4 Young Men Jailed For 8 Years For Social Media Posts

[Gromit]

They were part of a group chat on Telegram set up after one of their friends was murdered. Obviously they were angry, and possibly wrote things they shouldn’t have. But 8 years for posting their thoughts?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/01/fury-in-manchester-as-black-teenagers-jailed-as-result-of-telegram-chat

[davebro]

I think it's appropriate - it's probably the way gang violence originates & is organised

[Spicerack]

Brilliant. Reclaim the streets for decent people.

[Canary42]

Totally OTT, but the racist brigade will lap it up of course.

[davebro]

No doubt they will be able to pursue their academic studies whilst in gaol & come out with degrees qualifications, older & wiser.

The fact that some of those involved in the "chats" went on to commit acts of violence with machetes & a car speaks volumes IMV.

[naomi24]

Funny how the only mention of race here comes from someone condemning others as 'racist'.

Whatever colour they are, they're thugs and deserve all they get.

[Gromit]

4 of them are not thugs. They are guilty by association because they were on a thread on a forum where there were thugs.
If someone on AB committed a crime, would you be guilty?

[naomi24]

They have been convicted of being part of a violent conspiracy.

[1ozzy]

//If someone on AB committed a crime, would you be guilty//
I'll wait for Mr Pedant to answer.

LOL

[Gromit]

// With a bit of luck a cell door will accidentally not be shut properly and there will be swift retribution. //

And if that happens, anyone who commented on that thread should go to jail ?

[sandyRoe]

The sentences seem very harsh. When these four well-educated young men are released from prison they'll find any hope they had of pursuing useful careers will be unobtainable, their lives blighted by thoughtless comments on social media.

[barry1010]

As always, we haven't heard/read all the evidence so it is impossible to arrive at a balanced opinion.

[FatticusInch]

On the face of it it seems excessive however it’s all part of gang violence and none of us know their ‘previous’, which obviously would have been presented prior to sentencing.
The moral of the story would be not to get associated with gang violence by association or any other means.

[barry1010]

Gromit, you cannot compare comments on an open, public forum like AB to a private group chat.

If I said something that is deemed illegal on AB then I could be prosecuted for it - as could anyone who repeated them or encouraged my behaviour

[sandyRoe]

"The moral of the story would be not to get associated with gang violence by association or any other means."
If you were unfortunate enough to live in an area plagued by gangs they might tell you, If you're not with us you're against us.
A bit of bragging on social media could be enough to keep you safe from them.

[naomi24]

^Or you could, of course, be one of them.

[douglas9401]

Maybe the sentence seems excessive because of the tendency for the courts to give endless chances before handing down derisory punishments.

Maybe these young men should have had a higher online profile, pneumatic breasts and a chronic substance abuse problem.

[sandyRoe]

I wonder how many gang members study hard at school and find themselves with offers of places at universities?
To navigate a course between Scylla and Charybdis, the gangs and the law, can't be easy.

[douglas9401]

Multi-tasking comes naturally to some though.

[Zacs-Master]

‘None of those named as targets in the Telegram chat were hurt, though three of the defendants went on to violently attack two other boys using machetes and a car as a weapon.’

Have people not read that far?

[ToraToraTora]

damn savages......etc