[Nyota]

I'll just say one more thing, as I wasn't clear earlier - reporting people for hate crime on the internet is all well and good, but what about when people get reported for no real reason other than someone else disliking what they're saying? It's not always clear cut if something is racism or homophobic or anything else that's rightly considered out of line. I think it's too easy for people to get upset at something they don't like and try to police it, whether their reaction is valid or not.

[Zack06]

Originally Posted by Nyota

I can tell right now we're going to have to agree to disagree when it comes to our opinions on when it comes to reporting people.

I don't get where logic or common sense or understanding of acceptable conduct comes into play in your viewpoint that 'silly internet comments should not be reported'...

An idea is a powerful thing, and all it takes is for comments like that to be ignored before it turns into something uglier. Nasty, insensitive comments like that should not be tolerated, and I don't understand why Lily has been attacked for reporting such a comment. She was well within her rights to, and due to the questionable punctuation, the comment can easily be interpreted as a racist one which I believe was the motive behind the comment.

These things should not just be brushed under the carpet as it is downplaying the abhorrent nature of these comments.

[Check it out]

Originally Posted by Chip Popple

There is a massive difference in someone 'spurting crap over the internet' and someone making a racist comment - someone's career should not be wrecked because of a misjudged remark.

Well if the MOD see it the way you do all will be good. Maybe they can give him some advice on proof reading.

[Nyota]

Originally Posted by Zack06

I don't get where logic or common sense or understanding of acceptable conduct comes into play in your viewpoint that 'silly internet comments should not be reported'...

An idea is a powerful thing, and all it takes is for comments like that to be ignored before it turns into something uglier. Nasty, insensitive comments like that should not be tolerated, and I don't understand why Lily has been attacked for reporting such a comment. She was well within her rights to, and due to the questionable punctuation, the comment can easily be interpreted as a racist one which I believe was the motive behind the comment.

These things should not just be brushed under the carpet as it is downplaying the abhorrent nature of these comments.

Read my post above this one.

But I'd rather agree to disagree. Night, all.

[Jerrica09]

So what he meant to say was 'I heard you bought - shit - I meant adopted...'?

Even if he'd meant 'you bought shit' isn't that a word used to mean 'stuff' now? I certainly hear it a lot that way.

And I know I wouldn't read the word 'shit' and think 'black person'.....

What an odd and confusing story

[PaleHorse]

Originally Posted by Jerrica09

So what he meant to say was 'I heard you bought - shit - I meant adopted...'?

Even if he'd meant 'you bought shit' isn't that a word used to mean 'stuff' now? I certainly hear it a lot that way.

And I know I wouldn't read the word 'shit' and think 'black person'.....

What an odd and confusing story

Yeah! If anything, Lily's just outed herself as a closet racist for immediately seeing a correlation between excrement and black people! And not the punctuation error like many of us would have assumed.

[DavetheScot]

Lily might have overreacted, but if the comment had been meant as she (quite reasonably) interpreted it, it's understandable she would be disgusted by it. If he meant it the way some of you say, he has the opportunity to explain this. If so, he shouldn't face serious discipline. I do think he's been a bit of a tit, but that shouldn't ruin his career.

[priscilla]

the comment disgusting

[unclekevo]

I don't like how because he's a soldier people automatically assume that makes up for inappropriate behaviour, regardless of whether his intentions were innocent or not, what he wrote WAS offensive and he has to take responsibility for his actions.

[priscilla]

Originally Posted by unclekevo

I don't like how because he's a soldier people automatically assume that makes up for inappropriate behaviour, regardless of whether his intentions were innocent or not, what he wrote WAS offensive and he has to take responsibility for his actions.

^this
the comment was disgusting and offensive
the tweet thing was a joke thing but who would ever find the comment he made funny

[acid rain]

Originally Posted by SarahJam

I think we will have to agree to disagree here, I firmly believe in reporting a crime.

Someone shouted a racist comment at me a few years ago and I didn't report it then because I was shocked that it actually happened, but I do wish had reported it now.

Exactly, it's important to be vigilant in order to stamp out prejudice. If people think they can get away with being abusive then they'll just continue.

Even if the guy online wasn't racist he should've been reported for his crimes against grammar.

[unclekevo]

Originally Posted by PaleHorse

Yeah! If anything, Lily's just outed herself as a closet racist for immediately seeing a correlation between excrement and black people! And not the punctuation error like many of us would have assumed.

No she hasn't?

The comment was 'I heard you bought shit, I mean adopted a black child' or something along those lines, she didn't have to make any assumptions as it was there infront of her.

[DavetheScot]

Originally Posted by unclekevo

I don't like how because he's a soldier people automatically assume that makes up for inappropriate behaviour, regardless of whether his intentions were innocent or not, what he wrote WAS offensive and he has to take responsibility for his actions.

Has anyone said that his being a soldier does make up for it?

[priscilla]

why didnt he just say i heard you bought, i mean adopt a black child
why did he feel the need to put the word 'Shit' in, there was no need for it
you can blatantly see the comment a racist one just like lily did

[Re-Minder]

Originally Posted by Check it out

Surely that IS a racist comment. Comparing a child in Africa to "sh**"? Or am I missing something?

Us tube drivers have been compared to shit , is that not racist also?

Stupid cow is braindead.

[dee123]

Originally Posted by Big Boy Barry

It's not a racist comment, but it's moronic.

But to suggest she owes HIM an apology is arse-backwards.

It's his fault, first of all for posting like a 6 year old, and secondly for talking bollocks.

Exactly. Totally his fault, the moron.

[PaleHorse]

Originally Posted by unclekevo

No she hasn't?

The comment was 'I heard you bought shit, I mean adopted a black child' or something along those lines, she didn't have to make any assumptions as it was there infront of her.

You haven't read the thread. Understandable.

[ultimatums]

I think we all have a duty to pull up people who make racists remarks. If we don't, we are condoning it.

In this situation, as the receiver of the tweet, Lily Allen, believed he was being racists and acted accordingly. If the tweeter did not mean it to be a racist remark, then he should have clarified it to Lily Allen. Has he done so? If not, maybe he did mean it to be exactly as it was written.

ETA: After reading Frontline, I guess he did mean it as he wrote it. Now, his twitter and facebook have been taken down.

[SarahJam]

Originally Posted by Re-Minder

Us tube drivers have been compared to shit , is that not racist also?

Stupid cow is braindead.

There is a difference being called a little sh** or whatever that is not racism, but being told you look like shit because of your skin colour is racist.

[Chip Popple]

I don't think the comment was racist, but if Lily Allen thought it was, that's her opinion.

But what I do object to, is her retweeting the messages she received from people who disagreed with her.

It's typical Lily Allen to make it all about her - she didn't have to let her followers know she was reporting the guy in the first place. I've reported people on Twitter, but I don't let my followers know about it - it should be a private thing.

[JoTaylor]

I actually read is as 'you bought s**t' as in someone 'knows s**t'. i.e. nothing.

[dorydaryl]

I do get the grammatical thing- what may have been intended wasn't how it came across. All the same, what a stupid thing to tweet and what a crass wind up for targeting someone whose problems with having children (yes, I know she's a mum now but went to hell and back to get there) is well documented. This from someone who doesn't particularly care for Lily Allen or her music.
He is a moron, whichever way you look at it.
Not remotely funny, in the wind up sense, either, whoever's idea it was.

[fitnessqueen]

If he had put "I heard you bought, whoops I mean adopted a child from Africa" then there would be no story. Bad grammar, bad choice of words but not racist.

[fruitloop27]

At first I thought the man was being racist, but I think the OP is right- I think he meant to put a dash in before the 'sh**'. (on the other hand, if he intended to be racist, then he is a total & utter twonk).

This is a prime example for people to pay more attention to their grammar & spelling.

[~sugarpinkloz]

I dont think he was comparing the child to a ****. He was clearly mocking the celebtity culture that was basically puchasing an African child (like Madonna did when she went over a took a child from his mum & dad)