http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/student-arrested-after-talking-about/20070419005909990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

What do you think?

what happened to freedom of speech? All the guy did was voice his opinion...

Jesus, it's just an arrest. Maybe it'll put a little reality into his life and shape him up a bit?

what happened to freedom of speech? All the guy did was voice his opinion...

Well, Cho used his freedoms to express himself, too, didn't he? How do you feel about that? Was that wrong?

Baron Max

If you think he deserved it then you don't believe in free speech, you believe in limited speech....people shouldn't get arrested for voicing their opinions, even if their opinions are not widely accepted...

Well, Cho used his freedoms to express himself, too, didn't he? How do you feel about that? Was that wrong?

Baron Max

I'm talking about freedom of speech, not freedom of killing others...they're two completely different things....

i read the report and i dont know it was confusing, i gather that maybe they could think he was a potential killer saying "things might make him want to kill people" he has freedom of speech but to a certain extent,

if that speech is deemed threatening or as a possible safety risk to the public then arresting him might not be breeching anything atall. he didnt break direct laws so he has nothing to worry about,

if he is convicted then maybe his human rights have been breached!, but if he gets away with no conviction or fine or anything then whats wrong?


if he is a risk and could be seen as a potential killer then they have a right to remove him from a public vascinity, if he didnt seem a threat then no.


peace.

I'm talking about freedom of speech, not freedom of killing others...they're two completely different things....

Yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded auditorium?

Making threats about bombs to the police?

Calling in information about bombs to the police?

Making radical Islamic comments on a crowded plane in mid-fight?

....among many others where the "possible" harm to other might occur?

Baron Max

Yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded auditorium?

Making threats about bombs to the police?

Calling in information about bombs to the police?

Making radical Islamic comments on a crowded plane in mid-fight?

....among many others where the "possible" harm to other might occur?

Baron Max
The problem is the man did none of the above things....he simply voiced his opinion in a discussion where it was appropiate to voice his opinion (he voiced his opinion during an open class discussion)....why should someone be arrested for this? Maybe he should've gotten kicked out of class at most, but to make him spend a few nights in jail, thats just unnecessary

Go live in another country if you don't believe in freedom of speech...

LOL, this is just hilarious. So much for America, land of the free. The authorities are reacting to the massacre in the way I predicted.

"*gasp* HE'S SYMPATHIZING. ARREST HIM!"

And if indeed the individual who was arrested is 'disturbed', and truly fantasizes about killing people, arresting him won't help the matter.

And if indeed the individual who was arrested is 'disturbed', and truly fantasizes about killing people, arresting him won't help the matter.

Yes, it will help. If he's arrested and brough before a judge, the judge can and might order psychiatric counseling and thus avert a possible copy-cat act by another nut-case!

If they do nothing, then something happens, .....? Which is, by the way, exactly what happened with Cho. They had him, checked him out, found that he was a nut-case, but let him go ....and look what he did.

Baron Max

Baron Max:
Yes, it will help. If he's arrested and brough before a judge, the judge can and might order psychiatric counseling and thus avert a possible copy-cat act by another nut-case!


No. If this kid was serious, he should receive counselling, right away. Arrests, trials, handcuffs, being treated as a criminal, persecution. They will never restore a maladjusted individual's faith in society.

Go live in another country if you don't believe in freedom of speech...

As noted above ....the below are examples of "free speech". Do you agree that we should be allowed the free speech to do the things listed below? If not, then perhaps you should go live in another country?!

Originally Posted by Baron Max
Yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded auditorium?

Making threats about bombs to the police?

Calling in information about bombs to the police?

Making radical Islamic comments on a crowded plane in mid-fight?

....among many others where the "possible" harm to other might occur?

Baron Max

As noted above ....the below are examples of "free speech". Do you agree that we should be allowed the free speech to do the things listed below? If not, then perhaps you should go live in another country?!

Originally Posted by Baron Max
Yelling "FIRE!" in a crowded auditorium?

Making threats about bombs to the police?

Calling in information about bombs to the police?

Making radical Islamic comments on a crowded plane in mid-fight?

....among many others where the "possible" harm to other might occur?

Baron Max
These forms of free speech are life-threatening, and directly correlate to physical harm...the man on other hand simply sympathized with Cho saying that he understood how anger can cause that in an open class discussion (an appropriate place to discuss and voice such opinions)

Every time something like this happens the authorities look for someone to screw over. They found him.

No. If this kid was serious, he should receive counselling, right away.

On what legal grounds???? You think it's okay just to grab someone off the street and force them to be "evaluated"????

Arrests, trials, handcuffs, being treated as a criminal, persecution. They will never restore a maladjusted individual's faith in society.

Does that mean that you're one of those mamby-pamby, doo-gooder, liberals who thinks that we can explain things to the nut-case, tell him what's good and bad, then he'll be okay? ..as if by magic??

Baron Max

These forms of free speech are life-threatening, and directly correlate to physical harm...

So was Cho's "free speech" ...and people even caught it, knew about it, but did nothing. And now look what's happened.

See? This free speech bullshit that you're so hot to advocate is not such a great idea, is it? In your post, for example, you're willing to limit the free speech ....if it's deemed "life threatening". See? Even you limit free speech, yet you're attempting to argue that all speech should be free. So ....make up your mind.

Baron Max

The shit head got exactly what he wanted 5 minuets of fame, and national notoriety, and his picture on TV, and he deserved everything that happened to him, and I hope they hand him his ass, but the PC crowd will make sure he becomes a martyr, and make it that much harder to do something about the real threats that kill 32 innocent people.

So was Cho's "free speech" ...and people even caught it, knew about it, but did nothing. And now look what's happened.

See? This free speech bullshit that you're so hot to advocate is not such a great idea, is it? In your post, for example, you're willing to limit the free speech ....if it's deemed "life threatening". See? Even you limit free speech, yet you're attempting to argue that all speech should be free. So ....make up your mind.

Baron Max
You don't understand, I am for freedom of speech and against the freedom to harm others. If Cho only voiced his opinions in words instead of actions and never harmed anyone I wouldn't have a problem.....

The problem is when freedom of speech leads to harming others...then there is a reason to be concerned (because of the harming others part, not the actual freedom of speech)

Go live in the middle east or some country where you do not have freedom of speech since you honestly do not want it...

I'm not a fan of 'free speech.' This guy deserved to be arrested, as do racist groups, the Christians at the Fred Phelps compound and filthy sexist hip hop artists. Squeals for free speech are just a lazy way society can ignore it's deep rooted problems. Plus it continues the racist treatment of minorities from blacks and latins to gays and women.

I'm not a fan of 'free speech.' This guy deserved to be arrested, as do racist groups, the Christians at the Fred Phelps compound and filthy sexist hip hop artists. Squeals for free speech are just a lazy way society can ignore it's deep rooted problems. Plus it continues the racist treatment of minorities from blacks and latins to gays and women.

Right, at least you admit it. You are for "speech that only agrees with my personal opinions" as opposed to "free speech". People like you possess the same mentality as those who banned certain books they didn't like, burned those accused as being witches, etc...

Right, at least you admit it. You are for "speech that only agrees with my personal opinions" as opposed to "free speech".Only because free speech is used by social terrorists like the Klan, neo Nazi groups, Fred Phelp's little Baptist church and by racists to attack and threaten others. There is no reason I should be arrested for burning a US flag while the Klan can preach violent hatred on the courthouse steps.

The problem is when freedom of speech leads to harming others...then there is a reason to be concerned

Well, if they'd have been a little more concerned about Cho, then we wouldn't even be talking about this. His freedoms are exactly what led him to do what he did. Notice that no one was concerned, just like you now, until the first bullet struck flesh. How much freedom do you want people to have? Freedom right up until the bullet connects???

You don't understand, I am for freedom of speech and against the freedom to harm others.

So you're okay with kids incessantly teasing and belittling others ...not hitting or hurting, just using their freedom of speech? You're okay with that??

Go live in the middle east or some country where you do not have freedom of speech since you honestly do not want it...

I'm trying to show you that freedom of speech can get too fuckin' free! Yet you don't seem to get it ....even while you're doing the same limiting of freedoms! ...LOL!

Baron Max

if you agree with 100% total freedom of speech, then you agree with death threats, racism, prejudice, sexism, and every other "ism" :)


i dont agree or disagree with it, but it depends on the situation i guess, if somebody came up to me and said "i am going to kill your wife because she is a nigger" and "i will whoop your ass after i kill her because i dont like black people"

not bieng rash or harsh but i would attempt to take his head off. because i do not accept that type of action,

so if that guy has the right to say that to my wife and that is considered freedom of speech then i dont agree with it. i would deem that as threatening behaviour bordering actual assult on our safety.

but if somebody says something like i dont like you because your an asshole, then i wouldent act the same and wouldent care so much.


peace.

also if a man of say 45 years old was inticing a little girl of 4 years old saying, "i want to sexualy abuse you, come over here so i can fuck you"


would that be acceptable freedom of speech?

i dont think so.


peace.

Well, if they'd have been a little more concerned about Cho, then we wouldn't even be talking about this. His freedoms are exactly what led him to do what he did. Notice that no one was concerned, just like you now, until the first bullet struck flesh. How much freedom do you want people to have? Freedom right up until the bullet connects???
His freedoms did not lead him to do what he did, it was his anger...


So you're okay with kids incessantly teasing and belittling others ...not hitting or hurting, just using their freedom of speech? You're okay with that??
Although I do not encourage such behavior I do not believe that the parents should be arrested if their child makes fun of someone....for some reason you do....

Start limiting freedom of speech and it will lead to corruption, people like Martin Luther King Jr. and others would not have been allowed to voice their opinions if it was up to people like you....since at the time such opinions were not commonly shared and frowned upon....


I'm trying to show you that freedom of speech can get too fuckin' free! Yet you don't seem to get it ....even while you're doing the same limiting of freedoms! ...LOL!

Baron Max
Freedom of speech should only be concerned when harming others comes into the equation...like if someone makes a bomb threat the concern is with a bomb going off (physical harm) not someone saying there's a bomb (the speech), you can say there's a bomb all you want (the speech) if there's no bomb (the harm) then who cares....

what if somebody says they would like to have sex with children?

or if somebody says they think that all over races are inferior to there own,


the first would lead to child molestation and the latter might lead to genocide of an entire race.


are the rants of the KKK alright? or the rants of nazis?

someone doesent have to directly say they are going to kill or harm anouther for it to be wrong. i would say that somebody implying sex with children is alright would lean towards bieng a child molestor and should be watched closely and maybe not let near children.


peace.

I think that this man has just, unaware, placed himself on the bottom of the food chain that this game forges.

This news story is the perfect example of what a complete joke American society really is. :bugeye:

This news story is the perfect example of what a complete joke American society really is. :bugeye:

I hear you. A society that possessed even a trace of emotional maturity, and knew how to practice it collectively, would not have made that mistake or so many of the mistakes that we have seen the last few years. There seems to be an absolute hell-bent drive to be as stupid as possible, as paranoid as possible, and to pick the world to pieces in a way that causes as much pain as possible, and we're letting the morons run it.

I don't understand the question, he hasn't been convicted of anything yet, much less punished. I'd say let it go to court, he'll be proven innocent of any crime. Then he can sue them for wrongful arrest and missing class, since he might have to take another semester or change schools.

Thanks for all your replies, when I first read of this I had mixed feelings. It's clear that if he made no direct threats against anyone present that his arrest was likely a mistake. I should have the freedom to mention violence in a general way and not get arrested for that. I can say "I wanna kill you" or "I hate you" or "I hope everybody dies in the world cuz they're all scum" but if I don't say "I"m going to kill you tonite as you leave the school" or something like that I don't believe you can arrest and do the things they've done to this poor fellow.

What if you were in that discussion and said the opposite of what he did, what if they were sympathizing with Cho and you said "I think Cho was horrible and deserved to die but he should've spared everyone else the pain."? Doesn't that sound nice ehh but isn't that just like what our fellow in jail did?

He should sue the pants off the university and the police and not accept excuses. Every time something like this happens some people behave very badly and mistreat people and it's time to stop letting them get away with it.

LOL, this is just hilarious. So much for America, land of the free. The authorities are reacting to the massacre in the way I predicted.

"*gasp* HE'S SYMPATHIZING. ARREST HIM!"

And if indeed the individual who was arrested is 'disturbed', and truly fantasizes about killing people, arresting him won't help the matter.

A typical response from authorities who aren't in control. Throw the baby out with the bath-water.

The shit head got exactly what he wanted 5 minuets of fame, and national notoriety, and his picture on TV, and he deserved everything that happened to him, and I hope they hand him his ass, but the PC crowd will make sure he becomes a martyr, and make it that much harder to do something about the real threats that kill 32 innocent people.

What?
They were having a discussion in class, and then some soft pussy prick like you called the cops cause they was a scaredy cat.
Pussy.

I'm not a fan of 'free speech.' This guy deserved to be arrested, as do racist groups, the Christians at the Fred Phelps compound and filthy sexist hip hop artists. Squeals for free speech are just a lazy way society can ignore it's deep rooted problems. Plus it continues the racist treatment of minorities from blacks and latins to gays and women.

You should be arrested for your comments on the holocaust.

And for all you American bashers, did you know it's illegal to deny the holocaust in much of europe? They send you for prison for that.

And for all you American bashers, did you know it's illegal to deny the holocaust in much of europe? They send you for prison for that.

You've never seen me agreeing with that policy, and yes I did know.

And for all you American bashers, did you know it's illegal to deny the holocaust in much of europe? They send you for prison for that.

Americans OTOH outsource their dirty work.:p

http://www.oilempire.us/graphics/torture.jpg

I find video clip for you to see ppl, watch http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/12388027/detail.html

It would seem this fellow is actually well known at the school already, check it out http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2007/04/maxs_mouth.php

He's been making alot of fuss for some time, perhaps people disliked him without knowing it?!

You should be arrested for your comments on the holocaust.In the EU if you don't burst into tears at the mention of it you go to prison. New law about holocaust deniers and those that dare to question it are summarily arrested. I'll send a link if you don't believe me. So now it is official! EVERYONE MUST weep continuously and convincingly for the holocaust's Jewish victims. Israel has a powerful arm.

And for all you American bashers, did you know it's illegal to deny the holocaust in much of europe? They send you for prison for that.Oops! Just saw this.

What?
They were having a discussion in class, and then some soft pussy prick like you called the cops cause they was a scared cat.
Pussy.

Well they already do it to muslims and mid eastern looking people, they call police on them every week a the air port, cause some Fuck up genius heard them talking in Foreign language and they were saying "nine eleven" even if they were talking about time but police had to be called since they Sit together and they talk to each other and its soo fucking suspicious and that is why NOt a single fucking terrorist ever arrested on american soil.

Same thing happened to this guy, who knows, may be he was stating the alternate point or some one who didnt like him just decided to made up a story just like they do against brown people all year long. So there... thats my take on it.

If he really made the statements like some genius above mentioned then he deserved it.

.

Free speech doesn't exists any where. Well actually it does, when ever EU like to bash other countries, they use this bull crap of free speech as a tool to have their way... perfect example is... Turkey. They screw them over for every single thing and not letting them in EU, but at the same time the nasties and corrupt easter European nations were entered in EU. See my point?

The article said;

"The student, ..., was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of interfering with staff, faculty or students of an education institution. "

OK, so it's all total oversensitive bullshit, and we know he was busted for what he said, not for this 'interference' charge, and I'm in mixed minds about this. He should have been more sensitive about the issue and buttoned his lip, but being a loud mouth isn't a crime, or Baron Max would be breaking rocks somewhere.

Wow, arresting a student in an open discussion at college where disagreement is supposed to happen for debates, how lame. Way to go Homeland Gestapo!

I hope I don't get arrested for this, but one thing that has bothered me the last couple days is some magazine cover calling the kids at the V-Tech shooting "heroes". Is it just me, or has that word been overused way too much? Sure, go ahead and try and make nice headlines and feel sorry for the people involved, but they're not heroes and it diminishes the meaning of it and our past heroes that earned that title for their deeds, not just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This happened awhile back during some other unfortunate event where the people were called heroes for doing nothing, WTF?

- N

I concur Neildo, you are right.

Yes Hero is meaningless now - it means "victim".

The problem here is simple, they arrested him for no real reason. Is there actually a law saying you can't interfere with college stuff?! Pretty f'd up if you ask me. Also a hero would've been someone that actually used their brains and threw a chair at him, or maybe a few chairs... hell 33 people died and not 1 of them tried attacking the guy or hitting him with a chair? You can throw a damn chair!

Frequently I wonder how have american "elite" managed to turn the USA into the most totalitarian country on Earth, 1984 incarnate, using no mass concentration camps.

Television.

The problem here is simple, they arrested him for no real reason. Is there actually a law saying you can't interfere with college stuff?! Pretty f'd up if you ask me. Also a hero would've been someone that actually used their brains and threw a chair at him, or maybe a few chairs... hell 33 people died and not 1 of them tried attacking the guy or hitting him with a chair? You can throw a damn chair!

A lot of colleges like the college I go to do not have movable chairs, they have fixed seats fixed into the classroom...

Why, do people steal them or something?

Why, do people steal them or something?

I don't know the classrooms could've looked like this
http://www.cdcd.vt.edu/PJD/Const.Status/photos/c-Classroom.jpg

Would have been different if he didnt give off the impression he might repeat it himself. The students themselves said they were scared by his comments.

Mass hysteria is not a good excuse to jail someone.