Can't Stop Social Media-Driven UK Riots? Go After Social Media-Driven Water Gun Fights
from the that'll-teach-'em dept
As UK politicians and law enforcement still argue over things like blocking access to social media or shutting down Blackberry Messenger during times of riots and/or protests, it seems that some UK police know when to just jump right in. They've arrested and charged a guy for daring to organize a water gun fight using Blackberry messenger and Facebook. We're not making this up, though we wish we were:The 20-year-old from Colchester was arrested on Friday after Essex police discovered the alleged plans circulating on the BlackBerry Messenger service and Facebook.It's a "serious crime" to organize a water gun fight? Is there no right to bear supersoakers?
The unnamed man has been charged with "encouraging or assisting in the commission of an offence" under the 2007 Serious Crime Act, police said.
He was arrested with another 20-year-old man the day the water fight was allegedly due to take place, and has been bailed to appear before Colchester magistrates on 1 September.
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Filed Under: london, riots, social media, uk, water guns
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Re: Armed Bears
Well sheee-it that sucks!
I'm likely gonna get shot trying to take the sniper rifles away from the bears on my property... and they were so happy when I gave them the guns too.
_sigh_ It's always something.
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The UK needs to clarify things.
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end of times
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It's one of the reasons flash mobs are so dangerous, too many people in a place that isn't set up to handle it, without security.
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Washington D.C., District of Columbia 20230
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If you don't fill out your mandatory "27b stroke 6" form, how do you expect the government to function?
Once again fantasy has become reality.
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Oh god. Let's get this one out of the way: "Those who would give up some liberty to gain some security deserve neither and will lose both." (Some guy possibly Benjamin Franklin) Since when is the "free world" the "free world but only if you have a permit"? We need to stop this absurd interference into people's lives. Life is and will always be risky. So let's just accept that stop trying to remove the risk and get on with our lives shooting water guns at each other whether the cops want us to or not!
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That sounds nice but it's a bit simplistic don't you think? I mean anyone living under anything but complete anarchy has given up some liberty for security.
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> and consideration with the local police to
> insure everyone's safety.
I'm so sick of every government everywhere justifying their oppressive actions and micromanagement of every aspect of people's lives in the name of 'safety'.
I'm a grown adult. I can worry about my own safety, thank you very much.
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In fact IIRC the event was some several weeks out, which would make it not a flash mob. Flash Mobs are setup moments before they are meant to happen, not with weeks of planning.
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http://uk.news.yahoo.com/first-riot-related-eviction-notice-served.html
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> kid does something then either you discipline
> him or keep your nose out when I beat his punk
> behind.
If you're going to live on the backs of the taxpayers in a home that's *not* yours, but rather owned and paid for by the people, then you damn well better make sure you discipline your own kid and make sure he's not out looting and burning down the homes of the people who pay for yours, or live with the consequences.
And go ahead and beat his ass. I'm with you on that one.
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For some families, the welfare system (including housing) means that you have more household income than working full-time.
Added to that, that the average income stashed in accounts of the Cabinet members is �500k, which they aren't paying full taxes on, and you can see, at least in part, why people are so upset with the Government over here.
Punishing those who did criminality? Sure thing. Evicting others for something they personally didn't do? Not so much.
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If I was gonna get into mischeif when a kid, I did it, and my parents were very strict, you just had to accept the punishment if you got caught.
No matter how good the parents, some kids are gonna get into trouble, so taking away their housing ain't gonna solve anything except create more homelessness and more street crime.
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It's all fun and games until...
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Get advance notice on upcoming Techdirt posts!
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Re: Get advance notice on upcoming Techdirt posts!
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Re: Get advance notice on upcoming Techdirt posts!
Are you actually complaining that a site that you apparently hate, doesn't update fast enough?
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Oh and there was a fist fight once...
And this other time after the fist fight time... they searched people and they found KNIVES!.... on 9 whole people so it was obviously about to decent into the madness of the Jets vs the Sharks.
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Chief Constable Wiggum P. Jackhole was quoted as saying "We were totally distracted by not only how fast they were heading down those slides, but all the young ladies in white shirts zipping by!"
He added that in the above cases, Riot Police had troubles wielding their nightsticks.
Prime Minister Cameron has called for a ban on all tight fitting white t-shirts and wet plastic throughout the UK.
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meanwhile, over in the States
FTA - "However, opponents of the ban say a super soaker filled with hydrochloric acid would prove �highly effective� in a number of situations e.g. incapacitating a home intruder, bringing down game on a hunt, overthrowing a tyrannical government � and therefore should be permitted on constitutional grounds."
I'll see your British WTF and raise.
http://www.gubuwire.com/?p=811
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Re: meanwhile, over in the States
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When you want to add more restrictions on the people doing so while they are in absolute fear is the best time to do so.
Do you think the TSA would have ever happened without the fearmongering of the terrorists will win if we don't do this?
Do you think the warrentless wiretapping would have breezed through without the fear of there are terrorists here right now and they are plotting against us fear card being played?
We had a riot, if we do not crack down on these unplanned meetups of people, they could descend into an orgy of destruction and burn you out of your home! Now we are here to take care of you, pay no attention to the forced cc on all of your emails. Your a good person you have nothing to worry about, but we need to read all the emails to find the bad people.
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Also, can you really get in trouble for lacking a permit if the event hasn't occurred yet? Sounds a lot like pre-crime.
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Cop Danger
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Iran
Words like sauce goose and gander floating through my head here.
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