Do we hav the right not to be upset?

[jake-the-peg]

Should it be an arrestable offense to post an image on facebook that upsets people?

[LazyGun]

@Khandro - There have been lots of discussions around the principle of free speech, free expression and where the lines are drawn, and more importantly how you police such expressions on the internet.

It is also undoubtedly true that you get some individuals posting with the malicious intent of causing harm or serious offence, purely for the sake of it.

So, some people have suggested removing the mask of anonimity from the internet - that all forums and platforms where people can post have a requirement to establish the ID of the the posters, so offensive material can be tracked back. I have some sympathy with that idea, and would broadly support it.

Anonimity can be important though, since it empowers those unable to express themselves because of fear of political or cultural or religious reprisal. And thats the problem. Allow those who wish to censor offence to police the internet, and that offers a route by which bloggers and commentators in places in the globe where human rights are disregarded are effectively gagged through fear of reprisal. Do you want that?

Broadly, States, Religions, Individuals should grow a thicker skin.And I would far rather a world where people got offended than one in where commentators were censored or worse.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Do we hav the right not to be upset? ///

I would have thought everyone had the right not to be upset, just as everyone also has the right to be upset.

That is of course if it is not now illegal to possess personal emotions.

[Khandro]

LG; You put your (and my) case for openness very well, and I don't think you have ever said anything on AB that you would not, I imagine, wish to say openly in public. On balance though re. "where human rights are disregarded [people] are effectively gagged through fear of reprisal". in such places there other ways such as the anonymous letter, and these cases are minuscule (examples please) compared to the enormous amount of false, scurrilous attacks being made daily anonymously via the net. Some cartoonists can be rather cruel at times, but at least they, and their editors have the guts to let it be known who they are. I don't want to suppress freedom of speech but I think it only right that the speaker is identifiable.

[seadogg]

I guess the same rules of decency and acceptability in normal use should also apply to Facebook. If the post is intended to humiliate another person in public it should be banned.

[joko]

yes absolutely we have a right not to be upset ... but not by banning others from posting images we don't like

by learning not to let images posted on FB upset you... it is our right to simply not get upset.

being upset is a state of mind and entirely in your own head.
it is not a definitive action.

kicking someone in the shin has only one outcome - pain - but the reaction by the kicked person is the difference between saying 'owwwww', and rubbing their shin - or getting out a gun and retaliating.... the choice is yours...

you can choose not to let it affect you...or you can rear up and be outraged.

its a pretty pointless emotion to have online really.... i cannot understand people who let the words of strangers affect them any further than mild irritation.

[Khandro]

^^^//you can choose not to let it affect you...or you can rear up and be outraged// So your advice to Lord McAlpine would be ....?

[joko]

thats not a comparable situation khandro

that was a direct and harmful lie that was splashed over national tv and regarded a real public figure - not some image on FB or anonymous differing of opinion on a forum

[blackghostuk]

There will always be something that offends someone, but there needs to be some common sense too! Having things that directly offend someone and making "jokes" about dead babies and rubbish like that are just drivel and whilst disgusting, it is a show of how immature the poster is and the people that support it!
The main problem is stirring up hatred towards them and that can be as destructive and immature as the posted site! A simple reporting of the site and moving on would be the best course of action, but also not dwelling on it. The site that is offensive is not somewhere you would frequent, so the less involvement and banter created the better!
Just report it and move on!

[Khandro]

This subject was well thrashed out on this week's 'Moral Maze' on BBC 4 Tuesday (?) and is worth a listen to on BBC iPlayer.

[lumination]

no. i think its vile he got arrested. fair enough it offended people but ince when do we start arresting people becuase we are upset about what they have said?
freedom of speech is being taken away bit by bit and by arresting someone cause of a picture (if your talking about the bloke with the burning poppy) is silly. Yes he offended people but he shouldnt be arrested over it!

[Tallulah!]

No. If users didn't hide behind silly aliases they wouldn't do it.
Facebook users post under their real names.

[Svejk]

We've always had busy-bodies who used to be ignored/ridiculed by sensible people.
Now,instead of curtain twitching they trawl the internet looking for things to feel offended about.
Sadly when they see someone being arrested or posts being removed it brings some justification to their pathetic lives.

[bluebird34]

I am a woman of 78 and remember a time when the world was sane

[chaptazbru]

My parents would agree with you tomking.

[bluebird34]

But how about you chaptazbru???

[plautus]

The problem seems to be that given the relative anonymity of the internet some people suddenly develop the courage to say things behind a screen which they would not have the cojones to say to someone's face.

[chrisgel]

Of course not. Just about anything could upset or offend someone. Nobody has a right not to be upset or offended, they should just develop a thicker skin and get over it. The law should be reserved for physical harm only and has no rights interfering with free speech or expression

[Khandro]

chrisgel: Well let us hope that neither you, nor any of yours, becomes a victim.

[bluebird34]

Hear hear chrisgel anyway these days its often not about being offended its more about a large sum in compensation and when we were children we simply chanted back "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me"

[Khandro]

//when we were children//