Australian police to bill Milo $50k over protests

[RapBreon]

It's a precedent that already exists. Public universities constantly site security costs and concerns for illegal blocking non liberal speaker son campus. Demanding students pay tens of thousands of dollars to host a speaker the university doesn't like. In the US, it's against federal law for any public university to block speakers based on their political opinion or even because people find them "offensive". Yet universities do it every single day, it's why US Berkeley is facing a multi million dollar lawsuit for blocking Milo and Ann Coulter.

It's also a concept that's existed literally for centuries, it's called the heckler's veto. By causing a big enough disruption, people can keep people they dislike from speaking. Milo says a lot of offensive things, but that doesn't make the things he says on the issues any less true. And with all the "offensive" things he does say, people still have to make false statements and claims to try and justify the violence they use to try and shut him down. Violence is never OK, no matter what mean words someone says.

While I'm not in disagreement with your overall message; Milo distinctly relies on his delivery for effect. If what he says is true, he could always deliver it in a less abrasive manner. Rabble rousing is his preferred tool (or disruption was you called it), he's 1000% aware of what he's doing. Thus he bears, at minimum, partial responsibility.

[Blobfish]

The Australian State of Victoria is run by a Socialist leadership who have some stupid laws like:

its illegal to wear Pink Pants on Sunday afternoon in Melbourne.
And For men only: if you appear on the street in a "dress without straps", you're breaking the law.

So Alt Right Milo getting a bill for the police call out in Melbourne does not surprise me.

However in Sydney which is in the more conservative state of NSW a similar protest occurred where Milo spoke.
6 members of the Socialist left where arrested. And Milo never got a bill.

[Magical Mudcrab]

Milo's response to police on Twitter.

His account was suspended.

[ohwell]

"Free speech" just means the government can't tell you what you can and cannot say.

It does not absolve you of the consequences of that speech.

If your speech costs someone money, you should be responsible for that.

Don't want to have to pay for crazy security? Find a way to speak that doesn't result in costs.

When it's the government making you pay for police it is in fact the government limiting free speech.

[GreenGoldSharpie]

His account was suspended.

That's the joke.

Edit: these freeze peach threads and the crap behind me have long since made me agree with the federalists that a bill of rights was just a bad idea altogether. Whole movement is incredibly toxic.

[Kolbjorn]

When it's the government making you pay for police it is in fact the government limiting free speech.

The police have a day job that doesn't involve spending all their time protecting trolls. Hiring extra police to guard someone that is actively trolling and increasing demand for policing services is not free. Is it the responsibility of the people that live near the troll's intended riot location to pay additional taxes to pay for these additional police? Are personally you willing to pay more in taxes so the troll can troll without having to pay for his own security?

[SirBeef]

That it does. Pondering on how this might conflict with free speech.

I've said for a while now that hate paddlers need to be charged a fee equal to the extra security needed to keep the peace at their events. They want to incite shit they can pay for it.

[Darkeon]

I've said for a while now that hate paddlers need to be charged a fee equal to the extra security needed to keep the peace at their events. They want to incite shit they can pay for it.

And who defines what constitutes "Hate Paddlering" and who these "Paddlers" are?

Are people speaking in favor of Abortions, in whatever events that involve that sort of speech, considered "Hate Paddlers"? I'm sure someone will be ready to counter-protest that speech.
What about people speaking against it, in whatever events that involve that sort of speech? I'm sure someone will be ready to counter-protest that speech.

[Stop Pretending]

What was his reply, his account is suspended.

[Slicer299]

While I'm not in disagreement with your overall message; Milo distinctly relies on his delivery for effect. If what he says is true, he could always deliver it in a less abrasive manner. Rabble rousing is his preferred tool (or disruption was you called it), he's 1000% aware of what he's doing. Thus he bears, at minimum, partial responsibility.

Absolutely not. Because, as I already said, violence is NEVER OK. It's never, ever, EVER OK to use violence to silence someone. No matter what that person says. No matter how mean or "offensive", words never justify violence. I also don't see you condemning the people on the left who use equally vial and "offensive" language when they bash people on the right. Is it OK for people to violently protest the taping of The Late Show because Stephen Colbert calls Trump "Putin's c**k holster"???

The answer is no, and since that answer is no that means it's also not OK to use violence to try and stop Milo from speaking.

[Masark]

Milo isn't alt-right lol

Sorry, I couldn't hear you over all the "roman" salutes. Could you repeat that?

What was his reply, his account is suspended.

There wasn't one. The joke is that he's been banned from twitter for a long time.

[GreenGoldSharpie]

I wonder if people understand the irony in using free speech to criticize free speech.

I'm not criticizing free speech. I'm criticizing the Bill of Rights. There's a tremendous difference. The entire free speech movement in the US has become incredibly toxic to the point where both sides are trying to intimidate anyone they dislike.

[Mormolyce]

Ah, I was under the impression that the neo nazi movement was massive.

Not in Australia.

They're actually not that big in the US either, they're just very loud and visible.

Their last big rally got 0.1% of the turnout they hoped for and got outnumbered by an unrelated Juggalo march.

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Milo has very poor eyesight, he said he didn't see the guys saluting because it was too dark. He replied to this saying it was out of context so that's not proof I'm afraid

I think that might be the lamest defence I've ever heard.

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Technically true (the best kind of truth!) but for US readers who will no doubt go ga-ga over such a thing and 'muh freedom!' I'll explain as best I can.

We have freedom of political speech. It's been codified by High Court decisions and such, basically it boils down to the principle that you can't be arrested for your politics so long as you don't commit another crime (assault/trespass/etc) and don't advocate violence against others.

As for why we don't have a Bill of Rights... That's a tricky one, there have been attempts to get one going all the way back to Federation (where we practiced the time honoured Australian tradition of nicking the best bits from other constitutions when we wrote ours, thanks America! We left out the gun bit though.). There are valid arguments on both sides, some suggest without it we're at the mercy of political winds. The other side, and the side I'm on, argue that once you start defining rights, everything you leave out becomes a privilege and lots of stupid shit starts happening.

Of course that doesn't mean we don't have a lot of the American Bill of Rights in other legislation.

On the subject of Milo and his stupidity, honestly its a long held tradition that people who stir up shit pay for it. Hell the AFL and other major sporting codes help off set the police costs when they hold events.

To be honest, there is some legitimate thought that the Bill of Rights has overly handicapped the US's ability to regulate certain kinds of activity and you could draw a straight line from that to the shithole they're in presently.

Still, it's pretty embarrassing. Even New Zealand has a Bill of Rights.

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Doesnt matter. They will fight it in court anyway. And win.

You sure about that?

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Apparently this is normal for Australia, which still makes it pretty dumb. Probably shouldn't reward people for rioting...

Consider it a fine for trolling in this case.

[RyanEX]

So it's his fault that the protestors turned violent and a massive police presence was required...

And here I thought victim blaming was frowned upon. Guess it just depends on whether or not you like the person. Personally I like him. Yes he's a provocateur, but if you don't go he can't provoke you. It takes two to tango as the adage goes, so if you attend knowing you don't share his views and you have a thin skin...and you plan on walking with weapons then I think the fault lies with you.

[GreenGoldSharpie]

So it's his fault that the protestors turned violent and a massive police presence was required...

And here I thought victim blaming was frowned upon. Guess it just depends on whether or not you like the person. Personally I like him. Yes he's a provocateur, but if you don't go he can't provoke you. It takes two to tango as the adage goes, so if you attend knowing you don't share his views and you have a thin skin...and you plan on walking with weapons then I think the fault lies with you.

Are we back to pretending that what people say is shouted into a void and never has consequences for those they target?

[Total Crica]

Are we back to pretending that what people say is shouted into a void and never has consequences for those they target?

The only consequences of words is the sharing of information with those that read/hear them.

What others physically do with that information is their own choice and they should be held physically responsible for those choices.

[GreenGoldSharpie]

The only consequences of words is the sharing of information with those that read/hear them.

What others physically do with that information is their own choice and they should be held physically responsible for those choices.

What a load of shit. Milo is a a great example of a bunch of fools who have decided that screeching about free speech is far more important than considering that some things once said can't be unsaid. The US, in particular, is dividing itself up and actively looking to punish one another for perceived transgressions. There's a very real risk of illiberal democracy spreading in the "western world" due to social breaks these morons are actively exploiting.

[announced]

the protesters should pay since anyone dumb enough to try and cause a riot or destroy property over someone speaking doesn't deserve to have money anyway. Learn to protest peacefully instead.

[Total Crica]

What a load of shit. Milo is a a great example of a bunch of fools who have decided that screeching about free speech is far more important than considering that some things once said can't be unsaid. The US, in particular, is dividing itself up and actively looking to punish one another for perceived transgressions. There's a very real risk of illiberal democracy spreading in the "western world" due to social breaks these morons are actively exploiting.

Without free speech, you wouldn't have been able to say any of what you just said and your information would never have been shared to me.

So, I will just pretend you don't have freedom of speech and pretend you were not able to communicate any of your ideas to me just now.

[GreenGoldSharpie]

Without free speech, you wouldn't have been able to say any of what you just said and your information would never have been shared to me.

So, I will just pretend you don't have freedom of speech and pretend you were not able to communicate any of your ideas to me just now.

What the actual fuck are you talking about? I didn't say anything about retracting speech, I said a bunch of people who are actively crapping on other people and exploiting fault lines in the social order should really reconsider doing so just because they can. Notice the bold part. Read it as many times as it takes for it to sink in for you.