NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6285971.stm

Another kick in the 'nads for free speech. :rolleyes:

That's such bull! :rolleyes:

So his shirt *might* offend some people. Tough shit! Let them be offended. It's their problem.

How does it threaten security? For an Australian airline...

Normally, I would completely agree with you. However, any reference to terrorism, certainly directly spelled out in bold letters, is likely to be found distasteful.

yes, i find bush's terrorism distasteful too. but that doesn't mean we should cover it up.

Normally, I would completely agree with you. However, any reference to terrorism, certainly directly spelled out in bold letters, is likely to be found distasteful.

that is the most bull reason for removing a passenger ever. wait, no, that goes to the shirt with the pink gun.

Wtf.

yes, i find bush's terrorism distasteful too. but that doesn't mean we should cover it up.

QFT.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6285971.stm

Another kick in the 'nads for free speech. :rolleyes:

And I thought the world was sane...

And I thought the world was sane...

Sadly, it ain't. :(

Jeez. That's "offensive"? It sorta made sense to kick the lady off that was wearing the t-shirt that had a picture of Bush, Cheney, and I think Rummy on it, with the words "Meet the Fuckers"

Seriously, you want a shirt that could piss people off?
http://www.northernsun.com/images/thumb/1014T.jpg


www.northernsun.com.

And there's baby clothes of it.

Jeez. That's "offensive"? It sorta made sense to kick the lady off that was wearing the t-shirt that had a picture of Bush, Cheney, and I think Rummy on it, with the words "Meet the Fuckers"

Seriously, you want a shirt that could piss people off?
http://www.northernsun.com/images/thumb/1014T.jpg


www.northernsun.com.

And there's baby clothes of it.

Wow.

Normally, I would completely agree with you. However, any reference to terrorism, certainly directly spelled out in bold letters, is likely to be found distasteful. some people find Rodman distasteful, but its no reason to kick him out of the plane.

Shame on Qantas.

Wow.Well, there is SHARP, so it's not as though all skin heads were bad, and certainly not all that call themselves so.

Well, there is SHARP, so it's not as though all skin heads were bad, and certainly not all that call themselves so.

As I understand it, the original skinheads were in fact not racists, it's just the later, Jerry Springer meathead skinheads that created that impression. Or so the skinhead so emphatically informed me.

Jeez. That's "offensive"? It sorta made sense to kick the lady off that was wearing the t-shirt that had a picture of Bush, Cheney, and I think Rummy on it, with the words "Meet the Fuckers"

Seriously, you want a shirt that could piss people off?
http://www.northernsun.com/images/thumb/1014T.jpg


www.northernsun.com.

And there's baby clothes of it.

Am I missing something? What on earth is offensive about that?

So I read it now, and I still don't know-

Why does an Australian airline give a rats ass one way or another about someone's opinion on Bush? I can see people having one, but...I mean, it's Australia...

What interests me is that Qantas assertion that they were right in preventing him from boarding because the T-Shirt had the potential to offend others (and admittedly it would).

Now, would they do the same if someone was wearing a T-Shirt that said, "George Bush - Hero"?
Because I would certainly find such a shirt offensive.



I have to say, reading between the lines here, the guy in the story sounds like a right bolshy asshole. He'd already been warned about the shirt on an earlier flight and went out of his way to show it off this time. I wonder if part of Qantas' reaction was due more to his attitude and behaviour than his T-Shirt.

The 55-year-old computer specialist, who lives in London, had encountered difficulties with the same T-shirt on an earlier Qantas flight in December. so he knew that he would have trouble with the t-shirt and wore it anyways. so now it's not an issue of free speech but this time looking for trouble.

After clearing the international security checks at Melbourne Airport, he reportedly approached the gate manager to congratulate him on the company's new-found open-mindedness.Here he blatently tries to rub it into their faces before boarding. stupid person should've just stayed quite and thanked them at the END of his flight. proving to them that no one was offended.

"I am not prepared to go without the t-shirt. I might forfeit the fare, but I have made up my mind that I would rather stand up for the principle of free speech," he told Australian media. so, resturants can have the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" why can't Quantas. at least he's rich enough for these protests, more power to him.

That's such bull! :rolleyes:

So his shirt *might* offend some people. Tough shit! Let them be offended. It's their problem.


But we could remove the stupid Mohammed cartoons because they offended people. What do we have double standards or are you people just hypocrites?

so he knew that he would have trouble with the t-shirt and wore it anyways. so now it's not an issue of free speech but this time looking for trouble.

Here he blatently tries to rub it into their faces before boarding. stupid person should've just stayed quite and thanked them at the END of his flight. proving to them that no one was offended.

so, resturants can have the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" why can't Quantas. at least he's rich enough for these protests, more power to him.

See, he pushed the line between free speech and incendiary words. It pissed people off, he knew it, and did it anyway.

He gets no sympathy from me.

But we could remove the stupid Mohammed cartoons because they offended people. What do we have double standards or are you people just hypocrites?

Did you notice that *more* newspapers picked up and published the cartoons after the uproar initially, or do you just like calling people hypocrites baselessly?

Did you notice that *more* newspapers picked up and published the cartoons after the uproar initially, or do you just like calling people hypocrites baselessly?

Nope, But the public outcry about how the papers could be so offensive was everywhere and the cartoons were buried and everyone demanded an apology. So if that could be deemed offensive by people then so could that shirt despite what anti bush people may say. Trying to say who cares if people are offended is as wrong as people who said that those cartoons were wrong. People would not like it if I had shirts with those cartoons made and would expect that they not be worn on places like those airplanes. And while I am not a bush fan, I think people who let their bush hateing feelings run their opinions are out of line.

http://www.northernsun.com/images/thumb/1014T.jpg


www.northernsun.com.

And there's baby clothes of it.


What's offensive about that?

Did you notice that *more* newspapers picked up and published the cartoons after the uproar initially, or do you just like calling people hypocrites baselessly?except those newspapers were reporting the news... after all they *had* to show the offending pictures to show how justified the Muslims were about them! :p

Kinda like those news programs and some of their more graphic vids... "the following video is highly graphic so you might not want to watch this, but we're going to show it anyway while you're eating dinner with your young children."

so he knew that he would have trouble with the t-shirt and wore it anyways. so now it's not an issue of free speech but this time looking for trouble.

He had a right to wear the shirt. It isn't his fault that the morons at Quanta are prohibitive of free speech.

Here he blatently tries to rub it into their faces before boarding. stupid person should've just stayed quite and thanked them at the END of his flight. proving to them that no one was offended.

Or, alternatively, happy to see that the company has grown up enough to understand that it has no right to limit free speech, he decides to compliment them on finally acting like mature adults.

so, resturants can have the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" why can't Quantas. at least he's rich enough for these protests, more power to him.

Actually, if Quantas wants to have that policy, they're completely free to, I suppose. That might not be the case in Australia (I don't know what civil rights laws exist there). However, I would then encourage the people of Australia to cease flying Quantas anywhere, and to place a boycott upon it and all affiliated businesses. Just because they can doesn't mean they should.

except those newspapers were reporting the news... after all they *had* to show the offending pictures to show how justified the Muslims were about them! :p

Kinda like those news programs and some of their more graphic vids... "the following video is highly graphic so you might not want to watch this, but we're going to show it anyway while you're eating dinner with your young children."

I may be remembering this wrong, but at least in the US the reaction was, "you're rioting over drawings? you're boycotting Danish products over pictures in a newspaper after the drawings that are printed demonizing the west?! HEY, LET'S BUY MORE HAVARTI!!!!!"

He had a right to wear the shirt. It isn't his fault that the morons at Quanta are prohibitive of free speech.I didn't say he didn't, but he wore the shirt for no other reason than to get a reaction. Not to support free speech but to get his 15 minutes of fame. Which he got.

Or, alternatively, happy to see that the company has grown up enough to understand that it has no right to limit free speech, he decides to compliment them on finally acting like mature adults.by walking up to the Gate Manager before bording and pointing out his shirt? no, he wanted the attention drawn to his shirt, he knew their rules and procedures, it was nothing more than attention whoring.

Actually, if Quantas wants to have that policy, they're completely free to, I suppose. That might not be the case in Australia (I don't know what civil rights laws exist there). However, I would then encourage the people of Australia to cease flying Quantas anywhere, and to place a boycott upon it and all affiliated businesses. Just because they can doesn't mean they should.and that you can do. infact, after the first trouble with the shirt, had he been more interested in "Free Speech" than getting his fame, he would've flown a different Airline and done what you just described. but knowing that this particular shirt caused some difficulty the first time, he wore it again for no other reason than to get a reaction. when he didn't get one at the security checkpoint, he went to the Gate manager and pointed out his shirt under the guise of congratulating them.

I may be remembering this wrong, but at least in the US the reaction was, "you're rioting over drawings? you're boycotting Danish products over pictures in a newspaper after the drawings that are printed demonizing the west?! HEY, LET'S BUY MORE HAVARTI!!!!!"

LOL, I think that was near enough to be correct. but then I'm not praising Quantas for what they did, they followed their procedures, I'm just questioning the passengers motives given that he had problems with that airlines a month before with that particular shirt. Had he worn a different, yet similarly opinionated shirt and it happened again, then I wouldn't be questioning his motives so harshly.

and it's not like Quantas reacted the same way the muslims did. :p

And I thought the world was sane...

You thought the world was sane? Where the hell have you been? If there's a sane place on this planet, tell me, and I'll move there.

LOL, I think that was near enough to be correct. but then I'm not praising Quantas for what they did, they followed their procedures, I'm just questioning the passengers motives given that he had problems with that airlines a month before with that particular shirt. Had he worn a different, yet similarly opinionated shirt and it happened again, then I wouldn't be questioning his motives so harshly.

and it's not like Quantas reacted the same way the muslims did. :p

No question he was looking for a reaction. I'm just disappointed Qantas gave it to him.

And it's not as if he was not wearing a shirt or shoes and refused service -- they refused service because they did not like his fashion sense.

HEY, LET'S BUY MORE HAVARTI!!!!!"

What's Havarti?

Danish Cheese... good cheese... Very Good cheese...

Qantas evidently is selective about their application of this policy.

I flew on a Qantas flight to Townsville last year. There was a guy in an anti-abortion shirt which I found highly offensive and yet...nothing happened. He was allowed to board the plane, and got off at the other end with no trouble.

Why is Bush so special?

Airlines have been fucked up with their security for some time now.

Qantas evidently is selective about their application of this policy.

I flew on a Qantas flight to Townsville last year. There was a guy in an anti-abortion shirt which I found highly offensive and yet...nothing happened. He was allowed to board the plane, and got off at the other end with no trouble.

Why is Bush so special?
i'm sure it's got something to do with little johnnie's brown-nosing

Dickwads. And to those who choose to back up Qantas on this: wear the spooge of the dickwads with honour.

You thought the world was sane? Where the hell have you been? If there's a sane place on this planet, tell me, and I'll move there.

Antarctica?

I'm not sure why everyone naturally believes the way this article makes it seem as though he was stopped over his opinions on George W. Bush . To me, it's fairly obvious he was stopped because the shirt was about terrorism itself.

Might tend to make some of the other passengers uncomfortable.

Besides, he was stopped beforehand over the shirt, made a point to make an ass out of himself and congratulate one of the gate staff, and then refused to board the flight when given the opportunity to, if he was willing to simply wear another shirt during the course of the flight.

He got what was coming to him.

I'm not sure why everyone naturally believes the way this article makes it seem as though he was stopped over his opinions on George W. Bush . To me, it's fairly obvious he was stopped because the shirt was about terrorism itself.
Enlighten me, how the hell is a shirt that makes a political statement such as "Bush is the Number 1 terrorist" about terrorism itself? Has even SAYING the word become invoking it? Should we start making warding gestures? Tackle anyone who says the 'T' word just in case? What?

Besides, he was stopped beforehand over the shirt, made a point to make an ass out of himself and congratulate one of the gate staff, and then refused to board the flight when given the opportunity to, if he was willing to simply wear another shirt during the course of the flight.
His right to wear something with a political message on it.

I can't express as an Australian how disgusted I am with Qantas on this.

So disgusted I am going to buy one of those shirts.:upyours:

Make sure to drop by the Qantas Head Office afterwards. And bring a camera.

I expect that would be a good job for Chaser...:)

I can't express as an Australian how disgusted I am with Qantas on this.

So disgusted I am going to buy one of those shirts.:upyours:

Make sure to drop by the Qantas Head Office afterwards. And bring a camera.

Qantas said the T-shirt had potential to offend other passengers.

They shouldn't be giving people that BS. Technically everything has the potential to be offensive. I'm probably offending someone right now by wearing a shirt in the first place. Although quite a lot more people would be offended if I wasn't :D

I can't express as an Australian how disgusted I am with Qantas on this.

So disgusted I am going to buy one of those shirts.:upyours:

You should have one made that says "Qantas is the #1 terrorist."

=)

Or one that reads, "Qantas: afraid of free speech."

:D

I think someone should organise a flight where everyone boarding wears the same, 'Bush=terrorist' T-Shirt.
How could Qantas claim another passenger would be offended then?

I think someone should organise a flight where everyone boarding wears the same, 'Bush=terrorist' T-Shirt.
How could Qantas claim another passenger would be offended then?

Well with Qantas's financial situation, I don't think they should be refusing anyone;)

Well with Qantas's financial situation, I don't think they should be refusing anyone;)

You seem to think that Qantas is in a bad financial situation.

I don't think you should go out of your way to offend people, but I do feel that people these days are looking for reasons to find offense.

If that's the best reason Qantas can come up with for grounding him, then they're catering to idiots who need to grow up and accept that others have different opinions.

It's a bullshit overreaction by Qantas, that sort of thing that's becoming all too common.

I think someone should organise a flight where everyone boarding wears the same, 'Bush=terrorist' T-Shirt.
How could Qantas claim another passenger would be offended then?

Brilliant! :D

It's a bullshit overreaction by Qantas, that sort of thing that's becoming all too common.

More victories for the terrorists. :(

So I read it now, and I still don't know-

Why does an Australian airline give a rats ass one way or another about someone's opinion on Bush? I can see people having one, but...I mean, it's Australia...

i'm sure it's got something to do with little johnnie's brown-nosing

because Australia is America's Mini-Me
or "Sheriff in South-East Asia" as Bush put it

That's such bull! :rolleyes:

So his shirt *might* offend some people. Tough shit! Let them be offended. It's their problem.
I think I should go to these people and say: "Can you replace the Operating System of your computer? it insults me"

I think I should go to these people and say: "Can you replace the Operating System of your computer? it insults me"

WINDOWS VISTA!

(Intended as an insult to Rejis)

because Australia is America's Mini-Me
or "Sheriff in South-East Asia" as Bush put it

John Howard was fellating himself with joy after Bush said that. :rolleyes: Why must we have such dickhead leaders.

John Howard was fellating himself with joy after Bush said that. :rolleyes: Why must we have such dickhead leaders.

That whole thing with him in DC with Dubya with the 'Revolutionary War' like parade thing made me sick.

because Australia is America's Mini-Me
or "Sheriff in South-East Asia" as Bush put it

Oh god, he actually said that about us?

*Retreats to concrete bunker full of beans to rock slowly back and forth for the next few days*

Well done Qantas, I'll be flying you next!

About time someone stands up to the left, That shit can offend some one, to all those lefties on above, how would you feel If Bin laden or you Democrat speaker (hell any member of Greenpeace will quantify) was called a terrorist you would get all upset.

Well done Qantas, I'll be flying you next!

About time someone stands up to the left, That shit can offend some one, to all those lefties on above, how would you feel If Bin laden or you Democrat speaker (hell any member of Greenpeace will quantify) was called a terrorist you would get all upset.

...

ahahaha...what?

That's rubbish. This is about freedom of speech, not idiotic 'left-right' ideas. If it had said 'George Bush - Hero' andQantas had taken him off, they'd be just as in the wrong.

Don't feed the troll

...

ahahaha...what?

That's rubbish. This is about freedom of speech, not idiotic 'left-right' ideas. If it had said 'George Bush - Hero' andQantas had taken him off, they'd be just as in the wrong.

If a shirt had said 'George Bush - Hero' and they let him on, their would be protests and calls for that to be banned (and not by people on the flight, media later)

freedom of speech only goes so far, anyway Australia does not have a bill or declaration of rights.

Don't feed the troll
Please, I'm not trolling. To be ironic I'm using my freedom of speech

regards the no shirt/shoes thing....that is due to hygiene. I believe it is legislated that one cannot serve food to someone who is half naked in a sit down restaurant...

As for this guy...kudos on him. So what if he went to the desk manager to congratulate the airline in not being dicks. That the desk manager actually turned into a dick and became a little Hitler says more about corporates than the guy with the t-shirt.

Was it offensive? Maybe it was...maybe it wasn't but one thing for sure...the desk manager made a value judgment based on nothing. He had no idea if it would be offensive to the passengers. So to avoid any chance of controversy, as corporates tend to do, the guys right to free speech was pummeled into the ground.

Those of you who are bitching about the guy wanting to be offensive...so what? What exactly is different between wearing a anti - Bus t-shirt and actually making anti - Bush slogans? or Pro Bush?

What it does is remove the onus of debate away from the people and into the hands of faceless corporate 'processes and procedures'.

Well done Qantas, I'll be flying you next!

About time someone stands up to the left, That shit can offend some one, to all those lefties on above, how would you feel If Bin laden or you Democrat speaker (hell any member of Greenpeace will quantify) was called a terrorist you would get all upset.
No, I wouldn't be upset at all. I'd just tell whoever called me a terrorist they were spouting complete bullshit. So, with that in mind, your argument means..?

How does it threaten security? For an Australian airline...

Well, you know, George W. Bush is the Agent and defender of God, and since God might strike down the aircraft killing all the glorious Bush supporters and innocent crewpersons it is a security threat...

(The above statement is made purely in jest and is not meant to represent the views of this post author, the NationStates Forum SysOps, the crew or pasengers of the particular airplane, any right-minded sain individual, or God.)

You thought the world was sane? Where the hell have you been? If there's a sane place on this planet, tell me, and I'll move there.

Massachusetts. About 99% of the people there hate Bush. Great scenery too, and it's just a few miles south of you.