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[tinyjo]

This, about the Sexual Orientation Regulations, made me really sad. All the examples the opponents of the bill gave, like hoteliers liable to prosecution for refusing a double room to a gay couple, were things that I thought "But that's what I would want to happen!". I think I may be a lefty pinko liberal.

On the other hand, this, about a new random radio station launching in Oxford, sounds quite interesting

Comments

[tinyjo.livejournal.com]

Should I be permitted to call the authorities and have them allow me to gain entry to the premises by force?

No, I'd go for a more administrative solution! I think you should have the right to make a complaint to the authorities and have the hall management prosecuted for refusing to provide you with a service they have previously advertised. I assume this would be punishable by a fine or something of that nature and an order to allow you to hire the premises

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

Interesting.
It's the "order" that I wonder about, as that would essentially be using the threat of violence to force people to support an activity of which they disapprove (if they don't comply they will have their money taken or will be arrested and jailed). Do you think that at all immoral?

[tinyjo.livejournal.com]

I would question whether or not being forced to provide their service for money is the same as being forced to support something. I certainly wouldn't assume that the people who run the community centre support in a moral sense all the groups that use the hall - apart from anything else there's every chance that would be quite contradictory.

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

What I meant by “being forced to support” is that entering into a contract with me to supply training space at an agreed time in exchange for money does assist me in my aim of training people in, and therefore promoting, an activity of which they disapprove. Without their room, particularly if it were the best or only location available for my purposes, my plans to train people in violent skills would be retarded. So, the support is in the logistical rather than the moral sense.
In the end it will come down to force, for if the state insists that I must use the room and the owners try to prevent me, perhaps with a sit-down strike, then physical force would be required for me to be able to continue. This would make all parties villainous in my opinion.

[tinyjo.livejournal.com]

This would make all parties villainous in my opinion.

True. My sympathies would be much more with you and the state than the refuseniks though given this set up.

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. I would disagree, as in the situation where there is no law and I go elsewhere, then both I and the state would be innocent of any immoral acts, leaving the bigots as the sole villains. I much prefer this outcome.