We at Big Brother Watch have an eclectic taste in music, and when not at the grindstone we listen to our fair share of the latest poptastic hits.
So, with our intuitive ear to the ground, we were alarmed to hear the case of Tom Shaw - a 25-year old band member aboard a South West Trains service.
Being a busy chap, Tom used the journey time to pen some ideas for future tracks his band could cover. As the train pulled in to Fareham station, Tom was approached by staff members and forced to leave the train.
Nonplussed, Tom asked for an explanation. Unbelievably, he was told that train security had become aware of him writing 'The Killers' on his list and had taken offence.
Throw away the key I hear you cry! If you plan to use a locomotive any time soon, make sure you delete Miss Dynamite, Guns N Roses, Slayer, Bombay Bicycle Club, Public Enemy and Massive Attack from your iPad; or face the wrath of our overbearing state.
South West Trains, you are a disgrace.
James 'headbanging' Stannard
The country has gone mad...This week Sky News had a major headline ,airing a poem from a fan of David beckham about his achilles heel...Denise ,the mother of Jamie Bulger has been used as a political pawn and wound up mercilessly by the British Press...T Shirts with emblems now mean we are a terrorist ...Licestershire police are looking for a stolen hotpoint washing machine and ask ' Did you see someone struggling with a washing machine last week? this could be the person we are looking for'
Do not breath, do not speak, do not write...
James...there is a mass lobby meeting , House of Commons 2p.m. Tues 23rd March Room 15...about libel laws and free speech...
Thanks to Libel Law reform group. I intend to be there.
Posted by: Sandy | 18/03/2010 at 09:35 AM
Even more Sinister, is how did the 'Rail Staff' know what was being written? - One could argue that it was amazing that Mr Shaw found himself on a Train, where the staff could 'Read!'
Posted by: Bob Morgan | 18/03/2010 at 09:56 AM
I am so sorry, I should not have said that, in case it is offensive to 'Illiterates?' - However, if they cannot read it . . . . ?
Posted by: Bob Morgan | 18/03/2010 at 09:59 AM
time for a counter claim of spying! what gives some jumped up ticket inspector the right to read notes of someone's notepad.
Tom could of been a lawyer social worker or other professional who was writing sensitive case notes or was the person reporting this just after bank details?
Posted by: Paul | 18/03/2010 at 02:13 PM
Add the christmas number one to that list "Killing in the name of..."
Posted by: Paul | 18/03/2010 at 02:15 PM
the one thing that Britain truly was good at was the War Film. In the War Film, stiff upper lipped Britishers fought off the evil Hun and declared 'We'd never fall for that Hitler chappie'. Of course not. But then again, from small acorns, like South west Trains....it starts here, and ends where it always ends up. Wake up people. We are collectively sliding blindly into insanity
Posted by: Lee Floyd | 18/03/2010 at 03:38 PM
These non-cops deserve a thrashing for acting suspiciously themselves, I mean, invading someone's privacy by rubber-necking what they are writing. Ok they probably never seen joined-up before.
Posted by: Purlieu | 18/03/2010 at 05:51 PM
Surely he didn't comply with this request did he? I would have sat tight even if it meant holding up the train to wait for SO19 to arrive. Even if it was my stop!
Posted by: simon | 18/03/2010 at 06:05 PM
And don't forget 'Video killed the radio star'...
Posted by: simon | 18/03/2010 at 06:06 PM
Tom Shaw's experience reminds me of my old friend, the late Frank Palmer of the Daily Mirror, who was driving home after covering a gruesome murder in Lincolnshire. It was in the days before mobile phones, so Frank stopped to check in with his news desk from a petrol station pay phone. "I've done the murder and I'm on my way home," he reported.
Frank was overheard and, a few miles down the A46, he became aware of wailing sirens and flashing blue lights in his rear view mirror. He failed to make it home for tea that evening.
Posted by: Declan Cunningham | 20/03/2010 at 12:04 PM