Shouldn't The Gay Couple Have Been Arrested For Harassment?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2593217/Christian-preacher-wins-13-000-wrongful-arrest-telling-gay-couple-Bible-says-homosexuality-sin.html

/// At 7pm the unnamed gay couple approached him and asked what he thought of gay people. ///

/// He said it did not matter what he thought, only what God believes, telling them: 'whilst God hates sin He loves the sinner'. ///

/// Mr Craven then claimed the teenagers began kissing in front of him and taunting him with crude and suggestive sexual acts. Shortly afterwards the preacher was arrested. ///

[sp1814]

naomi24

This rarely happens on AB, and I strongly suggest you make a note of this thread for future reference...but I not only see what you mean, but I've reflected on what I've said, and I think I'm wrong.

(Cue: rumbling sound of mountains splitting in half in shock).

There's nothing in the story to suggest that this gentleman is a swivel-eyed loon, and given the evidence in the story, it seems that he was unfairly treated.

However, as to whether the you blokes should be arrested for harassment, I stand firm.

Nope.

[Baldric]

I can only assume the gay policeman scenario I suggested (15:24) is being viewed as a fairy story.

[sp1814]

divebuddy

I was writing my 15:40 post when you posted yours at 15:38.

I have conceded that I was wrong.

Hey...after you say it once, it becomes quite easy!

It's a pity that I don't get a chance to exercise that more often on AB.

[naomi24]

SP, yeahhhhhh! :o)

Respect!!! (Not that I didn't have respect for you before). ;o)

[sp1814]

I've just checked my diary, and apparently I was last wrong in 1994 when I claimed that the Beatles had had more number ones in the UK than Elvis.

My sister still brings that up at family reunions.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

You criticise various comments regarding gay issues, and this is perfectly reasonable because being gay yourself you look at matters through 'gay eyes', but please allow others who have not the same affiliations, to oppose certain issues that are not in line with your own thoughts.

If you are not prepared to do this, then that is being bigoted.

[sp1814]

AOG

Did you not read my retraction at 15:40?

[sp1814]

And secondly, are you saying that I should not argue a point of view?

What does this mean:

"but please allow others who have not the same affiliations, to oppose certain issues that are not in line with your own thoughts"

Are you saying that I don't allow others to oppose my point of view?

How do I do that?

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// You don't necessarily have to be religious yourself to be influenced, or some might say, indoctrinated into believing gay people are inherently wicked, or evil or 'less than'. ///

But the point is that being gay doesn't automatically make one "non wicked or evil".

/// The Russian Orthodox Church, a large number of Christian African nations, the Deep South of America, the Middle East and the West Indies. ///

Why have you left out the large number of Islamic African nations, the Middle East Moslems, and of cause the vast number of anti-gay Moslems throughout the world?

That's very strange, can you explain?

[naomi24]

In fairness, AOG, he did say 'the Middle East' so I don't think he's leaving anti-gay Muslims out.

[sp1814]

AOG

What do you think I meant when I referred to the Middle East?

And why did you say that I'm not allowing other's their point of view, when it clearly retracted at 15:40?

[sp1814]

AOG

You wrote:

But the point is that being gay doesn't automatically make one "non wicked or evil".

Absolutely.

So why do major religious groups across target gays for condemnation?

[naomi24]

SP, you know why. Because their brains are controlled by ridiculous books.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// And secondly, are you saying that I should not argue a point of view? ///

where have I said that?

/// Are you saying that I don't allow others to oppose my point of view? ///

/// How do I do that? ///

By issuing certain abusive comments such as rant, homophobic, fundamentalist claptrap, swivel-eyed loon etc.

[viv38]

Just read the story on Mail Online and he was arrested on a 'public disorder' offence and yes, I think the two gay teenagers should have also been arrested on a public disorder offence too !

[sp1814]

AOG

And to whom did I use those 'abusive' terms?

Please let me know which members of the AB community I've used those terms to. I don't think I have. I think I used the term 'rant' to describe an article I strongly disagreed with. I referred to the preacher in the article as NOT being a 'swivel-eyed loon'.

And homophobic?

I have not once used that as a descriptive term to anyone on AB...ever.

Simply because there aren't any people on AB whom I consider homophobic.

I find it a little irritating that you would characterise me thus.

But it's not a big deal. Perhaps that's you're perception. We all have perceptions of people which might not be 100% accurate. That's life.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// What do you think I meant when I referred to the Middle East? ///

Yes I know you mentioned the Middle East, but your attacks were primarily centred against the Christian Church, why else did you refrain from mentioning the Islamic African nations? In fact you shied away from any mention of Islam or Muslims.