Riots and Twitter

PM David Cameron threatens Twitter 'shut down'

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

British PM David Cameron threatens to shut down social media websites.
[scotsman.com...]

[engine]

I guess they don't know enough to make an informed decision, but, I take their point.

There are too many ways to communicate, and in any case, I don't really think it's going to be practical.

Oh, and I think they should be calling it looting, not rioting.

[J_RaD]

then need guns over there.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Actually no matter how much you love social networking websites they do have a lot to answer for in situations like these.

[graeme_p]

Social networking sites also do a lot of good in situations like these. They keep the people who are not involved informed, they help organise lots of good things (the clean up volunteers, help for those affected etc.).

As engine said, there are too many ways to communicate for it to be practical to shut them all down: it would also have a crippling effect everyone and everything else.

The big problem seems to be that this was a new type of riot, and it took the police some time to work out how to deal with it and get people in place. The rioters behaved very differently from anything that has happened before (in the UK at least).

Someone submitted a petition to the government's epetitions website asking for the Daily Mail website to be shut down during riots as it "inflames delicate situations" (very true). It was rejected as being outside the power of the government, so if they cannot shut down one website, how can they shut down another?

[J_RaD]

Actually no matter how much you love social networking websites they do have a lot to answer for in situations like these.

The only people that have something to answer for are the ones running around breaking windows, setting fires, and hurting people.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

And not those using Twitter to organise them?

[Old_Honky]

Apparently they used blackberry messaging network because it is more secure and the police couldn't easily intercept messages. I wonder how it is that these poor unfortunates who are "marginalised by society" and have no prospects of ever getting a job can afford a blackberry. Are they all out selling drugs?

Personally I'm disappointed that the political consensus seems to be that we should try and understand why this happened. I've heard at least one party leader call for an official enquiry. What a waste of time, the only reason this happened is that the little scrotes thought they could get away with it. There can be no underlying social reason, because if there were then the 90% of residents in those areas who are in a similar economic situation to these "poor" looters would also be out there filling their black bin liners with trainers.

If it is technically possible to shut down twitter or any other of the social media in the UK then the criminals will switch to some other way of communicating.

This breakdown in respect for law and order is a direct result of the rise in "human rights" and the lack of authority in schools. Kids who are used to addressing their teachers by their first names and not respecting their authority, are too aware of their own "rights" and seemingly unaware of the "rights" of everyone else. When you add to this the "me first attitude" that is engendered by a society where anyone of limited talent can go on to one of the awful TV "talent" shows and become a "star", it is blindingly obvious why our society is circling the plug hole and about to go under.

[johnhh]

people communicate in many different ways - closing social media sites is 1. probably impratical and stinks of interference of civil liberties ( as per Middle East ) 2. they will just use text and phone calls and old-fashioned meeting on street corners.

The problem is the police stood back on day one - that sent a message to local gangs , hey we can do this as well.

But children need respect for parents and , I hate to say it , teachers at schoool.

i just had this discussion with a friend from Hong Kong before the riots. If we knew what we knew now the teachers at our school could not have been able to get away with what they did . However , they may have been bad teachers but you learnt respect very quickly or were, to be frank, assaulted ( in todays terms ) mentally or physically.

[graeme_p]

@Old_Honky,

1) You are confusing human rights and political correctness.
2) The "me first" attitude is pervasive: we have seen plenty of it from politicians, bankers, etc. The people at the top steal a lot more, just non-violently and in ways they can get away with.

There is clearly something wrong with a society where so many people are waiting for a chance to loot and riot. That must have underlying social reason. You have one explanation, but it is inadequate as it is part of a wider problem.

My first thought was when it started spreading was that it would spread to Salford (I have lived there). Its just an acceleration of what does on in areas like that anyway - theft and vandalism are constant. I wonder how David Starkey explains why it happens in areas like that?

Schools are not going to be able to change anything given the culture and poor parenting: and a lot of parents in these places are teenagers who are not capable of bring up a child.

[graeme_p]

Just to add, owning a Blackberry is heardly a sign of wealth. You can buy a new, unlocked, Blackberry for £130+, Vodafone offers them free with a £15 a month "plan"

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

The government is looking at ANY medium in which people can get in touch with each other quickly as a threat. Their actions, or reactions depending on how you want to look at it, seriously tread on blocking freedom of speech and border on dictatorship. It's easy to say you're doing it in the name of safety, it's much harder to find and capture a mastermind behind an event with illegal intentions. The government is wanting to take the easy way out and/or are simply outmatched by the knowledge of the "hackers" as they call them.

I'm not giving up my freedoms and I will back a lawsuit against government if they disregard my freedoms, the real problem here is the absolute inability of government to figure out how to track CRIMINALS instead of tracking and blocking everyone.

Had I been on my way home from work on the subway recently my phone would have been blocked, that's illegal.

[Rugles]

then need guns over there.

Oh sure. Because there is never looting, robbing and thieving in gun toting places. It is like paradise.

[Rugles]

There is clearly something wrong with a society where so many people are waiting for a chance to loot and riot.

I suspect people who have decent jobs are not doing much looting. Seems to me that it is an act of desperation by people who have little to lose if they are caught. Could be a sign of the poor economic conditions and too much free time.

Not that I am making excuses, for sure put them in prison.

[StoutFiles]

I hate Twitter/Facebook but you can't shutdown communication because you don't like their usefulness for organization. Address the problem of the criminals, not the perfectly legal means of communication.

I suspect people who have decent jobs are not doing much looting. Seems to me that it is an act of desperation by people who have little to lose if they are caught. Could be a sign of the poor economic conditions and too much free time.

Some, but a lot of people were jumping in because of crowd mentality and the prospect of free stuff amidst the chaos. Many people that got caught were not poor people.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Seems to me that it is an act of desperation by people who have little to lose if they are caught.

Actually I believe that it was anything other than an act of desperation. It was caused by organised gangs probably using Twitter or whatever. After a couple of nights in London they moved to Manchester and Liverpool.

I also heard tonight (unconfirmed) that some of the stolen goods were on sale in Glasgow. If this is true it more or less proves that this was nothing more than well organised crime.

[J_RaD]

Oh sure. Because there is never looting, robbing and thieving in gun toting places. It is like paradise.

i'd say a shop owner holding a shotgun in someones face would make them think twice about looting, it would also save him from possibly being beaten and killed and maybe save his business from being burnt to the ground.

The mob would think twice once people started getting shot.

[lawman]

I don't think I'd have the jewels to shoot anyone, and I sure wouldn't hang around after closing to find out.

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

Maybe British PM David Cameron wants to be the catalyst of an anti-government revolution? Not every twitter user has criminal intent Mr. Cameron, punish those that do. Thank you.

[J_RaD]

and I sure wouldn't hang around after closing to find out.

I don't think i'd be able to lock up and leave knowing that someone is going to break my windows and clean everything out.

Maybe if i could back up truck up and load everything in it........ then i could leave.

[justrobin]

British PM David Cameron threatens to shut down social media websites.

If you are very desperate to bring back the peace and order of your country then you might consider of doing this so.

In an emergency session of parliament yesterday, the Prime Minister vowed to do "whatever it takes" to bring order back to Britain's streets after days of riots, widespread destruction, looting and death in London and other cities.

I guess social media sites should be temporarily banned in UK or in affected areas to aid the solution of this problem.

[tangor]

Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, has his own take on how to solve the "problem"... might work in UK, too... (Bing it... or old-style: Google it)...

[johnhh]

No thanks - too much American influence here - next you know we will have an FBI or CIA

[lawman]

All Americans keep quiet; you have too much influence on johnhh.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

All Americans keep quiet

Can't see that happening. ;)

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia

His name would not go down well over here. Another example of the language differences ...

[urbandictionary.com...]

[rocknbil]

This is the most ridiculous idea I've ever seen. An action like that would only inflame the situation, it always has and always will. The original Tea Party. The attacks on Sony. A million examples . . .

"Good" to know politics is the same everywhere, instead of addressing the problem, let's shut them up with our strong arm.

[piatkow]

Shutting down mobile phone masts in the area when trouble occurs (I think they can be set to take emergency calls only)might stop things spreading or might not but would certainly be quicker and could be handled locally. Remember that these kids were using smart phones not going home and powering up a desktop PC.

[tangor]

No thanks - too much American influence here - next you know we will have an FBI or CIA

Already do, just different names. Not trouncing on toes, mentioned Nutter only in the regard that he recognizes that PARENTAL INFLUENCE is not there and SHOULD BE (we have the same flash mobs in US). That said, apologizes for offering commonsense. Had no desire to inflame US-Anglo relations!

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

This is the most ridiculous idea I've ever seen.

;):) You need to get out a bit more Bill! :);)