Where’s the “Any Key”?
LONDON - A British judge admitted on Wednesday he was struggling to cope with basic terms like “Web site” in the trial of three men accused of inciting terrorism via the Internet.
Judge Peter Openshaw broke into the questioning of a witness about a Web forum used by alleged Is–lamist radicals.
“The trouble is I don’t understand the language. I don’t really understand what a Web site is,” he told a London court during the trial of three men charged under anti-terrorism laws.
Judge to prosecutor: ‘So what’s a Web site?’
During Internet terrorism trial, judge asks attorneys to keep it simpleViolent Is–lamist material posted on the Internet, including beheadings of Western hostages, is central to the case.
Good golly Miss Molly.
No disrespect Judgie, .. I don’t know what your problem is, but I’ll bet it’s hard to pronounce. 
Excuse me your honor..May I introduce you to …um..the Internet…. you know, that thing Al Gore invented?” 
O.K. Let’s keep this simple eh.
Ya see, your honor… there’s this place where terrorists, a.k.a. “youths”, a.k.a. “freedom fighters”, a.k.a. “Asians” hang out and chat, scheme, plot and post Mickey Mouse videos on how to kill us, behead us…err…basically the “how to’s” on making mincemeat out of us.
Ya still with me?
Or do ya suppose , sweet friends that this judge is simply feigning ignorance and “playing dumb” so as to avoid convicting Muzlim terrorists.
Hmmm.
Wouldn’t be the first time.
Could this be a ritualistic charade?
The Art of Playing Dumb To Deter Unwanted Tasks
Strategic incompetence isn’t about having a strategy that fails, but a failure that succeeds. It almost always works to deflect work one doesn’t want to do — without ever having to admit it.
Beyond the train wreck/freak show entertainment aspect of this fiasco my friends, there is a grim reality.
The last five elections in the Middle East have ushered in Izzzlamic fundamentalists and nearly every election in South America has brought in socialists with an animus against the U.S and Europe.
We need competent judges who do not fear throwing the gauntlet down.
Ah, give the benefit of the doubt Angel, I hear y’all saying.
Alrightey then.
Do ya suppose he knows what a gavel is?
I have a better idea.
Can you say “recuuuuse”.
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May 16th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
I ought to be surprised, but I’m not. I know people who take pleasure pretending that they are unfamiliar with technology. But this judge seems to have a more serious problem, and his question raises some judicial alarm bells. We should keep it simple for this jurist, as he apparently is simple himself. “The internet is a communications medium.” Then, in keeping with English Common Law, let us explain “Any communication that incites unseemly behavior, the direct result of which is likely to cause harm to the public, either physically or emotionally, is a pox upon civilized society generally, and those who become targets of terrorism, specifically.” And if the learned jurist doesn’t understand this concept, forget recusal – think about retirement, and soon.
May 16th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
These people are sick! The Brits are Dhimmi’s at heart! Sigh………..
May 16th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
“Strategic incompetence isn’t about having a strategy that fails, but a failure that succeeds. It almost always works to deflect work one doesn’t want to do — without ever having to admit it.”
Hehehe, we’ve been using that strategy on Yankee tourists forever!
May 16th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
“Excuse me your honor..May I introduce you to …um..the Internet…. you know, that thing Al Gore invented?”
LOL!
May 17th, 2007 at 12:04 am
Recuse? More like Retire.
May 17th, 2007 at 1:54 am
[...] Read more at Angel [...]
May 17th, 2007 at 3:18 am
oy
May 17th, 2007 at 6:33 am
One of the Peter Principles — one rises to the level of his incompetence. I think this one’s over the bar (judicial that is). Are you sure this judge isn’t from California??
May 17th, 2007 at 7:39 am
[...] Woman Honor Thyself Says: May 17th, 2007 at 3:10 am Where’s the “Any Key”?… [...]
May 17th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Aw, c’mon Angel, da judge was deprived as a child. Deprived of a healthy gene pool.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Stupidity. No, malice. No, stupidity. No, malice. No, stu… aw, fuhgeddaboudit!
They’re so similar nowadays, and their effects usually identical, that I just can’t tell the difference.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:29 am
I’m not surprised. I did an article recently on a survery showing 50% of Americans were not technical, not on the internet. That’s very hard for me to believe. The Brits could be the same.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Giuliani and NAFTA, say it’s not so…
More than one source is connecting Rudy Giuliani to the NAFTA superhighway and Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) highway system. Is there really a connection or is this an effort to smear Giuliani? Here’s the story: The Giuliani connection to this controvers…
May 17th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Derr…what’s a website?
May 17th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Exactly my thoughts when I saw that piece in the news!
Maybe the magistrate’s education should start with an introduction to blogging!
I’d recommend you’re post as a good starting point!
May 17th, 2007 at 10:57 am
I don’t know, Angel. He could possibly be for real. I would like to know how old he is. I know many people my age who are absolutely in the dark regarding the Internet. They don’t have pc’s and those that do have them for their kids and don’t do anything on them themselves other than play solitaire. They wouldn’t know a url from a bagel!
At church I may be discussing the Internet with someone else who’s computer savvy and many within earshot get a blank look on their faces. Sometimes someone will say “you guys are speaking Greek, as far as I’m concerned.” They didn’t grow up in schools with computers and simply have no interest.
I would think though, since this case hangs on things that are involved with the Internet, that this judge should recuse himself.
May 17th, 2007 at 10:57 am
“Where’s the ANY KEY” ha ha
May 17th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Sadly nothing surprises me anymore.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:16 am
If His Honor truly had any honor, he would have understood that the only honorable thing is to recuse himself and allow for a more technology savvy judge to take over.
On the other hand, we all know (as Layla’s comment spells it out) that Brits are such Dhimmis. Perhaps, Angel is absolutely right and His Dishonor’ feigning ignorance is merely strategic incompetence
May 17th, 2007 at 11:34 am
“What’s a web site?”
“Um… I’d like to move for a change of venue?”
Sheesh! Is this guy for real?!? I may not be a computer genius, but puh-lease!
May 17th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Sounds like a classic example of “head buried in the sand” syndrome.
I understand the older generation not keeping up with every new term and every new technological toy but how can you not have at least a basic understanding of the Internet?
Recuse himself..
May 17th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I find this judge difficult to believe, he has to be playing dhumb (spelling intended). I have quite a few middle aged and older friends and acquaintances who refuse to even own computers, let alone go online, and every one of them knows what a website is. Being of a supposedly “learned” stature, there is no way this jamoke could not know.
I have to agree that his feigned ignorance is due to wilfull avoidance of sworn duties whose performance might offend Mooozlims.
May 17th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
That judge was playing stupid he know’s what the internet is, he sounds like a Moron.
May 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
The judge sounds like a libtard to me. They can contort themselves into incredible positions to not see what’s staring them in the face.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Here we go again…not giving the judge the benefit of the doubt…
What is a terrorist???? now that was the question we missed by the judge, sounds alot like Jimmy Carter to me!!!! hey, maybe the judge is Dimmy Carter…or a fateful fan of his…
May 18th, 2007 at 10:54 am
It’s not the “Any Key” that the Judge is feverishly depressing…
It’s the “Easy Button”!!
May 19th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
They should have simply taken the judge to an office with Internet access and shown him.
Sheesh! Talk about Ivory Towers!