Scotish man convicted for "offensive speech"

[hollodero]

(04-03-2018, 11:10 AM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: Eh, historically the US has a pretty good track record in this regards as opposed to Europe.

I agree without hesitation of course. (Although Arturo does have a point when mentioning the "anti-communist" era in US politics)
Otherwise, recent US developments wouldn't be so stunnning.

(04-03-2018, 11:10 AM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: Also, the Trump as an authoritarian trope is not exactly backed up by facts or actions.  I agree he'd certainly like to run things in that fashion, but he hasn't been able to actually do so.

Well, "not backed up" is a matter of perspective. Overall, yeah I too think Trump would very much like to run things in that fashion, as you said, I forgo examples.
Europe's certainly not perfect and critique is always fine, but I still feel like doubling down on the point that in these times it's a bit out of place for the US to call European leaders authoritarian shitheads and European voters prone to said figures. As of now, it's the US prone to that Trump guy.

(04-03-2018, 11:10 AM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: You recently had Schumer bragging about the Dems being able to accomplish more as the minority party.

Yeah well, that doesn't speak to Trump's intentions though.

(04-03-2018, 11:10 AM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: What I find disturbing is how these hate speech laws are used to threaten or silence people with legitimate complaints about how their government is handling things such as the migrant crisis. 

OK, that's just not true, not if you put it this way. I have complaints about how we handle the crisis and sure can say so. Other people, politicians even, have complaints and some solutions I'd consider very grim, quite hateful and such, and they can talk about that everywhere in length, they get votes, they don't get trouble with the law. Same goes for the supporters, they are free to state their point of view and do so quite visibly. People that get threatened by the law actually have to call migrants subhuman scum or suggest mass killings or gas chambers or something of that sort. Beyond that, there's nothing happening regarding the law.

Again, disclaimer, I'm not 100% fine with the law as it is and also think it's ridiculous to fine the guy in the OP.