Thomas Smith left some vulgar insults on Arena, WI police's Facebook page including calling them racist. Consequently he was arrested and convicted of using fighting words. On appeal the judge found that fighting words doctrine does not apply to people not in close physical proximity and Smith's anti-cop ranting was covered by the First Amendment. Full story.
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
Facebook Threat Conviction Tossed Out
|
Log In/Create an Account
| Top
| 9 comments
| Search Discussion
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Bot on Friday July 04 2014, @02:41PM
The first rule of fighting words is: you don't speak fighting words.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 2) by present_arms on Friday July 04 2014, @02:52PM
Say that to my face
oh wait :)
http://trinity.mypclinuxos.com/
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Friday July 04 2014, @02:52PM
Come here and say that! *rolls up sleeves*
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by Bot on Thursday July 10 2014, @08:07AM
Account abandoned.
(Score: 3, Funny) by captain normal on Friday July 04 2014, @03:38PM
What ever happened to sticks and stones can break your bones, but words will never hurt you?
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 04 2014, @03:45PM
Bullies always considered them as an excuse to inflict pain rather then have them viewed as an undefended challenge.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 04 2014, @05:17PM
Its a lie. Words can hurt; "psychological abuse" is actually a thing.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 04 2014, @05:52PM
> What ever happened to sticks and stones can break your bones, but words will never hurt you?
The powerful are constantly seeking ways to portray themselves as vulnerable to distract from their own abuses. That's why this was a case of the police feeling threatened by a facebook post and not someone who anyone else would see as vulnerable, like a battered woman.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 05 2014, @05:21AM
Yeah, forget all that other nonsense like theft, assault, missing persons, etc... Let's go after the people who say mean things about us on the playground. What a bunch of thin-skinned asshats... This policy of intimidation is just one of the *many* reasons police have a PR problem.
Happy birthday America, I'm sure the rest of the world is really jealous of our freedom to express opinions without fear of police retaliation and costly court trials/appeals.