Credit where it's due....

[R1Geezer]

Not often I agree with Brown but this guy was treated appallingly:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8249792.stm
I'm pretty sure we'd all be speaking german if it wasn't for this guy's genius. The test for AI is still called the Turing test. Thoughts please.

[Sqad]

R1Geezer....well written, I totally agree with you.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes the "Turing machine" was also the theoretical basis on which all computers are founded

And he did some pretty important work in Maths on something called Godel's Incompleteness
Theorum.

However he didn't deserve to be treated like that *because* he was brilliant - Nobody deserved
to be treated like that.

How many other gay people went through that sort of persecution? Are they to receive an appology?

[Gromit]

I am seriously worried that Geezer has gone all pinko.

He is usually the first to recommend chemical castration for all perverts and now he is endorsing Gordon Brown.

Has Darren Brown been flashing subliminal messages again?

[R1Geezer]

Good point jake, I guess many others did go through it but as is the way, it's higher profile ones that get mentioned. I suppose though by bringing this up Brown is effectivley apologising to all the victims by acknowledging that it was right out of order. I'm not the biggest fan of Gay's but live and let live I say. I suppose the law and attitude of the time is something we'd all find disturbing today.

Help, I'm turning into pinko!

[Sqad]

jake......how do we know.......how will we ever know?

[New Judge]

Yes, it was appalling.

But it was the law at the time and the current Prime Minister has nothing to apologise for. Neither he, nor probably anyone alive today had any part in framing or enforcing that law.

He is certainly incorrect when he says that Mr Turing was treated unfairly. He was most definitely not treated in the manner we would expect today, but I have read nothing to suggest that he was treated in any way unfairly. As has been mentioned, not least by the odious Peter Tatchell, around 100,000 people (by his estimate, however he arrived at it) were similarly treated. If they had all broken the law in the same manner and were all treated for their sins in the same way, then I cannot see how Mr Turing was dealt with in any way “unfairly”.

[jake-the-peg]

Well to be honest there were special circumstances here.

His Homosexuality was deemed to make him a security risk and that made
him a high profile risk and got MI5 in on it.

Of course he was only a security risk because of the pervasive attitudes
of the day.

As for the appology it's always easier to appologise on behalf of someone else isn't it?

[R1Geezer]

By that logic Judge you'd say that slaves where not treated unfairly as it was legal at the time!

I take your point though on the basis that that was the treatment given at the time his was no worse that anyone else.

[scotman]

R1G
Following on from your and NewJ's posting. All this does is highlight the permanent conflict between 'wrong' and 'illegal'

[jno]

Brown doesn't mind apologising for things as long as (a) it wasn't his fault; (b) it doesn't cost anything; (c) the guy's dead. Blair was the same; Cameron will be too. Turing was grievously wronged and the country was the worse for it. But once in a while it would be nice to see a politician actually admit he'd done something wrong himself.

[youngmafbog]

Quite surprising Browns willing to upset the muslims though. They certainly would not have appologised.

[sherminator]

R1 Geezer taking peoples points on board...twice!!!!! Gromit may be right!!!!!

i jest of course Mr Geezer but is it a good article and your intentions I completely agree with.

[Mr Veritas]

It seems that the Police during WW2 were told to "back off" Alan Turing regarding his sexuality,as his work was of crucial importance to winning the war.
Without Turing we would probably not have computers (he created one of the first called Collossus),he also was a major factor in cracking the Enigma machine code.
When the war ended and Bletchley Park was closed Turing returned to civilian life.
He was caught (they were watching him of course) in a Public Toilet fumbling with another man.
His "crime" appeared in the newspapers,and he was enssential "outed" and his academic career was finished.
After the trial he returned home, went to his bedroom with a bottle of weed killer and drank it;and, the doctor said must have died in agony.
I have a gay grandson,and am glad he will not have to go through such a trial.
More about Alan Turing here:~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing

[R1Geezer]

This is serious, even sherminator is agreeing! Where can get a copy of The Guardian?

[rov1200]

Posthumus pardons are like betting on a horse that has already finished a race.

[Mr Veritas]

rov1200,
You might think so.
However,there many of Alan Turing's (surviving) family who would disagree with you.