1. FACEBOOK SAYS
TA-TA TO TITTIESFACEBOOK have new guidelines about
which material is banned on the website.
The new rules have now come into effect
on Facebook’s community standards page
and include new regulations on Direct
Threats, Criminal Activity, Nudity and
Hate Speech. The rule changes include a
section on ‘dangerous organisations’, which
prohibit organisations that have, “engaged
in terrorist activity, organised criminal
activity or promote hate against people
based on their race, ethnicity, national
origin, religion, sex, gender, gender
identity, sexual orientation, disability or
medical condition,” from having a presence
on the social network.
One of the more detailed rules is
Facebook’s position on nudity.
In the past, they have been criticised
regarding the vagueness of the rules
surrounding posts containing nudity.
Facebook have come under fire for
removing and censoring breastfeeding
photos in 2008 and 2012.
In the nudity section of the community
standards page, Facebook have now
outlined that, “We always allow photos of
women actively engaged in breastfeeding.”
In a post by Monika Bickert, Facebook’s
global head of content policy, said: “People
from different backgrounds may have
different ideas about what’s appropriate
to share.” However, it does outline that
despite these changes, they can still
be overruled if they violate a law in a
particular country. “There are times when
we may have to remove or restrict... if a
country requests that we remove content
because it is illegal in that country, we will
not necessarily remove it from Facebook
entirely, but may restrict access to it in the
country where it is illegal.”
Facebook hopes that these new changes
will provide more detail and clarity about
what is acceptable to share on their site and
are designed to help people feel motivated
and to treat each other with ‘empathy and
respect.’
OPINION
COLUMN
S
THE
OTONIANThursday, March 19, 2015 NEWS 5solentjournalism.co.uk
SOUTH West Trains argue that the media
have misrepresented them following claims
that a station announcer told commuters
that ‘fat people shouldn’t sit down.’
A guard allegedly told a train full of
commuters: “We are going to be like
sardines on this train, so can I ask that only
slim people sit on the three-seaters. If you
are fat then it is simply not going to work.’
South West Trains has argued that the
statement was a light-hearted comment
about her own build, rather than directed at
the customers following a discussion with
the guard that was on board the train.
The company has alleged that the media
took the story from a post on Twitter that
was a completely different opinion to the
others on board the train.
The commuter tweeted: “I am not
necessarily a big person, but most people
are larger than those seats anyway. It’s
pretty disgusting. I would get fired if I said
that at my work.”
Other commuters who were on the train
have taken to social media to defend the
train company.
Heather Robertson said: “I was on that
train and to be fair it wasn’t put as bluntly
as that. The announcer actually requested
that only slim people sit in the tight 3 seater
seats.
“I am slim and was sitting in those seats
and it was very tight.
“She went on to say that it wouldn’t work
for larger people with a disposition like
herself. She said it in a very tactful way.
Everyone sitting around me thought it was
very well put.”
South West Trains will be issuing
complaints to each publication that fails
to report suitable follow-up stories on the
claims that have been made.
Andrew Commons, a media spokesperson
from South West Trains said: “A check of
social media would have shown that other
customers had a completely different view
of events, and cast doubt on the claims
of the customer quoted by the media,
including around the language used.
“This was in no way intended as a slight
on any customers and the majority of
passengers on the train took the comments
in the spirit in which they were intended.
“However, like ourselves, she is very
sorry if any passengers were offended by
her remarks.”
“SOME selfish f***ers won’t move so I’ve
got nowhere to put my f****ing bike”. It’s
Monday morning and the 8:16 to London
Waterloo is full of sleepy commuters
desperately searching for a seat in the
steamy carriage. One man and his bike
(which does not comply with the ‘folded
cycles only’ rule) fill the space of at least
three commuters, and yet he rants, loudly
and aggressively on his phone, whilst his
fellow passengers awkwardly peer over the
tops of their Metro papers.
In January, train fares increased by an
average of 2.5 per cent. Season ticket
prices have hit an all time high with the
most expensive being Swindon to London
at the staggering cost of £8,200. How can
these prices be justified with no apparent
improvements to services?
The slightest hint of bad weather
prompts hour-long delays and last
minute cancellations across all networks,
overrunning engineering work is blamed
for the slow morning crawls and yet
National Rail happily continue to raise
costs…
The National Rail website professes:
“Money from fares goes towards running
and maintaining the railway which
benefits every household in the country,
by improving journeys, creating jobs and
helping to boost the economy.”
The problem is that commuters who are
using the rail network at the moment don’t
care about pretty new platforms or better
services in 2050, they care about getting
to work on time today, tomorrow and so
on. A round of groans as the conductor
announces his apology for delays are a
far too regular occurrence, particularly on
South West Trains, a company which seem
to thrive on running poorly tended trains
that run on two temperatures, scorching hot
or icy cold.
Quiet Zones are a fascinating concept,
they demonstrate the lack of social
awareness that so many seem to possess;
mothers who sit with their screeching
toddlers, giving you the ‘isn’t my child
adorable’ look as the snot dribbles down
their noses. Men who take the opportunity
to phone the local court to check when they
are due in front of the judge (true story),
loudly announcing their personal details
and specifics of their case. And then there
are the model passengers, who silently read
a book to pass the time whilst desperately
trying to ignore the aforementioned,
secretly praying that those obnoxious
youths will get off at the next stop.
In a perfect world, trains would be clean
and run to timetable, quiet zones would
be quiet and food with any remote smell
would be banned. But then again perhaps
the best part of commuting is the right to
moan about it.
End of the line for larger
passengers?
BY
JACQUES
VOLLER
BY
KAT
BALLETT
SOUTHWEST DENIES IT IS SIZEIST
BY
SOPHIE
AIKEN
SOMETIMES the most striking scenes are on your doorstep. This atmospheric shot of the evening sky over Southampton
was taken near Newcombe Road by today’s Editor, Harry Usborne. Send your pictures to thesotonian@gmail.com
Lousy service
but at least we
can all moan
The sky is alive