Horse Puncher sacked from teaching job

I agree Doodledog that it is unfair when a witch hunt starts on social media for a misdemeanor, especially if other members of the family become involved and are bullied. The trouble with something like Facebook is that there is no sanctuary from the baying crowd.

I'm not claiming to be judge and jury.
Nobody cares what I say enough to ever think I could be.
Amazingly though, I still have opinions.

Josieann

I agree Doodledog that it is unfair when a witch hunt starts on social media for a misdemeanor, especially if other members of the family become involved and are bullied. The trouble with something like Facebook is that there is no sanctuary from the baying crowd.

Yes, and everyone's individual 'right to an opinion' becomes cumulative, so employers 'have to act' and one thing leads to another. It's like An Inspector Calls.

What's the answer then?
To be fair, it would have to be that nobody could have an opinion.
Sounds a bit oppressive, to me.

I don’t know where the hunt protesters posted this but this is what they do. They monitor hunts and they take videos. These people are there to expose cruelty. They do so in their own time and are routinely physically abused and injured by the hunting fraternity whilst doing so. I have seen some dreadful footage of hunters riding their horses into them, beating them repeatedly with their crops and even driving at them in their 4x4’s. I have seen footage of foxes being, quite literally, torn apart by the hounds, with the accompanying screams of pain. This whilst women on horseback casually watch on nearby.

I’m a member of The League against cruel sports and many of you would be shocked at the cruelty routinely carried out by the hunting fraternity.

I think a little balance is needed here. If they hadn’t posted it nothing would have been done. As it is she’s been punished and shamed, possibly too harshly but what she did was wrong and if it sends out the message that this kind of behaviour won’t be tolerated and has consequences, good.

It's quite difficult to give an answer, it's a very new technology and we are 'finding our feet' with it. It is changing public discourse irreparably and we wont know the consequences of that for decades. It's not something to be treated lightly.

And who gets to decide what behaviour is acceptable? Who has that power. The very last people you would want to hold that power usually. It's fine in that instance because you agree that the behaviour is wrong (as do I) but once you hand that power over you have absolutely control over what behaviour is 'wrong'.

Absolutely no control that should say.

Oh, that's deep!
I hadn't thought of that angle.

I knew this would turn into this, the usual Gransnet thread, what ever any of you believe, hunting, social media etc., and I can't even be bothered reading back, what happened with this lovely horse is despicable and there is no excuse, no excuse whatsoever, it was a vile act and the perpetrator deserves everything she gets.
Had enough of Granset and the warped views on here.

In this case whoever filmed the incident has not only exposed this woman’s inexcusable behaviour towards a horse, but it has exposed her to the strongly held feelings of people outside her sphere, and I think that’s a good outcome.

I agree, of course, that death threats are unacceptable, nevertheless I’m glad this incident was brought to light and hope it will encourage a more enlightened attitude in our treatment of animals.

Galaxy

And who gets to decide what behaviour is acceptable? Who has that power. The very last people you would want to hold that power usually. It's fine in that instance because you agree that the behaviour is wrong (as do I) but once you hand that power over you have absolutely control over what behaviour is 'wrong'.

Precisely what I have been saying. And as if on on cue to illustrate it further, we get lavendarzen saying that she can't even be bothered to read the thread, she knows it is about a horse, so the woman deserves all she gets (presumably without knowing what it is that she's 'got'), and that we all have warped views. A perfect example of 'the mob' in action.

Trisher says that the woman was trying to control the horse, she had it under control as she was holding the reins. There was absolutely no need to kick and beat the animal. If she loses it like that with a horse perhaps she does with children. People who make death threats are appalling.

What an absolute awful woman I too am glad she’s lost her job I wouldn’t want her round anybodies children She ll find a way of turning it around, she seems an arrogant woman with a very bad temper she totally lost it, no control at all How many other animals or children has she lost it with

I m unsure how anyone can defend her behaviour

Death threats, she deserves to lose her job, not excusing at all what she did, Does anyone know this lady, what is going on in her life, she’d needed to be punished, legally, not by mob media. Where do opinions become threatening and vengeful, yes on forums like this. She hasn’t killed anyone, yet she’ll be punished for life. You said it right Doodledog in the first place.

Sorry its difficult for you to hear other peoples opinions lavender. You are probably right an internet forum is probably not a great place to be if you dont like hearing others views.
I am not defending her behaviour Bluebelle it looks awful.

Doodledog what an insulting comment, but I would expect this off you, you have been here five minutes if that. What I meant was I wasn't going to re-read the comments. If you read the thread you will see I have commented all through the thread - read my comments and don't be so quick off the mark.

You are so so rude Doodledog - read the thread, I know exactly what I am talking about - you definitely DO NOT.

lavenderzen

Doodledog what an insulting comment, but I would expect this off you, you have been here five minutes if that. What I meant was I wasn't going to re-read the comments. If you read the thread you will see I have commented all through the thread - read my comments and don't be so quick off the mark.

I have read the thread. I was quoting your own words - if they aren't what you meant, there's not a lot I can do.

How can you expect anything of me if you hadn't noticed me until five minutes ago? I've been around a while, actually, and have quite a few posts to my name. I don't think I was rude, but you saying that you couldn't be bothered to read back (whatever you meant to say) and that posters' opinions are 'warped' certainly crosses the line between straight talking and rudeness, don't you think?

Still, I dare say that the mods can decide if either of us has been rude - as I've said all along, opinions differ, so it's better to have a 'legal' framework than individuals deciding who is right.

It's ridiculous to side step addressing what this woman did by saying she should be punished legally when it's obvious that she never would or will be.
The only body that could prosecute her is the RSPCA and they are short of funds, burdened with cases of animal cruelty and have never been the same since the pro hunt organisation, the Countryside Alliance, invaded their AGM and virtually destroyed them.
Lavenderzen is quite rightly upset at the casual acceptance of an act of cruelty because it was exposed by a video on social media. The kind of thing that goes on under the heading of sport deserves to be aired for all to see.

Animal cruelty goes on on a daily basis , mostly unseen. Hardly any prosecutions.

I'm bowing out of this after this post as there are only so many times I can say it - I am not condoning her behaviour, and nor, as far as I can see, is anyone else. Nor is anyone casually accepting it. There is a law against it - [[ www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/defending/legislation_1.shtml The Animal Welfare Act]]. If the woman's behaviour is not covered by this act, or not deemed severe enough for a prosecution to be worthwhile, then maybe the law should be changed.

However, as long as people take it upon themselves to act as judge and jury on social media, and get people hounded out of their jobs, cause them untold misery in their own homes, reading what may be very threatening comments, get their children bullied at school and so on, there will be more suicides and breakdowns in mental health. That is the point that I am making - not that what she did was in any way acceptable.

I have said that I don't condone her actions several times, but keep getting told that I do, so I'm going to stop repeating myself.

The unfortunate horse wasn't out of control - it had turned into her and was standing still. The punch and slaps around the head were bad enough but it took some effort to land that kick - she really did lash out for such a minor 'infringement'

She also appeared to act so easily and casually. Has she explained her actions and offered any excuses?

Unfortunately for her she was caught on camera - the way of the world, and has to live with the consequences.

I think there was no alternative but to sack her, in the interests of the children, otherwise there would be an unwelcome focus on the school.

The woman has been punished and lost her job. That should be an end to it now.

It should be, but animal cruelty is not easily forgotten, because it's so abhorrent.
I think it's one of the very worst of crimes, and yet people people get pitifully poor punishment/rehab.