Facebook rioters get 4 years

[dang65]

The sentence seems fair to me.

These two muppets tried to get a gang of losers to riot, leading in all likelyhood of not hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage.
It would take us contractors years to pay back that amount of money in our work, so why should these idiots not be similarly inconvenienced by a spell in jail of a similar length of time.

Say you went on Facebook one evening after a few beers and posted a message saying, "This contract is really doing my head in and I honestly can't be bothered with doing the work any more. Who's with me? Let's not do any more work!" Would you then expect to have to pay your current client thousands of pounds in damages for work not done, even though you and all your Facebook friends sobered up the next morning and went to work as normal?

[KentPhilip]

Say you went on Facebook one evening after a few beers and posted a message saying, "This contract is really doing my head in and I honestly can't be bothered with doing the work any more. Who's with me? Let's not do any more work!" Would you then expect to have to pay your current client thousands of pounds in damages for work not done, even though you and all your Facebook friends sobered up the next morning and went to work as normal?

No because it's not a criminal offence to incite someone to leave their contract ouside of the contract terms and conditions, whereas inciting people to riot very definitely is.

[dang65]

Your argument bares absolutely no reference to what the idiots were convicted of.

Yes, I was just saying that I hope it sets a precedent for the future.

[dang65]

No because it's not a criminal offence to incite someone to leave their contract ouside of the contract terms and conditions, whereas inciting people to riot very definitely is.

So because this is an existing criminal offence, it is beyond comparison or criticism? We just have to accept it, right?

[Incognito]

Yes, I was just saying that I hope it sets a precedent for the future.

What is the precedent that you hope it sets?

[Incognito]

Say you went on Facebook one evening after a few beers and posted a message saying, "This contract is really doing my head in and I honestly can't be bothered with doing the work any more. Who's with me? Let's not do any more work!" Would you then expect to have to pay your current client thousands of pounds in damages for work not done, even though you and all your Facebook friends sobered up the next morning and went to work as normal?

So now you're confusing civil law with criminal law and are making up spurious legalities. Your example has absolutely nothing in common with what those two lads were convicted of.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Philosophy. He had a long time to think about it.

Ah - Philosophy.

I Think - Therefore I am Tired.

Something like that.

[Spacecadet]

The sentences are way too long and will not act as any sort of deterrent. These riots happen every 10 years or so and a lot of people get caught up in the mayhem. The hardened criminals who were taking part had the sense to cover their faces, which in the main just leaves the feckless idiots who momentarily lost their heads and were going along with the ride taking the full brunt of the public’s wrath.

Beef up policing tactics and social media surveillance ready for next time.

[MarillionFan]

The sentences are way too long and will not act as any sort of deterrent. These riots happen every 10 years or so and a lot of people get caught up in the mayhem. The hardened criminals who were taking part had the sense to cover their faces, which in the main just leaves the feckless idiots who momentarily lost their heads and were going along with the ride taking the full brunt of the public’s wrath.

Beef up policing tactics and social media surveillance ready for next time.

I disagree. These sentences will definitely deter any idiot from going on Facebook and inciting a riot.

[Spacecadet]

I disagree. These sentences will definitely deter any idiot from going on Facebook and inciting a riot.

Surely this should have already deterred them from making any threats on the internet.