The internet has made leader writers of us all. Any well-formed opinion can be published instantly without the tedious need to be employed by a newspaper magnate, and the world can have the benefit of our wisdom and wit. Then we are likely to spend a lengthy stretch of time languishing in jail. Not because of the wisdom, but because of the wit. Does David Cameron reflect satisfyingly as he flies back from the Far East that he certainly showed the Chinese how much more civilised we are, with our Free Speech? Does he get a warm glow from the news that Aung San Suu Kyi will soon be able to walk freely in Rangoon? It should be matched by a sinking feeling of shame that the UK now gives power to judges who are unable to appreciate the value of wit in a civilised society. Does Paul Chambers’ Twitter comment about the ludicrously named Robin Hood Airport, giving his name, identity and location and starting with the word “crap!” suggest he poses a serious terrorist threat? Does Gareth Compton’s comment suggesting that stonings of middle-aged middle-class journalists could occur in the leafy suburbs of England also suggest that he is indistinguishable from Ayatollah Haeri Shirazi? I don’t think so. But clearly there are judges that do. The comedian David Mitchell says they’re “being punished for flippancy,” and then added, “Flippancy is important.” The alternative? Fear.
Posted in Latest Media Training News | 1 Comment »
November 12th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
The Paul Chambers case is ridiculous, but David Mitchell’s comments were only referring to this – not to Gareth Compton.
There was nothing resembling wit in Gareth Compton’s tweet. It was simply very unpleasant.