freediver wrote on Jul 22
nd, 2008 at 12:42pm:
Sprint, it's an empty threat. Don't worry. Stand up for free speech. Otherwise you will only encourage people to use threats like this to stifle free speech, because it works so well. I've had far more elaborate threats and demands made against me. It's always utter BS.
I understand that many here are quite astounded by this and see it as an attack on free speech, but what about the right of people to come to the forums and not be under attack because of their beliefs from someone who is so full of hate and tries to make the world hate them? Surely free speech is important, but is that free speech supposed to infringe on other's rights to feel safe? I don't think so at all.
I can assure you FD, it's not an empty threat. I had never wanted to do this in the first place because I believed that perhaps you, being a moderator would moderate the forums and prevent such a gross incitement of hate continue. I've reported many posts as being insulting and offensive and you haven't done a thing about it so it's obvious that you are not going to stop him by simple requests.
Your allowing of him to incite hatred against Islam is breaking the law as is he with making those comments. If you don't stop his wilfull incitement of hatred against Islam and you know it's not just free speech, it's him trying to incite hate against Islam and Muslims and that is evident by the fact that he continues to bring up the same garbage over and over again when it's been explained to him before, it's also the way he vocalizes it.
I must remind you that the forums themselves are evidence to such acts and that the law states directly:
Quote:8 Religious vilification unlawful
(1) A person must not, on the ground of the religious belief or activity of another person or class of persons, engage in conduct that incites hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of, that other person or class of persons.
Note
Engage in conduct includes use of the internet or e-mail to publish or transmit statements or other material.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), conduct—
(a) may be constituted by a single occasion or by a number of occasions over a period of time; and
(b) may occur in or outside Victoria.
The fact remains that you allow it to happen on your forum without trying to stop it. You know very well what he is trying to do and you allow it to happen, in doing so you are accepting the behaviour and preventing this forum from being a place where people of all races and religions can come and enjoy the forums without fear from vilification and people like Sprints demonizing of Islam.
You mentioned that another person has been insulting Jews and you don't prevent it from happening. That too is against the law. You have a duty of care and you are bound by these laws just as anyone else is.
So you either prevent this incitement and vilification from happening and make sure Sprint doesn't continue or I will not hesitate to take this the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
I love being on these forums because I can clarify misconceptions about Islam as well as speak about other issues relevant to Australia. I'm sick of having to deal with Sprints obvious attempts to try and create hatred against Islam and Muslims and you can be very sure that if it continues I will take it further.
These forums should be a place of dialogue, not a place to sew the seeds of hatred. So either do something about it or I will.