Freedom of speech in action? ; )

Peter? - "Freedom of speech in action? ; )"

Well, I for one would not have it any other way. BTW? Where was the "defendant's" lawyer?

I'd like to "hear" all the facts, spend time in the hearing, understand completely the issues that surrounded the action of the police, hear what the police and judge have to say, just how "hard" the woman tapped the person, did the person have a history of outbursts, was there extenuating circumstances? . .. yeah? That kinda of freedom of knowledge.

Just 'cos something weird sounding gets reported in the "press" - right! - it is the "end" of the story. Freedom of speech? We don't know we are born.

. .and we have it here too. I'm talking nutz? If so, then come out and tell me. Freedom of speech is what a lot of our forebears died for. Once gathered, it sure aint easy to support. But it is in the trying that we either win or loose it.

The press? Right!

Regards,

Grazie

Just playing with words Grazie - I know the real value of freedom of speech, but I don't think anyone has the right to use their phone in a cinema/theatre situation - they should exercise their freedom of movement to the foyer!

The bit that broke me up was that the woman who was tapped on the shoulder claimed that she was assaulted because "her personal space was invaded".

I don't know about anyone else but somehow I think talking loudly or for that matter engaging in disruptive behavior in a cinema is invading everyone else's private space.

Bob.

AGREED! . . I've got the FREEDOM and contract with the cinema house to experience the paid for movie UN-hindered. Absolutely.

I'm with Grazie on this one. Sounds like something is being conveniently omitted from the story.

Thanks Jay! And thanks Peter too.


What's that old saying? - "Why let the truth stand between you and a good story?"

Grazie

This version sounds a little more plausable.

""The lady on the cell phone stood up, began cursing and using obscene language and created a scene within the theater," said Sgt. Jeff Tate with the Webster Police Department.""

"That woman then stormed out of the theater and called police, who ended up citing BOTH women."

"IF.... convicted, Clayton could have to pay a fine of up to $700."


"The woman in this case who called police is now charged with disorderly conduct. "




Ahhh the media!


John

There's better coverage of the story Here. It does seem the police tried to discourage the women from laying charges and advised her that if she did press charges then she too would be charged, she's yet to appear in court.
Bob.

Cool, John! Just goes to prove... The truth is out there, ya just gotta dig for it.

Good one, Bob. That comes even closer to the probable truth!

SHAME on National News 9. If they would wittingly put such a slant on this minor piece, think what they would do with a major news item!

There's better coverage of the story Here. It does seem the police tried to discourage the women from laying charges and advised her that if she did press charges then she too would be charged, she's yet to appear in court.
Bob.
============
Do a Google search on the story and see how many BLOGS have the first version. It is unfortunate that a lot of supposedly legitimate media in the United States reprint their garbage.

John

Damn you John, you beat me to it.
Yes it's amazing how many pertinent details were omitted from the local networks coverage, their website that I originally posted the link to is no better, you'd think they might post the FULL story.

I was a pretty certain even from the limited local coverage that the judge wasn't being fooled, a small fine is a pretty light sentence for assault.

Bob.

Sounds like a discussion i had with the adult sunday school class. Many of them were wondering how to know what information was authoritative. I summed it up this way, "if you see it on the 'net, don't trust it." Considering my obvious pro-internet stance, many of the folks were very shocked at my statement. I went on to explain that posting on the 'net does tend to give people a sence of distance and anonymity so they tend to be less diligent in veryifying facts before posting. Also for some reason many in the audience tend to put way too much trust in what they see online, so people posting information will take advantage of that trust.

So how do you determine what you see online is true? If something can be independantly verified by several other sources, and that source has been shown to be verified on other topics most of the time, then you can start putting some trust in it. Note that duplicate postings don't constitute verification. Many online sources simply copy what others have said without any verification at all. Because of this i would say that the more times you find exact copies of the same information, the lest trust one should have in it. Consider the phenomenon of chain letters. By this time only idiotic fools would even bother glancing at them. Sadly, the world has an ample supply of fools. ;)

So, use your brain. Does a story seem reasonable to you? Does it seem like something is missing? Can you dig up more facts to help corroborate (or disprove) the story? News and information gathering is never meant to be a passive act. Get involved!

. . hmmmm . .what's another word for "smug"?



Grazie


. .and yes, I'm talking about myself here . .seeshhh .. . LOL!

My parent used to say "Trust half of what you see and none of what you hear"
It's a bit of a worry though when the print and electronic media are using blogs to fill a column or a 30 sec spot.

Bob.

this woman should complain to the theature that they aren't enforcing their "no talking" policy durring movie. basicly "you didn't enforce your rule & I'm now accused with assult." If they don't enforce it in this instance then how can it be enforced anywhere?

Hopefully the judge will throw the cellphone person in jail & let the ausie go.

This is exactly why I do not and will not go to the theater to see a movie. They will NOT enforce their own policies. People are rude and totally inconsiderate.

Absolutely, Jay.
I love to see movies in a theater, but every time I go, EVERY TIME, there is always someone talking during the movie, or up-and-down three or four times, or bringing an infant to an R-rated movie.

It always amazes me how inconsiderate people can be.

Yet, off I go again to the movies.

LOL, Jay hit it on the head. This is the reason we installed a terrific theater as our client demo room. Tax writeoff with great surround system, 720p projector, upscaling hardware from Teranex, Buttkickers in the seats, and no popcorn on the floor, no cellphones, and no screaming kiddies.
'tis the only way to fly. You don't get to see the movies when they first come out, but it's usually worth the wait.
Most importantly, there is no Pause button in the theatre. :-)

Here's how this story will end: the phone talker will sue the theater chain for millions for "pain and suffering" and will be a guest on the Oprah show.

Oh, and the theater chain will settle for $500k to kill the suit. Her attorney will collect $400k, and she will use the remainder on the slots in Vegas.

Result:

(1) Theater raises ticket prices by $.25 and collects cellphones at the door;

(2) Phone talker gets 5 minutes of fame and a nice week in Vegas;

(3) Attorney gets a new Porsche;

(4) Islamofascists burn down another KFC in protest.

Most importantly, there is no Pause button in the theatre. :-)

I both laugh and cringe at this...

My wife, bless her heart, has a bladder the size of a peanut. Before we sit down to begin a movie, I ask her the standard question, "Have you taken care of everything before we start watching?" She assures me that she has.

Half way through the movie--at the most crucial point--she says, "Hit pause, I gotta go."

AAARRRGGGHHH!

I just can't get away from it!

I was in the hospital recently, and a female MD doing her residency came in to do an ultrasound scan of my plumbing.

She slides the wet transducer puck all over my abdomen while staring off at her bigscreen computer image, and suddenly shouts to her fellow physicians all over the department:

"WOOOOWWWW!!! This bladder is HUUUUUUGE!

I just felt really embarrassed.... :O)

I'd just like to add that there was nothing wrong with my bladder or anything related, but when I pee before going to bed at night, my wife sometimes hollers from the bedroom, "That's more than I drink in 2 days!"

(But her nickname as a kid was "The Camel," because she rarely drank anything.)

There seems to be a big variation in bladder size, wonder what's the purpose?

I did learn that the bladder is a much more sophisticated organ than its simple appearance might lead us to believe possible. Key body chemistry depends on its pressure regulation and more.