Would you pay �80 fine for 'distressing' Blair Shirts?

[oldrec]

I see that 2 stallholders at the Royal Norfolk Show were given this fixed fine by the police for displaying shirts with the slogan '******** to Blair' on them. The reason was that they were distressing visitors. I hope they do not pay the fine and if anyone can tell me how to get one, I should appreciate it.

[Oneeyedvic]

I've seen them advertised in the back of Private Eye magazine (amongst other tshirts) - the company you mention are from Leicester.

One complaint and this is what happens - I have complained countless times about antisocial behaviour in the park where I live and guess what happens?

[jno]

definitely, people should only pay fines if they feel like it.

[noxlumos]

No they should not pay. They should attend court and contest such a ridiculous attempt to curtail free speech.I believe that distress has to be proved and has to be proved to be likely to upset "most" people, which is clearly going to be very hard indeed to prove.This govt and it's attempt to pervert freedoms of all sorts are truly disgusting and should be opposed by every legal means.

[jake-the-peg]

The story's here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestersh ire/5135150.stm

It reminds me of when Malcolm MacLaren got arrested after the Sex Pistols went up and down the Thames playing their version of "God save the Queen"

Only now it's the tweed and hunting brigade doing the protesting - how times change!

Worryingly though this doesn't seem to be the first instance apparently a girl was arrested for wearing one at the Midlands Game fair last year.

Anyway if you want one they're here
http://www.houndblair.com/

But I can't guarantee that the money doesn't go to support fox-hunting if that worries you

[WaldoMcFroog]

Let's not forget that people have also been prosecuted for 'Jesus is a C***' t-shirts (Cradle of Filth) and 'Cool as F***' t-shirts (Inspiral Carpets). I don't think this is an issue about it mentioning Blair, but one about it having a dirty great swearword on it.

Personally, I don't think they should be fined, but at the same time, my granny would be offended and I can't particularly see why she needs to see it. There is an element of personal responsibility about this.

[SaxyJag]

Ooh! I'm going to get one of those.

Makes me pig sick when people go whinging to teacher about something rather than having the guts to discuss it first.

I find T-shirts with pro-Christian slogans to be offensive, but am I allowed to complain? You betcha sweet bippy I'm not.

Oysterband do a good range. Hubby has one that says '"GOD PROTECT US ... from your followers".

[Oneeyedvic]

"Personally, I don't think they should be fined, but at the same time, my granny would be offended and I can't particularly see why she needs to see it. There is an element of personal responsibility about this."

just curious as what your granny would think about piercings and tattoos?

And should someone saying it in public in conversation be charged as well?

[WaldoMcFroog]

I don't even get your point about tats and piercings, Vic. Well, I do, but I think it's a really spurious argument. I don't think they're the same at all.

As for people getting charged for saying it, no, equally not but people should nevertheless have the common decency not to shout the word "c***" if there are others obviously liable to be offended by it. Do you like it when people say the c word or the f word around kids? 'Cos I don't and it's exactly the same argument I think you're trying to make about grannies. Can I come and shout 'c****' in front of your wife and not expect you to be irritated by my extreme rudeness?

By all means wear your t-shirt but please don't whinge when someone objects to it - that shock value is why you're wearing it.

[Oneeyedvic]

I think the F & C words are the most extreme swear words. These words are routinely bleeped out of most tv programs and any printed material.

I believe BoIIocks is comparable to Bloody of perhaps B'stard - neither of which are 'bad' swear words. Of course, words are only as powerful as you give them credit for.


Just a thought: should all music shops have an over 18 area specifically for albums like Never Mind the BoIIocks so that people don't get offended?


Oh and another thought - if you had a company called British Orange Lisbon Lemon Oscar Xray and printed TShirts saying Bollox to Blair (in the fashion of FCUK), would you again get fined?

[Shire]

I've just got back from the Royal Show at Stoneleigh, and one of the trade stands there was selling them. Saw a couple of people wearing them as well.

[Pippa68]

Saxy..I saw a brilliant t shirt once ~ ''I don't have a problem with Jesus, it's his fans I can't stand!''

[Catso]

I wonder what would have happened if the slogan was "B****cks to Cameron"? (Though it doesn't have quite the same ring to it!)

[Sphinx_Svens]

My mate made a 'Bush Is A CU*T t-Shirt for when GB visited London ... the yanks loved it and all wanted to know where he bought it ...