Enemies of Reason Poundshop potshots at the media moral maze.

Express in freefall: making money from racism, homophobia and hatred

The latest issue of Private Eye says Express Newspapers are looking for 'an experienced legal adviser to join the in-house editorial legal team'.

They actually have a legal team? That's interesting, because it means that they've okayed internet comments on an ongoing court case - the case of eight men accused of a plot to blow up transatlantic flights. You'll recall that the Express couldn't be bothered to explain in its front page on Friday that these were just charges against the men, opting instead for the headline 'Terror gang's plot to blow up seven planes over Atlantic'. Doesn't seem much doubt about that, does there, despite the fact that we're talking about not guilty pleas and these men deny all charges - not that the BBC gave a shit either, going with AIRLINE TERROR PLOT, while the Mail opted for PLOT TO BLOW SEVEN PLANES FROM THE SKY. But you wouldn't know that from some of the coverage I've been reading over the past couple of days.

(I don't really want to get into an ouroborous argument but logically, if I have a problem with these newspapers commenting on an ongoing court case, then there is an argument that I shouldn't be doing the same thing myself. Which I do understand, but the trial is hardly likely to collapse due to any juror being an avid fan of my blog as opposed to reading a national newspaper or seeing a headline on a newsstand, and, given that my position is that we should examine all the facts before leaping to a conclusion, that's an attitude that is hardly trying to prejudice the outcome.)

Now, perhaps the Express are legally as safe as houses over allowing their ill-informed racist scum readers to comment on an ongoing court case; in which case, that's all very well. But one of the greatest sicknesses in the British media is the idea that legal rules should be the only arbiter of whether you publish something or not; sure, certain things are not actionable, certain things aren't prejudicial, but that doesn't stop them from being contemptuous, if not of court then of journalistic integrity.

Some things are just morally wrong. As I've said countless times before, you can't wash your hands of what internet commenters say when it is your name on the top of the page and your internet traffic going up - and therefore your profits increasing -because of them.

Needless to say, I need to look at some of these comments in order to make my point, so if you're a juror in the liquid bombs trial - look away now. Incidentally, if you get easily upset by racist cuntwads - look away now as well. (This is exciting! I feel like a Blue Peter presenter telling 'all your mums and dads to leave the room now'.)

Bear in mind that these men have not been convicted of anything. Despite what you've read to the contrary on the BBC, in the Mail and in the Express, I have seen no evidence that they admit to being in a terrorist gang. What you are about to read demonstrates very clearly the kind of freefall into a forum for racists that has made the Express the world's most disgraceful newspaper.

The first story came on Friday. The headline was MUSLIM TERRORISTS WANTED TO INFLICT 'HEAVY CASUALTIES'. Note it's just the 'heavy casualties' bit that is in quote marks - as if there's no doubt whatsoever that these men, who I am at pains to continue to say deny all charges, are Muslim terrorists.

There follows a lot of 'the court was told', 'allegedly' and so forth, as is right and proper in reporting a court case. But then, when it comes to the people who comment on the story, all that goes out of the window. The journalist is subject to the rules on contempt; the berks off the internet, well, let them say what they like! What harm can it do? Apparently, none. So we get...

According to government figures Muslims as are a net lose to the UK. They take far more than they give and this is because of the way they live (By Islamic law/customers)

As long as these particular type of people (Islamic) are brought before the courts or seen/proved as perpetrators of violence it is any wonder that idigenous people are in a state of rebellion.

Allah the merciless again. Deport the lot of them.

Play them at they're own game. Put pictures of pigs everwhere including the floors at the airports and they'll keep well away

On the 6pm News the BBC referred to them as ‘British men’ Does anyone else get really, really annoyed over this deliberate obfuscation and insult to the indigenous peoples of this country?
However misguided, or evil they are, they think they are faithful to Islam and most of them have links and most likely dual nationality with Pakistan.
They are Muslim terrorists. They are not British. British people do not do plot to murder thousands in the name of god. Some Muslims do.

Why do we have to keep people like these here when they obviously think we are not fit to live.
They do not respect us or our way of life, so why do they live amongst us. Better that they should go and live with the people that think the same as them, preferably as far away as possible.

when will the country wake up to the fact that muslims hate anything that is not muslim,the none believers should be wiped out and these people do not discriminate ,they are fanatical about there religion and will spread there hatred throughout the country .there one goal is to make every thing muslim and if you take a good look at our country they are winning.

You might be feeling slightly queasy by now; you should be. It goes on:

When will this all end I wonder? Again it's that "Religion of Peace", Islam, trying to murder innocent people again. I utterly despair.

No doubt these scumbags families will say "we don't understand it ,they are good boys really". Sad fact is that there is a lot more "good boys out there"

evil people, brainwashing scum of the earth, hang them or fry them!!
also how the hell do we know a good one from a bad one?

WHAT A PEACEFUL COUNTRY WE ONCE HAD
And then our politicians allowed filth like this to live amongst us.

I want to know how it's uncivilised to string up no good scum like this lot, but it's civilised to let them live so they can commit these sort of atrocities, and perhaps next time be a little more successful. They should be facing the drop! If they are so keen to meet Mohammed, then we should do like any civilised person would do, and help them out!

I note that THE TIMES website and that of THE DAILY MAIL are not allowing any comments on this news item. Well done THE EXPRESS for allowing free speech.

I don't say well done. I say it's an absolute disgrace, a shambles and a matter that should shame everyone who works for the Express. Why do journalists bother being careful about court cases when the general public are simply allowed to say whatever they like about the suspects, demand that people who have not been convicted should be killed, tar all Muslims as terrorists, and get away with it? Is it in the interest of free speech that the Express does this, or is it just the Express knowing that if it allows racists to say whatever they want, their forums will get lots of internet hits and they can impress advertisers with the number of page impressions and unique visitors? Is it really a noble quest for free speech or just a nasty, unpleasant, vile and disgusting way of making money from racism?

Why did the Times or the Mail - even the Mail, which I regard as being the product of Satan's very own pus-ridden cock - decide not to allow comments then? Because they don't like free speech? Or because of some journalistic integrity, some semblance of decency, some idea that you shouldn't allow everyone to say whatever they want about an ongoing court case, partly because of the possibility of prejudice but largely because it's simply unprofessional and dumb.

But that doesn't stop the Express, of course. The Express scum commenters keep going, each single scumbag bastard adding to the numbers on the Express's internet statistics, bringing in more revenue from advertising. Every time you click on 'click here to view all comments' a pop-up comes up for Dell computers, who have clearly advertised for this feature. You'll recall I wrote to Dell, along with other companies who advertise with the Express, some time ago, but they have yet to respond; only Renault did. I may well write again in the light of these stories, which serve solely as a conduit for anti-Muslim racism. Racism like this:

In the UK Uncle gordon is telling us we need more immigrants, we can do without more muslims, the aim of all muslims is to bring down the none muslim world, and destroy those who reject islam.

The sooner the liberal/left wake up to the threat of Muslims the better. Religion of peace my backside

WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY DOING IN THIS COUNTRY IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Who let them in?
Why were they let in?

Er, they were born here? Oh, I forgot, that doesn't matter: brown people, if they commit crimes, should be 'deported'.

The second story I find is the one which graced the Express splash on Friday. The commenters are even more charming on this one:

THROW OUT BLACK PEOPLE
GET RID OF PAEDOPHILES
GET RID OF HOMO`S
GET THE SLIME OUT OF OFFICE
CLEAN BRITAIN UP AND LET US YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER BRITAIN TO LIVE IN

That comment is still on the Express website, two days after it was posted. There is a trend among newspaper websites to wash their hands of comments and say they won't do anything about them unless someone complains. But surely they read these things? Do they think it's all right to say 'Throw out black people'? Is that OK with them? Well I am complaining now about that; I'll let you know if it gets taken down, and how long it takes.

The message you get when you report a comment is this:

Thank you. The Daily Express website team have been alerted that you feel this comment is inappropriate for our website. We take great care in ensuring our site is as good as it can be for our fantastic readers, and will look into this comment shortly. Thank you once again for being a responsible member of our community.

We've got to tell the web team? Can't they decide for themselves? We've got to police the internet because the people running it can't give a shit? Isn't there something wrong here? Should newspapers just not bother legalling anything, and let people write what they want, with a little disclaimer saying: "If you don't like this, tell us and we won't print it again". It's madness. It goes against all journalistic principles. If this is the internet, then let me off. This is disgusting.

And still the comments come:

lets not forget the brainwashed Muslims are still telling us Islam is the religion of peace LOL

This boggles the mind. A million kudos to the British agents who thwarted this terrible plot.

But... no-one's been convicted yet. These are people who could possibly sit on juries. It makes you want to weep.

The third story on this trial is headlined MUSLIM TERROR GANG FILMED 'MARTYRDOM VIDEOS'. Again, seemingly there is no argument that this was a Muslim terror gang. Even though they have pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Here come the self-appointed judges, convinced after two days' evidence of these men's guilt, and the guilt of Islam in general:

While they were here plotting their murderous acts ...... who was paying for their keep...
WE WERE .... WITH BENEFITS
COME ON BRITAIN GET REAL ..... SORT THESE PEOPLE OUT.

What the hell were they doing in our country then if they felt that way. If Islam is so great why didn't they want to live in one of those nice Islamic countries?

Well and why this plot was foiled was of course because the so called virgins have gone on strike refusing to be of service to these ugly brutes. It just shows what lengths these animals will go for a bit of nooky including murdering their own wives and children. they make me sick.

Just how many virgins do these vile filthy scum get when they butcher,women and children ?.......and what the f***s wrong with watching eastenders ?. VILE FILTHY SCUM .

I have noticed that whenever a photo of a bomber or would be bomber is printed just how ugly they are, perhaps this is why they can not fit into the western society and hate us so much. They are so twisted and brainwashed with their releigion, I can not understand how grown men can think like this and want to kill their own children, they are just as ugly on the inside as the outside.

I'm glad this newspaper hasn't refereed to them as British

I think you mean 'referred', 'Fable'. That's interesting, because I saw the Mail's references to 'British Muslims' on Friday as being a touch on the disturbing side; yet it appears to have upset the racists rather than made them happy. That is interesting.

Anyway, there you have it. The Express is not a newspaper. It is a conduit for racists to be allowed to say that British-born brown people should be deported; it is a place where you can say that black and gay people should be kicked out; it is a place where racism is tolerated, maybe even encouraged; it is a place where the pleas of a suspect in a British court is not regarded as being important enough, if some member of the public wants to label them as a criminal.

Please, to those who walked out from the Express on Friday on strike. Do yourselves, and the world, a favour - and walk out for good. This newspaper doesn't care about journalism. If you call yourself a journalist, get out and get back into the clean world.

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