Courts busy with a bumper sticker
Discussion
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/29/ch...
TBF "don't be a
" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it?
TBF "don't be a
" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it?Yes
Otherwise can we pick and choose which laws we uphold?
Doesn't bother me, but what if I replaced the word with a racial or sexist slur, what then?
How about a picture of someone being tortured or beheaded?
Either we stick to what we have, or join a political party and try and change things, unless you've another way we can sort it all out, I for one favor just nuking us all to be honest, them that are left would be better off in a few years!
Otherwise can we pick and choose which laws we uphold?
Doesn't bother me, but what if I replaced the word with a racial or sexist slur, what then?
How about a picture of someone being tortured or beheaded?
Either we stick to what we have, or join a political party and try and change things, unless you've another way we can sort it all out, I for one favor just nuking us all to be honest, them that are left would be better off in a few years!
dundarach said:
Yes
Otherwise can we pick and choose which laws we uphold?
Doesn't bother me, but what if I replaced the word with a racial or sexist slur, what then?
How about a picture of someone being tortured or beheaded?
Either we stick to what we have, or join a political party and try and change things, unless you've another way we can sort it all out, I for one favor just nuking us all to be honest, them that are left would be better off in a few years!
If you drove around a non English speaking country with one of her stickers it wouldn't mean anything, if you drove around with a picture of torture or beheading it would so there is a more serious and universal offence to be taken to your examples.Otherwise can we pick and choose which laws we uphold?
Doesn't bother me, but what if I replaced the word with a racial or sexist slur, what then?
How about a picture of someone being tortured or beheaded?
Either we stick to what we have, or join a political party and try and change things, unless you've another way we can sort it all out, I for one favor just nuking us all to be honest, them that are left would be better off in a few years!
I don't agree with her choice of words and slogans but given everything else happening in this country that we don't have time to police or prosecute I can help thinking the powers that be are going for the low hanging fruit here.
Getragdogleg said:
dundarach said:
Yes
Otherwise can we pick and choose which laws we uphold?
Doesn't bother me, but what if I replaced the word with a racial or sexist slur, what then?
How about a picture of someone being tortured or beheaded?
Either we stick to what we have, or join a political party and try and change things, unless you've another way we can sort it all out, I for one favor just nuking us all to be honest, them that are left would be better off in a few years!
If you drove around a non English speaking country with one of her stickers it wouldn't mean anything, if you drove around with a picture of torture or beheading it would so there is a more serious and universal offence to be taken to your examples.Otherwise can we pick and choose which laws we uphold?
Doesn't bother me, but what if I replaced the word with a racial or sexist slur, what then?
How about a picture of someone being tortured or beheaded?
Either we stick to what we have, or join a political party and try and change things, unless you've another way we can sort it all out, I for one favor just nuking us all to be honest, them that are left would be better off in a few years!
I don't agree with her choice of words and slogans but given everything else happening in this country that we don't have time to police or prosecute I can help thinking the powers that be are going for the low hanging fruit here.
However, selectively dropping silly laws is a really slippery slope.
Lastly, as any parent or teacher will tell you, pick on the small things and come down on them hard!
What goes through the minds of people like this, if this sends a warning to the simple minded out there, good, I for one would be much tougher on these small things, as for me, it's exactly this sort of stupidity that's bringing everything down!
macron said:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/29/ch...
TBF "don't be a" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it?
O/T, but [alanis]isn't it ironic[/alanis] that TBF "don't be a
" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it? in your post is censored, yet clearly printed in the article?!?Anyway, not something I'd affix to my car but I get the message. Act the
thereby be labelled as such. By coincidence, my director spouted some st this afternoon that would have had me labelling him the same. macron said:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/29/ch...
TBF "don't be a" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it?
TBF "don't be a
" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it?
I would question the mentality of someone who puts that on their car, kids can read and after all thats considered the worst (or best ?) of the swear words, not everyone wants to see it, have a bit of class maybe ?
Its like those tragic "FU" registrations, weird.
macron said:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/29/ch...
TBF "don't be a" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it?
In many cases the sticker should be on the steering wheel, this would remove it from public view - Also the $unt would then be able to read it whilst they were driving, thereby reminding them how not to behave whilst driving their car.TBF "don't be a
" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it?Can someone explain the specifics of the law as to how it is in any way "threatening"?
It's just swearing. I could understand "offensive", but it isn't a threat.
Is this some kind of specificity of technical legal jargon, or just it's the only tool the legal system has that could be applied, and it's the good old "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"?
It's just swearing. I could understand "offensive", but it isn't a threat.
Is this some kind of specificity of technical legal jargon, or just it's the only tool the legal system has that could be applied, and it's the good old "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"?
InitialDave said:
Can someone explain the specifics of the law as to how it is in any way "threatening"?
It's just swearing. I could understand "offensive", but it isn't a threat.
Is this some kind of specificity of technical legal jargon, or just it's the only tool the legal system has that could be applied, and it's the good old "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"?
Its the abusive writing part of the offenceIt's just swearing. I could understand "offensive", but it isn't a threat.
Is this some kind of specificity of technical legal jargon, or just it's the only tool the legal system has that could be applied, and it's the good old "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"?
” or to display “any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting” within the hearing or sight of a person “likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress ...
Bigends said:
Its the abusive writing part of the offence
” or to display “any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting” within the hearing or sight of a person “likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress ...
Thanks.” or to display “any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting” within the hearing or sight of a person “likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress ...
So it's selective reporting, choosing to focus on the "threatening" element that can constitute the offence, when in reality it was almost certainly the abusive/insulting pathway to it having been committed.
Intent is to make me question it just as I have done, through the deliberate omission of certain elements. Fairly typical behaviour, then.
Skyedriver said:
Remember back in the 1970's a lad I knew had a sticker on the back of his car. Remember the STP stickers, his was st. Police pulled him over one night and asked if that was a statement about the standard of his driving.
...reminds me of Hugh Cornwell, back in the day, getting a tug for his Ford logo tee shirt, subtly reworded.t. Police pulled him over one night and asked if that was a statement about the standard of his driving.We really are an increasingly puritanical society
Timothy Bucktu said:
For goodness sake - get a grip!
I’d rather not have a small child seeing that word written on a car, thanks. It’s offensive, just as swearing in public (and especially around children) is offensive. Yes, I know kids eventually learn those words, but stuff like this kind of behaviour normalises it.dundarach said:
Yes
Otherwise can we pick and choose which laws we uphold?
Doesn't bother me, but what if I replaced the word with a racial or sexist slur, what then?
How about a picture of someone being tortured or beheaded?
Either we stick to what we have, or join a political party and try and change things, unless you've another way we can sort it all out, I for one favor just nuking us all to be honest, them that are left would be better off in a few years!
'We' do pick and choose what laws to apply. Discretion is a requirement for a police officer, although one that was being eroded in my time. Otherwise can we pick and choose which laws we uphold?
Doesn't bother me, but what if I replaced the word with a racial or sexist slur, what then?
How about a picture of someone being tortured or beheaded?
Either we stick to what we have, or join a political party and try and change things, unless you've another way we can sort it all out, I for one favor just nuking us all to be honest, them that are left would be better off in a few years!
Also, national, force and division of concentrate on specific offences to the exclusion of others. 'Don't report for [not the flavour of the month], just concentrate on [whatever].' It's reasonable, as long as it's not abused. I've reported a cabbie for his cab being second on the rank and it being unoccupied. He didn't have his badge prominently displayed either, but I merely cautioned him for that. I used to be too generous. I've been told at demo briefings not to arrest certain offences, or, more frequently, only arrest when you absolutely have to.
I've failed to arrest someone as too few officers available and public order problems expected.
There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of offences no longer prosecuted, or not prosecuted in the majority of circumstances. (Don't ask for a list. I haven't got time. No one has.)
macron said:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/29/ch...
TBF "don't be a" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it?
No stranger to the newspapers, it appears. https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-chesh...TBF "don't be a
" written on your car can be sound advice, but does this really need public money spent on it?Seems ridiculous to me.
If it said 'You're a' that might be offensive; saying 'Don't be a ' is just advice, and leaves the reader with the choice as to whether it applies to them.
I suppose it's really just the word, but unfortunately that ship sailed many years ago. It is so far down the list of the potentially offensive that picking on it seems stupid.
If it said 'You're a
' that might be offensive; saying 'Don't be a ' is just advice, and leaves the reader with the choice as to whether it applies to them.I suppose it's really just the word, but unfortunately that ship sailed many years ago. It is so far down the list of the potentially offensive that picking on it seems stupid.
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