Activists challenge Olympic bylaw on free speech

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
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oohh ohhh man they should add a provision to the by-law where logos from companies not involved with the "games" are banned from public display- imagine getting fined for wearing a vintage Aerosmith T-shirt

Seriously tho, I don't care what the motivation behind the challenge is, the by-law is flagrantly unconstitutional and borders on fascism. I am another who couldn't care less about the "olympic games" and if people want to make public their displeasure with the gigantic sham that is "the game" it really should be allowed so long as it is done in a non-violent, non-vulgar way.

The thought of someone getting fined or arrested and charged for holding a sign saying "The 'olympics' are a giant scam" really frightens me, and tho it is at a low level right now, the possible precedent that could be set here has massive imlpications

Now LOOK HERE!

That's twice we've agreed.

You're starting to scare me. :)
 

Kreskin

Doctor of Thinkology
Feb 23, 2006
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Where were these guys prior to the hosting selection? Surely they were playing armchair quarterback with some other issue. Yes, wait for others to make decisions then hand out flyers telling people why everyone should listen to the followers.
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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What worries me about these Olympics is that some moron or group of morons will do something moronic like bombing one of the events and killing and injuring a bunch of innocent people who were under the illusion that the Olympics was a spectator's sporting event.
 

Spade

Ace Poster
Nov 18, 2008
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What worries me is where will we be able to buy kosher Olympic ham during the games. We're out of the product here on Aether Island!
 

Kreskin

Doctor of Thinkology
Feb 23, 2006
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If Rick Hansen did his Man in Motion Tour today there would be protesters waiting for him in Vancouver. The world has gone nuts.
 

Niflmir

A modern nomad
Dec 18, 2006
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Leiden, the Netherlands
Ok, I just read through the by-law in question, and I am thoroughly confused as to what they are fighting. The city is relaxing it's sign by-law in order to allow more freedom of expression and they are complaining that they should be allowed to post whatever they like wherever they like? Not in my backyard.

The city already had by-laws which prevented people from erecting signs wherever they pleased without permits. This by law only relaxed those restrictions in specific areas or with specific types of signs in an effort to be able to make the city more festive without breaking their own by laws.

I have the right to free expression, sure, but that is not the same as the right to pin up a huge billboard in front of your house decrying the use of widgets at the local acme factory. That sort of thing is prohibited in general and when these rules are relaxed in order to decorate the city following a theme, I don't see why you should suddenly gain the right to post such a sign.
 

Cannuck

Time Out
Feb 2, 2006
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Alberta
I am another who couldn't care less about the "olympic games" and if people want to make public their displeasure with the gigantic sham that is "the game" it really should be allowed so long as it is done in a non-violent, non-vulgar way......The thought of someone getting fined or arrested and charged for holding a sign saying "The 'olympics' are a giant scam"

Irrelevant. It's not about voicing ones displeasure.

The city passed the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bylaw in June to restrict the distribution and exhibition of unapproved advertising material and signs in any Olympic area during the Games.
 

Niflmir

A modern nomad
Dec 18, 2006
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Irrelevant. It's not about voicing ones displeasure.
The city passed the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bylaw in June to restrict the distribution and exhibition of unapproved advertising material and signs in any Olympic area during the Games.

As I pointed out, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bylaw doesn't restrict the distribution of advertising material and signs, it relaxes the restrictions which are already in place to approve another, colloquial type of advertising.
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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Location, Location
If Rick Hansen did his Man in Motion Tour today there would be protesters waiting for him in Vancouver. The world has gone nuts.

Not really. But if his man in motion tour cost each of us taxpayers buckets of money which was then given to foreign countries, and nobody was allowed to disagree with him, then your analogy would have some bearing.

The Olympics are an orgy of commercial foolishness, wrapped up with a thin layer of stupid patriotism.
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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Quote: The city passed the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games bylaw in June to restrict the distribution and exhibition of unapproved advertising material and signs in any Olympic area during the Games.

But if you did any reading, you'd realize that the above is not what is in dispute now, it's the new provincial law that is at issue.
 

Kreskin

Doctor of Thinkology
Feb 23, 2006
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The Olympics are an orgy of commercial foolishness, wrapped up with a thin layer of stupid patriotism.
It's what revitalizes a city and why there is a huge competition to host the games. It's why people are dancing in the streets when they win that competition. Vancouver, and BC, will benefit from this for decades.
 

L Gilbert

Winterized
Nov 30, 2006
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It's what revitalizes a city and why there is a huge competition to host the games. It's why people are dancing in the streets when they win that competition. Vancouver, and BC, will benefit from this for decades.
Perhaps by showing the rest of the world we are on the map, but any economic benefit will be limited to the lower mainland and the rest of BC will be paying for it for decades. But I hope not. I really do hope that ALL of BC can realize a net benefit.