Judy Finnigan

[Deskdiary]

When I saw the headlines this morning I had a sharp intake of breath - surely a woman wouldn't 'excuse' rape?

However, having now seen a transcript, what she actually said was (lifted from the BBC website);

"If he does go back, he will have to brave an awful lot of comments," said Finnigan during her debut appearance on the lunchtime programme.

"But, having said that, he has served his time, he's served two years.

"The rape - and I am not, please, by any means minimising any kind of rape - but the rape was not violent, he didn't cause any bodily harm to the person.

"It was unpleasant, in a hotel room I believe, and she [the victim] had far too much to drink.

"That is reprehensible but he has been convicted and he has served his time."

Ultimately she's right, isn't she?

As unpleasant as this man is, he has served his time, and therefore shouldn't he be allowed to continue to pursure his chosen career?

[pixie373]

Who are you talking to, svejk?

[naomi24]

Slapshot, a jury convicted Timothy Evans and a judge sentenced him to hang – and this man spent 17 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of rape.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/13/man-wrongly-convicted-sexual-assault-freed-17-years

We in this country called that justice too.

[ummmm]

Me?

[ummmm]

That was to Svejk!

[pixie373]

Ummmm, his comments aren't relating to anybody. I think. No idea where that idea came from.

[Svejk]

I'm getting out of this thread before I blow a gasket and get myself banned. Which may well be the aim of some of the posters on here.

[pixie373]

^^that made sense in my head

[andy-hughes]

kvalidir - "How dare you insult other people's opinions simply because with your own 'twisted logic' you can't find room to open your mind for a second to the possibility that people hold opinions contrary to your own."

Firstly, I have not insulted your opinion, I have taken issue with your reduction of the concept of rape to a 'soft option'.

"Clearly it's not a ' multiple choice questionaire', no-one ever suggested that it was, it is an example for people who seem to struggle with the concept that violent rape is probably more traumatic to most people simplified to it's basest form."

A multiple choice questionair is exactly what it is! You ask two questions - what is that if not the definition of a multiple choice questionaire - look here if you need some clarification - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_choice

"If you can't see that then you probably aren't the towering intellect you like to think you are."

I can't see that because your point is incorrect - the level of my intellect is not this issue, nor is it relavent.

" Would I like to reconsider my post and apologise?
I'm always delighted to reconsider a post, have done so and see nothing whatsoever to apologise for."

Your choice.

"Maybe you would like to apologise to me for the incredibly rude post you just directed at me? I won't hold my breath on that though."

My choice.

[Slapshot]

Yes Naomi, that's correct and mistakes are made... in this case I believe he appealed and had the sentence upheld, not just the single just appeal but an appeal to the full three judge court of appeals who all refused. I believe he also has an appeal at the CCRC..... which is what the courts and the law allows him to do, unless she says she was crying wolf, he will always be guilty of rape

[naomi24]

Indeed he will, Slapshot - no doubt about that. She can hardly say she was crying wolf if she can't remember what happened.

[horseshoes]

^ Kval, you DID say it was a choice. These are your words:

Rape is ALWAYS wrong but here is an imaginary choice you have to make.

a. Be raped in a hotel room by a man who you are already acquainted with.

b. Be attacked in the dark, beaten, raped and threatened by an unknown assailant.

Which is why I replied, would the rapist wait while I made my choice!

If I said yours was a stupid remark, I'd be accused of being rude etc etc...... but oh! Hang it! It WAS a REALLY stupid thing to suggest.

[kvalidir]

Carry on, if you all shout loud enough, are rude enough, and assume enough things about people you don't know (DT in particular that one applies to you) then eventually people with opinions other than yours will cease to voice them because they won't be bothered wasting their time. I certainly won't in future, I'll just let you all rant and rave and have a big smugly group hug afterwards, whilst congratulating yourselves on being 'right' and trot off to debate somewhere it's still possible.
The Editor intervened because he could see things were (yet again) getting personal towards users not part of the 'collective' opinion and you still persist, so knock yourselves out folks, you are destroying your own debating platform and will end up talking to yourselves.

[andy-hughes]

kvalidir - "Carry on, if you all shout loud enough, are rude enough, and assume enough things about people you don't know (DT in particular that one applies to you) then eventually people with opinions other than yours will cease to voice them because they won't be bothered wasting their time. I certainly won't in future, I'll just let you all rant and rave and have a big smugly group hug afterwards, whilst congratulating yourselves on being 'right' and trot off to debate somewhere it's still possible.
The Editor intervened because he could see things were (yet again) getting personal towards users not part of the 'collective' opinion and you still persist, so knock yourselves out folks, you are destroying your own debating platform and will end up talking to yourselves."

The only way a debating platform gets destroyed is if people who arfe debating withdraw from it.

The essence of dedbate is to discuss opinions that differ from your own - and yes, that sometimes gets heated.

I have had my opinions challenged more times than I care to remember, and I have only actually walked away from two debates in my time on here - and that was a result of direct personal insults, which I then returned to address - how else am I going to resolve any issues?

I would be sad if you absented yourself from the AB.

Please stay and fight your corner - that is what debate is all about - you can be as argumentative as you wish - within Site Rules.

I, and many other regulars, will stay debating until the debate runs out of steam naturally - as they always do.

There is no question of being 'right' - it is only our opinions - and every one is as valid as everyone else's and that includes yours.

So - if you feel aggrieved - step up and give us your best shot!

[Slapshot]

Kvali, the other day you accused me of a "desperation to be right" "dogamtic" etc etc. I'm afraid you've just done the same thing.

Horseshoes pointed out something possibly many of us thought, that your comments to Andy were not the best, accept that it wasn't the best way to address it and move on. Taking a flounce like that just makes people assume you need to be right or that your argument is perfect. No-one likes to be called out on something but at times it happens, we just have to move on.

[Retrochic]

Maybe I'm missing something but the only recent rudeness on here has come from the very person who is now spitting out her dummy. Maybe lack of maturity is to blame, and maybe some slack should be cut because of this, but in debate you should be able to take as good as you give and still be
civil towards on another at the end of it.

[andy-hughes]

Retrochic - "...in debate you should be able to take as good as you give and still be
civil towards on another at the end of it."

I entirely agree.

I have had some real ding-dongs with my colleague AOG - in fact we are just getting into one now on the paralell 'Support For Judy Finnigan' thread - but we always emerge as gentlemen, albeit with differing views.

[in a mo]

There are several Football players who have actually KILLED been convicted ,done the time been released and are now back playing professional football ,this guy should have the right to carry on with his career,if he was a bricklayer there would not be this out cry unbelievable.
What I do not understand that his friend had sex with her but he was found not guilty.

[albaqwerty]

I followed this thread with interest.

He has been convicted of a brutal, invasive assault (rape) that conviction will follow him throughout the rest of his life, (even if any appeal is successful in squashing it)

As for cutting anyone any slack because of their age, Retro, no, I don't think so, if you want to play grown up, then don't be rude, surely a home education would have taught you that at least?

[in a mo]

Andy Hughes Well spoken my friend something that some others should dwell on ,when they have finished climing the walls.

[andy-hughes]

in a mo - "Andy Hughes Well spoken my friend something that some others should dwell on ,when they have finished climing the walls."

Thank you for your support.

I confess that I am not beyond getting pretty heated in some of my exchanges, but exchanges is what they are, and what they remain.