I don't think anyone took it seriously Impotium, because no one could figure out what the hell it has to do with ... anything really.

And, like I said ... it's not exactly easy to distinguish your "jokes" from all of your other posts. They're all pretty funny.

Hmmm, "shut up doofus". How long did it take you to conjure up that one?

Real sharp.

Perhaps I misunderstood freediver's earlier coment. I think now that his reference to "reductum [sic] ab adsurdum" was a reference to your line of reasoning since posting that ridiculous chart.

And you still haven't explained how it had anything at all to do with this conversation, so I will: it doesn't.

Impotium, I accept that you were not attempting to reason seriously by posting that chart.

However I am still at a complete loss to understand what your reason actually was for posting it.

Yes, there's a common theme: lynch mobs. But how is that chart relevant to my reference to the rest of you carrying on like a crazed mob?

It's not.

Interesting that you consider these comments, by yourself, as "mild mannered":

"They are just far more visible, overtly hostile and obnoxious than other groups."

and

"I don't want them here."

Then there was sprintcyclist's "and some are already talking sharia law, some wanna be terrorists, muslim enclaves."

Mild mannered indeed.

Paella wrote on Mar 10^th, 2010 at 5:52pm:


You'll give up too sooner or later

Anyway, getting back to the point of this thread - I'm not sure if anyone here understands what Shariah law really is. It's a legal system based on civil and criminal courts.

Many think our own legal system was based on Shariah law.

The Westminster system is a parliamentary system and, although it includes a separation of powers, it's about government, not the courts.

The Shariah law some Muslims want to follow is the civil system for settling disputes. This would free up the courts - particularly the family courts, as Shariah law includes divorce and custody.

Basically, anyone can consent to any decision-making body they want. You just need to sign a contract. Anyone seen Judge Judy? People opt not to go to court, go on TV, and consent to carry out what she says.

I wonder if they do.

But my point is this: there's nothing to stop anyone going off to some priest, having mediation, and following what they say. Basically, you can't FORBID Shariah civil law - criminal law, certainly.

Each nation state that uses Shariah law has its own laws and penalties. There is nothing in Sharia law that says anyone has to be beheaded, for example. Shariah law is a process - like our own courts - not a list of rules and regulations.

Correction to the above (15/3/10): there are penalities listed for certain offenses in the Koran, on which Shariah is based. However, not all states that follow Shariah carry out such penalties. I believe there is a state in Malaysia which now practices Shariah law, however it does not carry out amputations for theft or stoning for adultery. This may be because Malaysia's legal system is constitutionally based on the English legal system, and such penalties have not been legislated. I believe that whipping, however, is a penalty in this state.

Can you tell us why, SC?

Sprint cyclist you are talking about Islam generally rather than the specific point at hand: being a proposal (one that has not and will not be taken seriously) by a local Islamic figure to have elements of Sharia law considered by Australian courts when handing down decisions.

Now I'm not defending Islam, nor am I discriminating between religions: I hold all to be equally ridiculous, but at the same time people have the right to believe whatever they want, no matter how irrational or deluded it may be.

Honestly, since this proposal has no legs we should just stop talking about it. It's not going to fly, there's nothing to say. The only way to keep this discussion going is to digress in to the type of outrageous racism that was prevailing up until we were distracted by that rather strange chart about ... I dunno, the decline of pirates and global warming was it?