[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by Chris

Yes. It says I think you are wrong. I am quite happy with that.

All this shows is a bizarre and rather extreme inability to understand, or tolerate, views that happen to differ from yours.

You often think you're right, and try to pin others' views as being merely their own rather than representative of a balanced view point. Haters will be haters, and all that. Anyone who shouts so loud about a student seen acting out of order during a violent protest but yet does little or nothing in regards to the real issues in society is a hypocrit, imo.
The lame excuse I keep hearing - that handing out stiff justice is justified here because we have to start somewhere, and just because other crimes are sentenced less severely doesn't mean this sentence isn't just, is nothing but a lame excuse used to justify your own grievances against students.

I'm sure you're not such a do-gooder, and in your earlier years if a camera had been there in the right place, there would no doubt be other Chris's out there shouting for your blood too. Thats the beauty of the mob, they have no real loyalties. Given time, they turn on each other.

Criticising - or defending - something by attempting to strip it of its meaning and context is an extremely poor way of making a point. I think I'll let the ample postings of what Gilmour actually did, and the context in which he did them, stand as refutation of this.

It's not a matter of opinion either. Some people are simply unable to intellectually analyse relatively complex problems without a personal bias affecting their conclusions. I find it rather contradictory when people try and use their literary mind and thesaurus to try and portray themselves as intellectual to their forum peers, whilst at the same time demonstrating a complete inabitlity to think objectively on even slightly emotional issues.
Substance > words.

If you believe the penalties for sex crimes to be too lenient, surely the appropriate course of action is to campaign in that area? It has nothing to do with the penalties imposed for offences related to rioting.

If you believe the laws and sentencing guidelines are too lenient, then of all people why start with Charlie Gilmour? I recommend a visit to A&E on a fri/sat night, then you'll see the product of real violence - rather than Cenotaph swinging/bin chucking/rock catching/latex glove wielding gore-fest shock horror you've become acclimatised to in the Daily Mail.

I suggest you take a step back from the tabloids, take off the rose tinted glasses and join the real world.

Again, what Gilmour *actually* did has been exhaustively catalogued in this thread - including the part where he went equipped for mischief with a mask and rubber gloves, the better to avoid detection by CCTV or fingerprints. Getting "caught up in the moment" might be how you need to see it in order for events to suit your world view, but the facts say the way you see it is nothing more than self-delusion.

This sort of activity is only *shocking* because you and others have had the convenient opportunity to sit down and analyse it, and in doing so you've lost sight of the broader picture. Welcome to 21st century Britain, where city centres become warzones and justice is rarely served. Every weekend people get glassed in the face, randomly attacked, beaten and mostly any sentences handed out are far less than 16 months in prison.

We should make an example of them, not some pampered naughty rich kid showing off to the cameras during a protest.

The last time I checked, wearing rubber gloves wasn't a crime. In fact, it appears to me that the rubber gloves were for show. Noone is taking finger prints of all the rubbish thrown, have you seen figerprints taken from a brick before? Or would they be needed when lighting some bits of paper on fire with a lighter which apparently didn't work?

Did it not ever occur to you that ordinary gloves would prevent finger prints just as well as latex ones, and even keep you warm during the winter protest?
And before some pseudo-intellectual chimes in with their "knowledge", let it be known that skin cells could be extracted from disused latex gloves just as easily as fibres could be identified from the gloves and traced to the owner.

More than likely it was all a show for the cameras. I've known people like that, they wish to come across all hardcore, but they're really just pampered kids looking for some purpose in life. Fair enough, but anyone who thinks 16 months in prison is suitable in this case, all considering, really needs to have a rethink or their head examined. Leave the harsh sentences for the real thugs in our society.

If you think it's time for the law to make an example of someone, how about someone who actually hurt someone? Not the lame suggestion that it's justified because Charlie may have hurt someone when he chucked the bin...If anyone here actually thinks that's justification for the sentenced handed out, then that's not just a differing opinion - but rather a moronic one too.

No, it was for what he did, plus a consideration for the deterrent effect. A long-standing and perfectly normal part of our criminal justice system. If Gilmour didn't want to be made an example of, then he was perfectly at liberty to choose not to go a-rioting.

Wow, more delusions.

Gilmour is also receiving a lesson - one appropriate to the context of his actions.

I think if Gilmour knew this would have happened, he wouldn't have done this - and I think he has reason to be a bit shocked. If you got out more, you'd see it too.

I will be very surprised if you have the first idea what these words mean and how they should be applied.

When those words are directed a baying mob lusting for blood, I think they're being applied as originally intended.
Do you consider yourself a true Christian?
If so, then you must be the first who's never heard of forgiveness? Of perhaps you have heard it but you think it only applies to other people in relation to your own youthful indiscretions?

---------- Post added at 12:13 ---------- Previous post was at 12:02 ----------

Just out of curiosity Chris, if you could have sentenced those who attended the student protests, how many do you think were deserving of 16 or more months in prison?