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Comment by somewhereoutth | Hacker News Reader

Or indeed burning a model of the Grenfell Tower at a bonfire party https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/06/grenfell-bon...

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72 people died in the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Why would you do anything apart from express sympathy to the families of the lost?

Why did you post that comment?

It was a terrible tragedy, but it’s patently absurd that we should give someone a jail sentence for making a joke about it.

(The jail sentence was suspended, but that’s hardly the point. Any criminal conviction, even a fine, carries the ultimate threat of jail, or, if you resist arrest, even death — all this, for a joke).

Are you sure you condone joking about the deaths of people in Grenfell Tower?

I've lived on these shores (South Somerset) for 52 years now and I have made the most awful jokes about some things as anyone probably has here. However, there is a point beyond which I won't go - causing deliberate hurt.

I don't know about the particular case that you refer to or actually skirt around - citation needed please.

A joke does not cause hurt beyond a slight nick with a possible small amount of blood loss. Beyond that it is not a joke and is an insult.

I don't condone the actions, but a jail sentence is utterly absurd and is, frankly, very unsettling. Why should insulting people be a jailable offense? There wouldn't be a stand up comedian left walking free if we consistently enforced this.

And the only person arrested over it had nothing to do with the deaths.

Funny how that works.

> Why would you do anything apart from express sympathy to the families of the lost?

specifically, why would we bring to account those responsible for the actual fire anytime soon? https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/21/as-the-grenf...

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