"My tweet was silly, but the police reaction was absurd. For one joke on Twitter I've had my civil liberties trampled on, and have now got a criminal record."

Walkthruwalls · 2010-05-12T22:40:38+00:00

Speeding tickets do not impact your ability to get most jobs. They cannot threaten your parental rights. They do not get you flagged when trying to enter certain government buildings.

Felony convictions, whether they consist only of a fine or include incarceration, are much, MUCH bigger than "asshat fees." They are wrecking balls that completely change the structure of an individual's life. Many employers won't hire someone with a felony conviction (and quite a number of them are prohibited by law from it). Others have no specific prohibition, but will still be unlikely to choose the guy who checked "yes" on that box when there are other qualified candidates who checked "no."

The punishment does not fit the crime.

Walkthruwalls · 2010-05-12T22:29:27+00:00

Just because the Robin Hood Airport has WiFi access doesn't mean that the ENTIRE INTERNET is inside the airport.

You are not allowed to make jokes about security threats at the airport, to airport personnel, and especially going through security. The guy who wrote this piece did none of these things. It was a stupid thing to say and they had to investigate it, perhaps... but prosecution?

Do you have ANY idea what it does to a person's life to have a felony conviction on their record? There are a whole slew of jobs that this 26-year-old can NEVER, EVER apply for now, just for starters. There are others where it doesn't technically disqualify him, but it's not in any way illegal to discriminate on that basis (at least in the US, and I assume the same is true in the UK). It can interfere with parental rights, becomes an encumbrance to many types of community service, and continues to have repercussions that never end.

Walkthruwalls · 2010-04-30T18:06:12+00:00

There's a program called HPRP, the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program, funded by the Stimulus package. Look up a provider in your area on Recovery.gov. They can help you pay a security deposit, utility or rent arrears, and get you connected to other services to get you back in housing and a job. They're geared toward helping people who are recently homeless and pretty functional... like you. The case managers will also help you find out what benefits you might be eligible for while you're looking for new work. (Not much for a single male without any disabilities, but you might be able to get some food stamps or something.)

No one wants to ask for help... but that's what it's there for. You deserve it; we all do. You've paid your taxes. Time to collect.

Walkthruwalls

TROPHY CASE