Taken too far? We’re all human and all have regrets

denisgreen — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:54:50 +0000

I believe it would be near impossible to go around the country and find people who can hand-on-heart say they have no regrets or have never done anything wrong. So why when a drunken student urinates on a war memorial does the possibility of jail arise? There are much worse people out there who are getting away with a lot more than what Philip Laing has been given.
Being a fellow student at Sheffield Hallam, I can understand what it feels like to be on the opposite side of sober.
The memories are few and far between and you do not have full control of what you are doing. Visions are blurred, speech is slurred and the need to go to the toilet triples from what you are soberly used to. Having stumbled myself through the streets of Sheffield on a Saturday night, I have seen myself, inebriated students using the closest dark alley or secluded spot to relieve themselves from their bursting bladders; some can not simply hold it in until the next registered toilet if in reach. Onto the next level. I openly admit, if I had seen Philip Laing urinating down an alley or secluded spot I would have minded my own business and turned a blind eye. However, if I had seen him urinating on the war memorial, I doubt I could have turned a blind eye to this. It is hard to say whether I would, there and then, have thought that this young man needs to be sentenced to 250 hours of community service; I am sure that jail would certainly have not been an option. When not much is made of urinating in the street, then a topic of jail arises when it is on a war memorial, I feel this may be taken a bit too far.
Clean it up, many apologies to be made, public humiliation with a 2-column story in the local paper, maybe a bit more. Sky news, Daily Mail double spreads, clear photos of Mr Laing urinating on the memorial, possibilities of jail, it all seems a bit harsh to me when I weigh up this story with those of rape and murder.
There are stories of murder which only get given a 1-page spread and are never mentioned again. I personally feel column inches should be filled slating these murderers and rapist rather than a drunken student who has been convicted of public indecency and discrepancy.
Binge drinking has become a problem of late and when organised bar crawls are happening all over the country, it is only a matter of time until things start to go wrong.
Although I feel things have been taken a bit too far in relation to Philip Laing, however, there is no excuse for urinating on war memories no matter how drunk someone may be. Consequently action should be taken against him but not as strong as the possibility of jail or that amount community service hours given. Every one makes mistakes and has regrets; were only human.

My, Myself and I.

denisgreen — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:17:41 +0000

My main passion in life is sport, mainly Football. Some people main find this interesting and some people may find this boring. Drilled into me as a 4 year old, being a Manchester United fan was what I was becoming. I would travel around the country to watch every game as a kid, when prices were not so expensive. Nowadays it is not as easy to see my favorite team every weekend but I do my best. Attending every home game and the away games I can make.

I often wonder what it is about football that has such an effect on football fans. The pain it puts us through, the highs which we enjoy the most and every aspect of the game.

The most cynical of fans describes football as, “Thousands of over-worked and under-paid people spending lots of money to watch over-paid people kick a piece of leather around a pitch.

I on the other hand see the Football as something very different, something much more important.

Visit again to find out my views on the beautiful game and how it has such a huge impact on our lives.

Denisgreen's Blog

Taken too far? We’re all human and all have regrets

My, Myself and I.