Mandrake emailed me this snippet of news. The channel news asia website seems to be down, so I’ve pasted the text here for you to read. I say, Jolly Good Show! We should not let racists get away lightly. The Intarweb is a public place, and as such if you have nothing nice to say then shut the hell up.
“….if you have nothing nice to say then shut the hell up.”
Did I hear you correctly? That because the Intarweb is a public place, as such we can only say nice things?
Ok then, Cowboy Caleb….
Public place, say what you want, but be prepared to face the music if you get hauled up.
I wonder how the two were caught though. Did they leave their personal contact details? Was big brother watching? Did ISPs release information that lead to the charging of the two?
I think the key is in being responsible? and not being nice.
Two bloggers charged under Sedition Act
…For my part, I have no idea what the comments were, but I can bring you through the legislation: (irrelevant portions deleted)… I’m sure that in the course of time someone will point to what exactly these seditious comments are … anyone who re…
if you have nothing nice to say then shut the hell up.
if you’re not sarcastic, then you’re terribly ironic
They appeared to have removed the URLs on the CNA sites.
a blog, as fiercely private, is also ironically public.
bottomline- one should be responsibile for what one writes. and the piece of writing should be able to withstand battering and social comments.
ultimately, it’s really about point, proof and pertinence.
By the way, did you know that I can see your IP addresses?
Yes, I do know which of you are posting multiple comments under different names to create the impression that it’s different people.
If anybody were evar to post racist shite on my blog, I would submit it to MDA in an instant. They can do a reverse lookup of your IP address.
finally, bold action is taken! stuff like that really shouldn’t be taken lightly. but it sure took a hell of a long time to nab the guy…
CC,
I’m appalled by your statement. Yes, Racism is bad but these two young men are just stating their god-given human right to voice an opinion.
I may not agree with their racist comments, but that doesn’t mean they should be jailed for it.
Its like jailing someone just because he said “Yo Mama’s so fat, when she jump for joy, she got stuck!”.
The Internet is a public place, and it shouldn’t be regulated in anyway by any form of government of any country. Please tell me how is China’s curbing of political dissents different from Singapore arresting people that voice a different opinion?
Well said CC. Racism cannot, and should not be tolerated.
“if you have nothing nice to say then shut the hell up”
With one fell swoop, the majority of blogs out there would be silenced.
Hell, even food blogs have to give negative reviews every once in a while. Nothing nice to say then shut down lor.
1. There’s all this talk of the Internet as a medium that frees up space for expression and discussion. Especially where the mainstream media does not provide such an avenue. Has this legal action put paid to that notion? Quite disturbing.
2. First Acid Flask, now this. Something recently about the press picking up on Talk Rock? Just seems like a wake-up call to the cowboy town (no pun, CC) that used to be the blogoshere. The precedents are being set. What impact will it have on Singapore’s blogosphere and internet commentators in the future? Again, disturbing.
3. Blogs are intensely opinionated. They don’t have to be objective, that’s not their point. They are just someone’s daily rants. So where do the bounds of responsibility lie? Clearly, racism is not on, but to what extent is criticism permissible before it attracts unwanted attention?
I used to think the Internet and blogs were changing things in Singapore. Perhaps, I was a little too hasty and naive. Time will tell.
Whats wrong with CC’s comments? Racism is abhorrent to humanity. If someone quotes Voltaire again with me, I think I might just have to bite their ear off.
Dear All,
Yes, the correct word should be ‘responsible’ and not ‘nice’. My bad.
If you are my friend, and you’re a friggin racist, I would deem it to be my divine burden to beat the living shit out of you through various methods such as kick-in-the-nuts, palm-to-nose, flying-round-house-kick-to-chest etc so as to help you realize the error of your ways.
Don’t give me that freedom of speech bullshit. Wrong is wrong is wrong.
Homosexuality used to be abhorrent to much of humanity too. It still is in such quarters.
Ditto for religion. Some people thought other religions abhorrent to humanity, so there was nothing wrong condemning them or forcing conversion to more civilised religions by the sword.
I would deem it to be my divine burden to beat the living shit out of you through various methods such as kick-in-the-nuts, palm-to-nose, flying-round-house-kick-to-chest etc so as to help you realize the error of your ways.
In the Soviet Union, political dissidents were subjected to electroshock therapy to help them realise the error of their ways.
Of course, we all think we’re right. But so did they.
I think a distinction must be drawn between expressing an opinion, and putting those opinions into concrete action.
You can’t tell people what to think or what not to think. You also cannot tell people what to say or what not to say.
What you can do, is to prevent people from doing things that harm people.
If you go down the path of telling people what you can or cannot say, then the rules should apply fairly and equally to everyone.
For example, Cowboy is a real asshat for calling everyone an asshat. After all, if you’ve got nothing nice to say, shouldn’t you shut up too?
Cannot, I am the way, the truth and the light.
And the next time we meet, you can punch my foot with your buttocks if you like.
LOL
I can sit on you if you like.
Can the taxi-driver who called me a “f*cking ang moh” in a public place please go to jail now.
Was that Seditious, or Sid Vicious?
Agagooga & Han >
Why am I against racism? Because it’s wrong but it can be cured through education (and beatings). Homosexuality is genetic and cannot be cured. I may be uncomfortable with it but I can’t do anything about my gay friends.
E@L> You must pardon the taxi driver who hurled that insult at you. He is a product of his environment (little or no education, xenophobic etc).
Wrong political/social/economic/any beliefs can also be “cured”.
I am totally disgusted at the rascists blogs but I am also totally disgusted to hear something like “if you have nothing nice to say then shut the hell up” and “Don’t give me that freedom of speech bullshit.Wrong is wrong is wrong” from you.
Who have the right to decide what is right or wrong ? And why should any one be deny the freedom of speech ? We live in the age of reason, not some dark ages where one authority decide what’s right and wrong and burn all those who they deem are wrong.
Those remarks of yours, how different are they from remarks make by those fucking rascists ? It’s just a case of zero respect and tolerence of others views and opinions - be it race, ideas, religions etc.
monday links
Today, AsiaPundit has the Shanghai flu (
*then* you shan’t make anti-gay remarks anymore, they’re racist in a way. also “nigga please” is racist. Do not collect $200 and go directly to jail!
Anyways, I’m amazed this happens, considering how many billion shit racist - extremely racist- sites are out there.
Creating martyrs does nothing to suppress the movement.
Airing the dirty laundry is the only way to banish the stench.
Two charged with sedition for racist remarks onlin
The backstory according to the report is that on June 14, ST Forum Page published a letter asking if “cab companies allowed uncaged pets to be transported in taxis, after she saw a dog standing on a taxi seat next to its owner.”
Trackback: e pur si muove, Bloggers Charged Under Sedition Act
“Don’t give me that freedom of speech bullshit?” Such as the comments on this blog? Or this blog itself, for that matter.
Mind you, CC, you’re liable for any offending comments that pop up within these pages. Is that going to get you jumping at shadows and scrapping any comments that might even hint of trouble in the offing?
Has anyone actually seen these comments in question? (I’m late to the party and missed out again.) Or is it a matter of faith that these remarks were not only racist, but also SEDITIOUS?
Hail Mighty Zeus!
For speaking up on the topic of racism. Thank you for being brave enough to not malinger in the grey areas of neutrality and pretend that this is a matter of ‘free speech’.
Shion > I summarize your blog as “I hurt, I hate everything”. NO wonder you took offence at CC. If you have nothing nice to say then don’t say anything. You may want to remember this when one day you finally post something stupid enough to get your nailed by the authorities.
puck > No, CC is not liable. The author of the comment has full liability. All CC has to do to avoid trouble is co-operate with the authorities by providing the IP address of the hatemonger. Plus CC has never unpublished any comments. C’mon, even unflattering comments are everywhere on his blog.
Agagooga > I think you’re too young or have never experienced the ugliness of racism in its horrifying totality, having lived in Singapore. Why not take a trip to Malaysia and see what it really means to be a second class citizen? You write very well, but your overall lack of maturity still shines through your eloquence.
The difference between CC and the Soviets beating the crap out of you so that you will stop being an asshat.
CC does it out of love.
The difference between CC and somebody else calling you an asshat.
CC does it out of affection.
Hail Cowboy Caleb. Thank you for not sitting on the fence on this issue. It’s one thing to blog about it. You actually had an opinion and was not afraid to say it out loud although you knew there would be backlash. Most of the other blogs on this issue were going around in circles and did not make it clear where they stood.
Respect.
Dismissing people as naive is such a common tactic.
Taking a trip to Malaysia shows that what we need is more discussion of racial/religious issues, not less. And in Malaysia they have institutionalised state racism. What this has to do with clamping down on racist speech is beyond me.
Erm. Right. Whatever you say. All hail Zeus.
I could also love you so much that I’d kill you.
minishorts is a perfect example of a ’second class citizen’.
i’m sorry to disappoint but i do not feel like a second class citizen at all. it’s all in the mind, folks, it’s all in the mind. otherwise maybe you’ll like to cleverly call it ‘the self-fulfilling prophecy’?
i say you are what you shape yourself to be.
no leh, it cannot be all in the mind. and being young should not stop anybody from having a point of view?
if it is there but you choose to ignore it, that’s self-delusion. and if you are happy about it, well, great! Social engineering does work brilliantly at times.
ignoring how society can shape you?
hey, i applaud that.
at least you have decided. many people continue sitting on the fence, very painful one you know?
at the end of the day, the two guys will be held responsible for what they posted online. racism is wrong, we all know that. but not many can claim complete innocence. having friends from other races, however many, does not mean you are not.
I suppose it is customary to end off with a “All hail the Mighty Zeus!”?
Cowboy Caleb does tolerate racists. See:
http://cowboycaleb.liquidblade.com/index.php/archives/2005/04/19/more-thoughts-about-the-racist-psa-asshat-scholar/
And CC was the victim of racism in his youth, which would explain why he is all for punishing those 2 blokes. See:
http://cowboycaleb.liquidblade.com/index.php/archives/2005/02/17/lets-get-delretardeddel-racial/
Finally, on being homophobic, CC was molested as a child by a male adult.
http://cowboycaleb.liquidblade.com/index.php/archives/2004/06/01/a-very-disturbing-article/
Caleb: hail the mighty zeus indeed, some readers have so much time as to dig up the dust from the past. how they do this and why is still a wonder I doubt i’ll ever comprehend.
Raine: i think you can write a book about CC already!
anyways, when it comes to racism people have to be more sensitive to the issue especially when publicly saying something about it. A joke which is obvious to everyone that’s a joke is fine, but if the blogger wants to keep writing about his hate for a certain race, he should just jolly well shut the fuck up.
Even if he’s not charged, it will show how ‘little’/unevolved a person he is, if he cant judge a person on anything other than their skin color.
This is why freedom of speech coupled with democracy works. There’re always people free/bored/motivated enough to dig up incriminating material!
Laws of our land Part III(a): Matters sub-judice
The New Paper: Simply electric!
Lordy, this matter has consumed me. But before I go further, there’s one thing that I have to be mindful of when discussing the case.
Channelnews Asia called the other night to tell me that the names of the o…
Poseidon: I have no idea where you got the “I summarize your blog as “I hurt, I hate everything”.
Me ? Hurt ? Me hate everything ? That’s the biggest freaking joke I have heard for a while.
And hey , before you go on and on about who you think I am and what will happen to me and my blog , ain’t we suppose to dicuss about the “issue” ?? I don’t rememeber us discussing abt what kind of man I am , I thought we are on the topic of respect for freedom of speech.
You are totally beyond me dude.
TODAY: What’s ’sedition?’ debate goes online
Excerpt:
Bloggers react to news of charge against 2 for ‘racist rants’
TWO bloggers were charged on Monday under the Sedition Act for allegedly racist comments made on an online forum and on a website. Naturally, this has sent ripples…
Sedition Charge For Racism
Yet again, the government never fails to kill a part of my soul. 25-year-old Nicholas and 27-year-old Benjamin, both bloggers, are being charged under the Sedition Act for posting racist remarks on the Internet. Now, don’t get me wrong, racism is …
Did anyone thought about the coordination efforts required just to prosecute these two fellows.
There must be a complaint filed first before investigation can commence. With such an obstinate sedition act, the officer in charge will have to linked with the lawyers from AG.
Thereafter, get the computer experts in from CID to dig out evidence.
Whooo… seem like lotsa of work involved …
Never Be Rude to an Arab, and Sit On My Face
In the spirit of the recent anti-racist rhetoric, let me post up the wise words of Monty Python. Vive la Sedition Act!
Never be rude to an Arab,
An Israeli, or Saudi, or Jew,
Never be rude to an Irishman,
No matter what you do.
Never poke fun …
Hail Caleb for putting his foot down. Respect.
“The muslim
religion is the work of the devil in its bid to fight christianity, its the
classic battle of Good versus Evil.What I am suggesting here is that..we
should exterminate malays from our community as almost all of
them(99.999999%) are muslims.By allowing them to breed,it is though having
a time-bomb ticking away within the country..”
“Malays are
extremely united and would stand together against any threat muslim or
non-muslim so no matter what,EVERY SINGLE malay MUST BE TERMINATED.Here,I
am appealing to all of you out there,support the Anti-malay movement”
This is Freedom of Speech? Freedom of Speech my ass. It’s not even funny. To all FoS proponents; either you’ve ODed on American TV or you have forgotten 1964 or you’ve forgotten how to respect your neighbours. Or worst, you are a racist yourself in which I would declare Jihad on joo and kick your hairless yellow butt! oh wait.. nevermind.
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