@Graham Marsden
> Right, so you did just decide for yourself that was what I said, rather than reading what I wrote.
No, I gave my explanation of what you wrote above. Perhaps you might like to answer points, rather than just rolling out platitudes again.
> I see little point in addressing your ridiculous Straw Man arguments, ...........
Straw man arguments? It was my post to which you originally responded?
> Principle idea that "well, we don't know that it will do any good, but let's try it, just in case".
The switching of mobile phones to emergency only in the areas affected wasn't even tried, how is this an argument? The legitimate users of Facebook, Twitter etc would only be denied access in the immediate area of the trouble. And lets face it, during a riot how important is it to a legitimate user to update their face book status, check the farm, upload the latest photo of the cat?
> The fact that you have then set a precedent that, if something happens you don't like, it then justifies subsequent abuses of people's rights because "well it might not have worked last time, but let's try it again and we'll go *further* this time..." appears to have escaped you.
Just to repeat 'The blocking mobile phones in the areas wasn't even tried, how is this an argument?', it is therefore a bit difficult to go further with something that hasn't been done? What precedent?
As I mentioned above what you refer to as 'rights' I would tend to think of as 'privileges' (rights and responsibilities). Privileges arguments aside, I'm not sure, but I think you accept the argument that where people abuse the human rights of others it is then acceptable to curtail their human rights in an attempt to stop the abuse? That being the case what I have suggested 'a temporary suspension of the right to free speech via the phone network' would seem entirely appropriate.