Should They Of Printed The Letter?

[mccfluff]

bit of a debate going on here, should the paper of printed this (ex) reader's letter?

I think it should of been binned as that's were this sort of garbage thinking should reside, others think it should of been printed if only to show what sort of idiots walk our streets

http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2013/news/reader-cancels-paper-over-perverted-daley-coverage/

[Zacs-Master]

a) its outdated (by several decades)
b) it's offensive
c) it's prejudiced

[Zacs-Master]

You have the right but it's not god given, and others have the right to point out why they think it's wrong.

[pastafreak]

I've not read all the comments,but I did notice that one ABer thinks its a wind-up. I doubt it very much. There are still plenty of people with the neanderthal views of Mr jones.That is the local paper here in Plymouth,and I doubt very much it needs to generate publicity...particularly in this manner. And yes...they were right to print it

[jomifl]

a) its outdated (by several decades) ...not to everybody

b) it's offensive ...............................not to everybody

c) it's prejudiced ........................... isn't everything?

There may well be some bigoted, prejudiced and outdated people but they have the right not to be offended by people with diametrically opposite views.

[Zacs-Master]

oh dear.

[jeffa]

It's an emotive subject. A small section of the population are vehemently homophobic, and they have the right to their viewpoint irrespective of how few other people share it. However irrational the majority of people think it is, publicly at least, having a homophobic opinion isn't illegal, nor is writing a letter to a newspaper stating that opinion. To my mind, the editor was absolutely right to print it.

[Peter Pedant]

What is wrong with printing a letter

Dear Sir, I am v v angry, so angry that I sign myself, your sngrily JJJones

surely no one writes to papers and does not expect to be cut,pasted misquoted, taken out of context and ridiculed ?

It is bit like emailing - if you dont want it to be repeated then dont say it !

[pastafreak]

Local response to 'the letter' and The Heralds printing of it....

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/reaction-Herald-reader-s-letter-Tom-Daley/story-20303426-detail/story.html

[Just-Jude]

I remember AOG saying he lives in Plymouth, he used to be a sailor.

[2sp_]

Jordyboy, read my post again. I haven't called anyone a bigot.

If that's the word that springs into your mind, that's not down to me.

[pixie373]

I totally agree with 2sp. He has the right to say it. The paper has a right to print it. I have the right to think he's a complete idiot.

[zebo]

What would be the point of a newspaper with whose opinions I was in 100% agreement, surely there's a need to air a variety of opinions and promote debate.
Someone once said, and I paraphrase because I don't know the correct version, I don't agree with your opinions but I fight to the end to defend your rights to hold them.

[2sp_]

Zebo, it has been attributed to Voltaire -

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

I couldn't agree more.

[Prudie]

If you believe in democracy and free speech then of course it should have been printed. I'm not familiar with the paper but my local Bournemouth Echo had a regular a few years ago who always got outrageous letters printed - it almost became a featured joke. As it happens I think the Tom Daley story got far too much coverage, it really should have been a non-event.

[sp1814]

Should have been a non-event, but we are many, many years away from that.

The reason why is because Tom Daley isn't an athlete who retired a few years ago. He's still got his best years to come. Also because there are so few LGBT sports stars who are open, the first few to confirm, will cause a media flurry.

The eighth woman Prime Minister will not be big news.

Margaret Thatcher becoming the first female PM was big news.

Same here.

[pixie373]

I don't think it's that many years away, sp. The paper printed it as gossip. The majority of people haven't lifted an eyebrow.

[jomifl]

Also because there are so few LGBT sports stars who are open,

Do you have any figures to substantiate that claim?

[sp1814]

jomifi

Yeah.

Here you go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBT_sportspeople

[anneasquith]

the paper has had lots of publicity in printing this letter.?