# Idiocy is alive and well: conviction for Twitter joke stands **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339 "2010-11-11T18:29:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/1 "2010-11-11T18:29:09Z")
> **[Twitter joke trial: Paul Chambers loses appeal against conviction](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/11/twitter-joke-trial-appeal-verdict)** > > Conviction for threatening to blow up airport in 'foolish prank' on Twitter will stand, court rules I couldn’t find any threads about this case. In summary: man posts obviously jokey threat to “blow an airport sky high” if it doesn’t “get its shit together” on Twitter. Is convicted of “menace” and fined. Appeals. Loses. > [@](#): > > After reading out his comment from the site – “Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!” – she found that it contained menace and Chambers must have known that it might be taken seriously. Has common sense been outlawed and I missed the memorandum? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/2 "2010-11-11T18:35:52Z")
Oops, missed the edit window to fix that “qupte” tag. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/3 "2010-11-11T18:36:18Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Has common sense been outlawed and I missed the memorandum? 😕 I think common sense dictates that you ought not to make jokes about bombing airports. Due diligence requires an investigation, and investigation costs money. That’s a finin’. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/4 "2010-11-11T18:48:11Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > I think common sense dictates that you ought not to make jokes about bombing airports. Sure. If you are in the TSA line, or waiting to board a plane. But how about when writing in a blog, messageboard, etc? Is airline safety so sacrosanct that you can’t even whisper your thoughts to your SO in bed? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/5 "2010-11-11T19:01:54Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Sure. If you are in the TSA line, or waiting to board a plane. But how about when writing in a blog, messageboard, etc? Is airline safety so sacrosanct that you can’t even whisper your thoughts to your SO in bed? Yes, that’s my point. Common sense cuts both ways, of course, and nobody is advocating making jokes about bombs while _inside the airport_. But posting a Tweet, of all things, in such obviously jokey language? I don’t see how anybody could read that and find it threatening, apart from perhaps an autistic person with no understanding of social mores whatsoever. Let’s just hope the Crown Prosection Service never gets wind of the BBQ Pit 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/6 "2010-11-11T19:08:48Z")
Who names an airport after Robin Hood? Makes me want to get all asplodey. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/7 "2010-11-11T19:20:20Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Who names an airport after Robin Hood? Makes me want to get all asplodey. [Right! That’s it! You’re nicked, squire!](http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/fiction/monty_python/policemen02a.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/8 "2010-11-11T19:22:18Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Who names an airport after Robin Hood? Makes me want to get all asplodey. Post reported to the TSA. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/9 "2010-11-11T19:25:05Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > But posting a Tweet, of all things, in such obviously jokey language? I don’t see how anybody could read that and find it threatening, apart from perhaps an autistic person with no understanding of social mores whatsoever. Where exactly is the obvious line, though? Someone posting “You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!” might just be a lame joke, or it could be a nutjob. I have no doubt that the investigators figured that it was _probably_ not an earnest threat, but I don’t really see a public posting phrased that way with no elaboration as something that you would naturally expect to be shrugged off. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to require a little less ambiguity in public postings. Hell, I’ve posted things here that might be interpreted as threats against public figures, _if I weren’t careful to include something indicating that it’s just hyperbole and not an actual threat_. That’s just being reasonably circumspect and isn’t an undue burden, what with it being a public forum and all. Even if you’re limited to 140 characters, just allocating two of them to “ha!” can spare you some grief. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/10 "2010-11-11T19:34:01Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Where exactly is the obvious line, though? Someone posting “You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!” might just be a lame joke, or it could be a nutjob. I have no doubt that the investigators figured that it was _probably_ not an earnest threat, but I don’t really see a public posting phrased that way with no elaboration as something that you would naturally expect to be shrugged off. The full tweet read: “Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!” Three exclamation marks, jovial use of profanity and to top it off a couple of introductory sentences expressing frustration that the airport was shut. Perhaps the internet really is killing the language if people can take that as a serious threat of terrorism. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/11 "2010-11-11T22:29:18Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Three exclamation marks, jovial use of profanity and to top it off a couple of introductory sentences expressing frustration that the airport was shut. Not trying to be argumentative, but I read the same tweet and don’t pick up on any of the jovial nature you’re talking about. I would probably conclude it wasn’t serious, but it’s not a slam dunk, and I could easily imagine it being serious. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/12 "2010-11-11T23:21:47Z")
You can’t win in these cases. If a nutjob had made the same post and actually did blow up the airport, everyone would be on the FCC’s case about not stopping it when they clearly had a warning that this chick was clearly serious! Hindsight is 20/20. They HAD to investigate this. Additionally, tone is NOT communicable through text. And just because something is posted online doesn’t give anyone a free pass to make threats, jocular or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/13 "2010-11-11T23:30:35Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Additionally, tone is NOT communicable through text. And just because something is posted online doesn’t give anyone a free pass to make threats, jocular or otherwise. SEE, we keep telling all of you that smileys are IMPORTANT!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/14 "2010-11-11T23:49:31Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Additionally, tone is NOT communicable through text. And just because something is posted online doesn’t give anyone a free pass to make threats, jocular or otherwise. The Anti-Smilie Brigade seems to make two arguments simultaneously, neither of them satisfactory: One, any _competent_ author can always successfully convey tone through text. Two, any _competent_ reader can always successfully decode tone conveyed through text. To them I say, “Get thee to a nunnery!” If Shakespeare had problems with this, and the highly-trained Shakespeare scholars certainly seem to, then it is illogical to expect anyone to get it right all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/15 "2010-11-11T23:52:16Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > The Anti-Smilie Brigade seems to make two arguments simultaneously, neither of them satisfactory: > > One, any _competent_ author can always successfully convey tone through text. > > Two, any _competent_ reader can always successfully decode tone conveyed through text. > > To them I say, “Get thee to a nunnery!” If Shakespeare had problems with this, and the highly-trained Shakespeare scholars certainly seem to, then it is illogical to expect anyone to get it right all the time. The message as written is sufficiently ambiguous to classify the writer as incompetent. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/16 "2010-11-12T02:29:00Z")
Everyone knows you don’t joke about that stuff. Duh! It’s not new. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/17 "2010-11-12T02:48:38Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > The message as written is sufficiently ambiguous to classify the writer as incompetent. Yeah. If he had added a 😉 at the end it would have been much clearer. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/18 "2010-11-12T03:07:20Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > The message as written is sufficiently ambiguous to classify the writer as incompetent. Speaking of incompetence; if you think his message’s meaning was ambiguous your reading comprehension could use some improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/19 "2010-11-12T04:40:59Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Has common sense been outlawed and I missed the memorandum? 😕 Well, whatever happened to the common sense, that guy didn’t end up with any. He’s an idiot and deserves what he got, a rather minimal fine. ---
**Author:** ![nicole1912](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@nicole1912](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicole1912)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339/20 "2010-11-12T07:08:02Z")
Thing is, I can see the police investigating something that’s fairly obviously a joke. Five minutes talking to the guy would have made it clear it was just a joke. Not a great joke, obviously, but it was on Twitter, not at a stand-up comedy gig. Arresting him at his place of work, and then actually proceeding with the case was insane. (On that note, WTF are CPS doing these days? Between the case in the OP and [this case](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11727763), I wonder whether the definition of public interest has changed significantly recently, or something…) Giving the guy a criminal record, which will likely have knock-on career consequences, for something as ridiculous as this is just madness. I’m amazed it wasn’t over-turned at appeal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiocy-is-alive-and-well-conviction-for-twitter-joke-stands/560339.md?page=2)