of writing to the sun to tell them about the time I got a ticket for parking somewhere that I shouldn't. I was furious

Get this one. I got a ticket a few months ago for parking in KFC in Sheffield, and yes I did go in to buy food. It was all done via CCTV so no ticket on my car. It was made so difficult for me to contact them so complain that I just ended up paying the fucker in the end. 

[boldie]

I can guess the story without even going there. Disabled person gets fined because their badge isn't visible. Fine later gets rescinded on appeal. Hate paper tells us the country is going to hell in a handcart? Close?

spot on

not quite spot on. he didn't even have a badge to be visible biggest non story ever

I'm thinking of writing to the sun to tell them about the time I got a ticket for parking somewhere that I shouldn't. I was furious

Ah, didn't even read it properly then.

I still blame the foreigners though..coming over here, eating our pancakes!

[MANTIS01]

Telling mothers that their beloved dead sons are burning in hell and setting poppies alight to desecrate their memory is not trolling like you'd see on t'internet. Acts which are deliberately intended to cause massive emotional distress and the virtues of free speech shouldn't be confused. This is simply an expression of hate towards souls who have no right to reply. £50 fine?? I would whip that fucker to within an inch of his life.

[Woodsey]

Telling mothers that their beloved dead sons are burning in hell and setting poppies alight to desecrate their memory is not trolling like you'd see on t'internet. Acts which are deliberately intended to cause massive emotional distress and the virtues of free speech shouldn't be confused. This is simply an expression of hate towards souls who have no right to reply. £50 fine?? I would whip that fucker to within an inch of his life.

Yup need a good hoofing imo. I don't give a monkey's what the pc brigade think either.

[leethefish]

Telling mothers that their beloved dead sons are burning in hell and setting poppies alight to desecrate their memory is not trolling like you'd see on t'internet. Acts which are deliberately intended to cause massive emotional distress and the virtues of free speech shouldn't be confused. This is simply an expression of hate towards souls who have no right to reply. £50 fine?? I would whip that fucker to within an inch of his life.

and let them get better and heal and do it all over again to half an inch of his sad sorry fucking life.

[ripple11]

I can guess the story without even going there. Disabled person gets fined because their badge isn't visible. Fine later gets rescinded on appeal. Hate paper tells us the country is going to hell in a handcart? Close?

spot on

not quite spot on. he didn't even have a badge to be visible biggest non story ever

I'm thinking of writing to the sun to tell them about the time I got a ticket for parking somewhere that I shouldn't. I was furious

Get this one. I got a ticket a few months ago for parking in KFC in Sheffield, and yes I did go in to buy food. It was all done via CCTV so no ticket on my car. It was made so difficult for me to contact them so complain that I just ended up paying the fucker in the end. 

was this a private car park?....these fines are non enforcable...just a private company trying their luck.

[Robert HM]

[  ] I concern myself with what tabloids report and forget they rely on half the facts. I know they aren't bothered about circulation figures.