They were protesting Mohammed cartoons. They just wanted their voices to be heard, that's all. The fact that they were armed and shooting was just a coincidence.

FUCK THE POLICE

5/4/2015 12:51:09 PM

This thread....

Bad attempt at humor or worst attempt at humor? You decide.

5/4/2015 12:53:54 PM

This is what conservatives think parody is. It's why you'll never see a Conservative colbert.

5/4/2015 1:11:54 PM

You see, Colbert tries to be funny, so does John Stewart. I'm not here to get any laughs.

5/4/2015 1:14:48 PM

sweet jesus what a failure of a thread

5/4/2015 1:15:52 PM

You'll never see a conservative Colbert because not everything is a fucking joke to us.

5/4/2015 1:17:16 PM

This is the Green Lantern of tww threads

5/4/2015 1:43:14 PM

Leave the FUCK THE POLICE threads to me

5/4/2015 1:46:20 PM

So is this thread supposed to be funny or not?

I think that most people will agree that if the "protesters" are shooting at security (or others), then there's no issue with shooting back at them.

5/4/2015 1:51:14 PM

Quote :

"You'll never see a conservative Colbert because not everything is a fucking joke to us. "

That's because you ARE the joke.

5/4/2015 1:56:34 PM

(you conservatives, not you rujfurmel)

5/4/2015 2:45:53 PM

more like...rjrumfail

5/4/2015 3:59:59 PM

This shitty thread bums me out because now we can't have a serious discussion about the fact that we just had someone attempt to murder people over drawing a picture of mohammed here in the US.

It hasn't been verified yet, but it seems likely that these were islamists who may be connected to ISIS.

At the very least this is a direct attack on freedom of speech, but I'm sure it will get very little play in the media this week compared to how much it should get.

I'm really looking forward to the idiots talking about how free speech is fine, but we shouldn't provoke people or offend people.

[Edited on May 4, 2015 at 4:56 PM. Reason : sdfsd]

5/4/2015 4:55:29 PM

I want to hear more about the man that offed the two of them.

5/4/2015 4:56:42 PM

^^ why even have a discussion? No one is going to share differing opinions. Pamela Geller is a huge twat with no redeeming quality but if she wants to have an anti-Islam circle jerk then she should an able to do so in peace.

To me this kind of incident is horrible and in the same category as all the abortion clinic bombings in the 90s. Only difference is these lunatics wouldn't be welcomed by the hillbillies in the mountains.

5/4/2015 5:14:09 PM

I disagree. I think it's important to have a discussion about free speech.

Prior to this attack we hadn't really had a direct, violent attack on free speech in this country for quite a while. Already people in certain circles are talking about how this was inciting violence, this is the problem with freedom of speech, we shouldn't allow people to insult religion, etc. It's the same kind of thing that we heard following the Charlie Hebdo attack. That was in France though, where they do have things like anti-hate speech laws, laws against denying the holocaust, etc. Their free speech is already significantly restricted. Ours, relative to theirs, is still very free.

Given things like the Pen writers walking out of an award ceremony where Charlie Hebdo was honored and the reactions I've already seen on some websites where the focus already is that this was an event run by an anti-islamic group it's important to discuss why absolute free speech is still important.

5/4/2015 6:20:36 PM

I guess I don't see it. I've seen very few people, even on shitholes like reddit and twitter, take that view. Of course we are going to have SOME people say that but they are outliers just like every cause has.

And the Ferguson protests were almost completely peaceful up until the announcement. Yet there was the national guard and militarized police right there. To me that is a far greater attack on free speech than any opinins I've seen on the Texas attack.

[Edited on May 4, 2015 at 7:14 PM. Reason : x]

5/4/2015 7:12:19 PM

Radical Muslims upset over improper illustrations of Mohammed in France and a bunch of people get shot and killed. Radical Muslims upset over improper illustrations of Mohammed in Texas and they shoot one guy in the foot before getting taken out. One of these things is not like the other.

5/4/2015 7:37:36 PM

It's a slow creep. Unfortunately it's present and it's growing. You're seeing it on campuses especially where the right not to be offended movement is at its strongest. The chilling effect on speech is palpable. I was reading the comments on huffingtonpost's article on the attack and it was quite evident that while they didn't think anyone deserved to be shot there were also a lot of, "why are we encouraging an event like this" and "this is just offensive for the sake of being offensive, that's not speech that should be protected".

It's problematic that anyone has an attitude that free speech shouldn't be something that should be defended, especially when it's a "controversial" application of it.

5/4/2015 8:24:52 PM

Quote :

"Radical Muslims upset over improper illustrations of Mohammed in France and a bunch of people get shot and killed. Radical Muslims upset over improper illustrations of Mohammed in Texas and they shoot one guy in the foot before getting taken out. One of these things is not like the other."

lol gtfo.

IF ONLY EVERY COMPANY IN FRANCE HAD ARMED GUARDS OUTSIDE THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED

fucking trog

5/4/2015 9:07:43 PM

^^ free speech is to be protected. Its a cornerstone of our society. This event was intentionally inflammatory and was crying out for something like this to happen (and I'm guessing Pamela Geller makes a shit of profit from it).

Those two opinions are not mutually exclusive.

5/4/2015 9:16:02 PM

Is this an Adam Carolla stand up bit?

5/4/2015 9:30:26 PM

soapbox in my chit chat???

fuck outta here!!!!

5/4/2015 9:34:11 PM

^^^^^Our kickass country is home to thousands of actual hate groups. Moreover, millions of presumably pious people put on their best clothes once a week to listen to hate speech, and then they crowd the restaurants when I'm just tryna get some eggs in my pajamas/sunglasses.

So it is still 100% acceptable to believe and say whatever crazy shit is on your mind. If somebody else chooses to moderate their speech because they don't want to look stupid, then that's on them.

Anyway, I think you're looking at some "offended" and "outraged" groups and assigning them entirely too much power/influence. The evidence of (crazy ass) free speech is all around you. Take another look.

5/4/2015 9:37:07 PM

How is this different from what Charlie Hebdo did? It isn't like their publication was exactly the bastion of sensitivity. Funny how the media talks differently about this situation because the group attacked wasn't part of the press.

Quote :

"IF ONLY EVERY COMPANY IN FRANCE HAD ARMED GUARDS OUTSIDE THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED"

Well that was kind of my point. You try to do something like that in Texas and chances of being met by someone else with a gun are a hell of a lot higher than in France.

[Edited on May 4, 2015 at 9:54 PM. Reason : .]

5/4/2015 9:43:28 PM

Well Paris is filled with police with machine guns so mission accomplished?

5/4/2015 10:02:50 PM

Quote :

"You try to do something like that in Texas and chances of being met by someone else with a gun are a hell of a lot higher than in France. "

bullshit - the organizers of the event paid $10K to basically have an on-call swat team present.

5/4/2015 10:11:19 PM

5/4/2015 10:11:32 PM

Quote :

"Well Paris is filled with police with machine guns so mission accomplished?"

Kind of like the cops that responded to the Hebdo shootings that were unarmed and had to flee?

Quote :

"bullshit - the organizers of the event paid $10K to basically have an on-call swat team present."

Moving the goalposts. There are going to be more people in Texas walking around armed than in France. Also, the heavily armed security was actually inside the event and the shooters never even got close to those guys. They were taken out by an off duty cop providing security with his pistol. Looks like the heavy security was a good idea considering two extremists drove up with AK's and started shooting. Perhaps it would have been wise for Charlie Hebdo to have employed a bit more security.

5/4/2015 10:19:26 PM

Quote :

" They were taken out by an off duty cop providing security with his pistol."

Give this man a fucking medal and lap dance

5/4/2015 10:22:01 PM

Quote :

"It's a slow creep."

LOL, no it's not.

Quote :

"Unfortunately it's present and it's growing. You're seeing it on campuses especially where the right not to be offended movement is at its strongest. The chilling effect on speech is palpable. I was reading the comments on huffingtonpost's article on the attack and it was quite evident that while they didn't think anyone deserved to be shot there were also a lot of, "why are we encouraging an event like this" and "this is just offensive for the sake of being offensive, that's not speech that should be protected". It's problematic that anyone has an attitude that free speech shouldn't be something that should be defended, especially when it's a "controversial" application of it."

This isn't a free speech issue. There's no organized attempt to suppress anyone's speech here. You have 2 nut jobs (highly unlikely they're part of ISIS whatever that even means) drive from Arizona because they were pissed off at some other nut jobs in Texas.

If you want to argue that there is a systematic attempt to suppress anyone's free speech, there's been far, far more attempts to stop mosques from being built or allowing muslims to practice their own free speech, than the opposite, in America. There's been burnings, buildings have been vandalized, muslims have faced violent opposition.

And this is yet a distinct issue from political correctness run amok on college campuses.

The only reason anyone's talking about this is because it has to do with Islam, because it's a sensationalist topic. Geller was part of the group that fought to stop the mosque from being built within a few blocks of the WTC.

How is it any more idiotic to believe that in America a group can't purchase a building and turn it into a religious community center vs believing that you shouldn't draw a religious figure? The only difference is that the former group has mass public and political support and were successful in their goals, and the latter group is a tiny, isolated set of idiots with no real support of backing or coherence.

If there's anything you should be worried about creeping, it's Geller and people who support her causes or think like here. She's far more dangerous to America and freedom of speech than 2 crazed gunmen in this case.

5/4/2015 11:01:38 PM

Quote :

"How is it any more idiotic to believe that in America a group can't purchase a building and turn it into a religious community center vs believing that you shouldn't draw a religious figure?"

Are you fucking high?

Quote :

"She's far more dangerous to America and freedom of speech than 2 crazed gunmen in this case."

You gotta pay the toll, troll

[Edited on May 4, 2015 at 11:10 PM. Reason : ]

5/4/2015 11:06:04 PM

Geller is in the same league as Westboro Baptist Church. They technically are within their rights to do what they do, but no sane person bends over backwards to support them in this.

IF you support Geller, you might as well picket soldier's funerals with a God Hates Fags sign.

5/4/2015 11:17:17 PM

^Do the liberals a favor, quit being so typical

5/4/2015 11:29:35 PM

LOL this isn't a liberal or conservative issue, unless conservatives are fans of Westboro Baptist. Last time I checked, they are not.

5/4/2015 11:42:07 PM

Just an aside...I think we should all be clear that they had security because they anticipated and welcomed the attempted attack.

^^I think he makes perfect sense. I was just thinking the thing about mosques myself. But he said it way better than me.

What exactly is objectionable in his post?

And what's "liberal" about it?

5/4/2015 11:48:43 PM

And Im glad they welcomed the attack,

And you consistently speak from a liberal platform, nothing to LOL about.

5/4/2015 11:54:10 PM

If you're saying the the liberal viewpoint is based on a factual and context-sensitive understanding of free speech in America, then I'm glad to be the liberal platformer here.

Conservatives tend to feel like they're right based on their heart and best intentions, but the facts can tell a different story.

5/5/2015 12:03:02 AM

Well Im glad we have that settled..

Quote :

""How is it any more idiotic to believe that in America a group can't purchase a building and turn it into a religious community center vs believing that you shouldn't draw a religious figure?""

5/5/2015 12:09:29 AM

Quote :

"If you're saying the the liberal viewpoint is based on a factual and context-sensitive understanding of free speech in America, then I'm glad to be the liberal platformer here. Conservatives tend to feel like they're right based on their heart and best intentions, but the facts can tell a different story."

You're a caricature of a liberal. You're the liberal that other liberals refer to when they say "I'm not one of THOSE kinds of liberals". You're the bleeding heart progressive that makes all of the other level-headed liberals look worse than they are. You're a sick twisted embarrassment of a human being that desperately points the finger at everyone but yourself. We welcome you and your family to America, jackass.

5/5/2015 12:17:08 AM

5/5/2015 12:26:39 AM

I think we all know that moron totally fucking sucks.

But can we got some elaboration on what is so wrong with his recent posts in this thread?

5/5/2015 12:44:13 AM

Its only a Liberal/Conservative issue when he it makes it one....and then it's Republican/Democratic when it fits the issue..

5/5/2015 12:45:17 AM

Son of a bitch, guys. I'm tired, and I don't read or watch the news.

Somebody tell me what's wrong with his post. Cause it makes sense to me. And I need to make sense of another point of view, but I don't have time to work for it.

Explain your shit, guys.

5/5/2015 12:48:51 AM

Quote :

"The only reason anyone's talking about this is because it has to do with Islam, because it's a sensationalist topic. Geller was part of the group that fought to stop the mosque from being built within a few blocks of the WTC. "

Imagine that, someone doesnt want a mosque within arms reach of the twin towers. They must be right wing extremists.

Quote :

"IF you support Geller, you might as well picket soldier's funerals with a God Hates Fags sign."

Quote :

"Geller is in the same league as Westboro Baptist Church."

Both of these are clearly false

Quote :

"She's far more dangerous to America and freedom of speech than 2 crazed gunmen in this case."

Yea, okay.

[Edited on May 5, 2015 at 12:59 AM. Reason : Is that enough Bridgette?]

5/5/2015 12:54:02 AM

Quote :

"Imagine that, someone doesnt want a mosque within arms reach of the twin towers. They must be right wing extremists. "

Pretty much, yes. That makes you an extremist. It's a belief based purely in emotion and reactivity, rather than thought, reason, or believing in free speech. Just like being upset when someone draws mohammed.

Quote :

""IF you support Geller, you might as well picket soldier's funerals with a God Hates Fags sign." Quote : "Geller is in the same league as Westboro Baptist Church." Both of these are clearly false"

They're neither true nor false, they're opinions. But Geller is a nutjob whose methods are the same as WBC, and whose goal is a Christian theocracy. This is true.

Quote :

""She's far more dangerous to America and freedom of speech than 2 crazed gunmen in this case." Yea, okay. "

Yeah, more muslims have been attacked, demonized, and had their speech infringed, since 9/11, than have done any oppressing, attacks, or protests. So if you love America, the Constitution, and what we stand for, then you should oppose Geller and her ilk when they prey on peoples' drummed up fears to push policies and positions that are antithetical to what countless Americans have fought and died for over the decades.

5/5/2015 1:05:48 AM

Quote :

"Pretty much, yes. That makes you an extremist."

A person that doesnt want a mosque within an arms reach of the twin towers doesnt make you an extremist. Taking out the twin towers in an airplane makes you an extremist.

[Edited on May 5, 2015 at 1:11 AM. Reason : If I have to decipher that, Im done.]

5/5/2015 1:10:37 AM

Well, maybe I'm less affected by 9/11 than some folks, but I thought they should get to build their community center wherever they could find/buy the property. I thought it was kinda lame that they wanted to build it there, and I understand how some people thought it was disrespectful. But, apparently, some Muslims think it's disrespectful to draw pictures of that Mohammed guy. So yeah...

And Geller is absolutely in the same league as WBC, and she is a very dangerous personality. I know you've seen her on Fox News or whatever, but she straight up runs a hate group. A guy in Norway killed 77 people and mentioned Geller by name in his manifesto, cited her blog a dozen times, and mentioned her partner repeatedly. I mean, she's a Jewish woman who hates on Muslims so hard that even the neo-Nazis admire her:

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/profiles/pamela-geller

^It doesn't make you an extremist, but it does make you pitiful if you can't distinguish between the Muslims who want to build the community center and the Muslims who participated in the 9/11 attacks.

[Edited on May 5, 2015 at 1:14 AM. Reason : sss]

5/5/2015 1:10:39 AM

Quote :

"A guy in Norway killed 77 people and mentioned Geller by name in his manifesto, cited her blog a dozen times, and mentioned her partner repeatedly. I mean, she's a Jewish woman who hates on Muslims so hard that even the neo-Nazis admire her:"

Fucking Christ!!! Im agnostic and Im about to bring religion in this shit

5/5/2015 1:15:42 AM

What are you talking about?

I don't read, dude. I have no shorthand for all the Internet arguments.

5/5/2015 1:17:55 AM