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Boss would rather employ a criminal than an ex soldier (From Somerset County Gazette)
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Boss would rather employ a criminal than an ex soldier
8:19am Wednesday 17th March 2010
OUTRAGE has been expressed at a Taunton businessman who said he would rather employ ex drug dealers and paedophiles than former service personnel.
Karl Winn, 60, sticks by the comments he made in an e-mail to the Forces Recruitment Services, which helps find jobs for ex squaddies back on Civvy Street.
Mr Winn claims some British troops have committed murders and rapes against unarmed civilians in Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan and should not be treated as heroes.
He said: "If you have a paedophile, at least he goes to court and is seen to be accountable for what he's done."
FRS managing director Graham Brown said he was staggered by Mr Winn's beliefs, which were expressed as 40 Commando Royal Marines - based at nearby Norton Manor Camp - prepare to leave for Afghanistan.
Taunton MP Jeremy Browne said: "This is an extraordinary comment that will cause widespread offence.
"Every applicant for a job should be judged on his or her individual merits.
"As well as serving our country, ex-soldiers have demonstrated a capacity for discipline, bravery and teamwork that should make them ideal employees in most circumstances."
For more on this story, see tomorrow's Somerset County Gazette.
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Your Say YourGazette
bemusedman, says...
10:37am Wed 17 Mar 10
On the other though, he's gone about it in such a bad way I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of lynch mob formed against his company. Someone pop down to Galmington and see if there's an angry torch waving crowd camped outside his office...
ILMV, Taunton says...
11:30am Wed 17 Mar 10
As a web developer myself perhaps they could stand to lose a bit of business, they programming and markup techniques are certainly not 'cutting edge' :D.
Maypole, Cotford St Luke says...
12:11pm Wed 17 Mar 10
Somerset_lad, says...
1:31pm Wed 17 Mar 10
gilesy25, taunton says...
1:48pm Wed 17 Mar 10
bemusedman wrote:he's an idiot, just like you! Why do you have to harp on about "lynch mobs" and "daily mail readers". Just accept it that the comments are offensive and uncalled for. Why would you class this cretin as a marketing genius? A genius wouldn't try and promote his business by slagging off the armed forces. A moron indeed. Who cares if his business gets targeted,he brought it in himself. I'm ex forces and i'd rather wipe old peoples bums for free than do paid work for mr winn after his comments!
Not quite worked out whether this guy is a total moron or a marketing genius yet. On the one hand he's served up an absolute treat to the idiots at the Daily Mail who must literally be frothing at the mouth whilst whipping up a frenzy of 'support our brave boys' ****, guaranteeing him national press coverage. On the other though, he's gone about it in such a bad way I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of lynch mob formed against his company. Someone pop down to Galmington and see if there's an angry torch waving crowd camped outside his office...
Heapy, Wellington says...
2:38pm Wed 17 Mar 10
To put my E-marketing budget in the hands of this man would be tantamount to placing my family jewels in close proximity to a guillotine.
I will be sending the relevant URL to all of your clients including Somerset and Avon Constabulary to enquire if by they wish to be associated with this doughnut and his comments.
Carl remember engare brain and then speak and certainly engage brain again before committing your "thoughts" to paper and perhaps have a little bit of thought about who you are writing to .......
Yours "nodding his head in disbelief"
Heapy
maggsc, bridgwater says...
3:11pm Wed 17 Mar 10
As a supposed ex social worker, what kind of care did the kids he supposedly worked for, get?
Anyone that thinks a paedophile can be rehabilated , deserves all the stick they get.
And if he really believes that, why is he running scared now?Phones not being answered, emails not being answered and going into hiding.Standing by his convictions? I dont think so
bemusedman, says...
3:20pm Wed 17 Mar 10
But your "who cares if his business is targeted" comment makes you sound like exactly the kind of ex-forces berk that Mr Winn is so against.
maggsc, bridgwater says...
3:24pm Wed 17 Mar 10
Im not ex forces but i know i speak for abused kids when i say, give me an ex squaddie working for me rather than a paedophile.
Stevewillz, Taunton says...
3:33pm Wed 17 Mar 10
marilyn247, cotford st luke says...
3:38pm Wed 17 Mar 10
"His words 'beggar belief' was all I could think."
Now I would like to agree with Somerset_lad's remarks.
Maybe Mr. Winn won't need to go to Afghanistan himself, though to know what our troops go through - there are grieving families in Taunton that could share the horrors of this war with him.
Cornelius Bushwhacker, Taunton says...
4:03pm Wed 17 Mar 10
I'm a Serving Soldier who is due to leave the Army in the not too distant future and was looking for a job in IT close to where I live perhaps I could pop down for an interview.
We all know now the reason why I wouldn't be accepted but do you think an employment tribunal would share your discriminatory views?
Should I contact you or your secretary to book myself in for an interview?
bemusedman, says...
4:09pm Wed 17 Mar 10
maggsc, bridgwater says...
4:23pm Wed 17 Mar 10
4:09pm Wed 17 Mar 10
See Gilesy - Cornelius Bushwhacker (great name) has the right idea. That's how you make a point to these people. Not by throwing your toys out the pram and say you'd rather wipe bums for free
But Winn is against ALL ex forces.Do you think thats a good attitude to have?Would YOU hire a paedophile over an ex squaddie?
Nothing to do with throwing toys out of prams and everything to do with common decency.I would imagine ex services all over are up in arms about this and quite rightly so .
Still think this is a public relations exercise?!
bemusedman, says...
4:31pm Wed 17 Mar 10
A very blinkered and ignorant attitude by all means, but he isn't against all ex-forces.
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
4:39pm Wed 17 Mar 10
Gonkbagfeather, Exeter says...
5:40pm Wed 17 Mar 10
On a purely economic point during a hard recession I cant think of a better way of committing business suicide...I am sure that his 16 employees are all holding their breath....
Perhaps he could also give the figures on how many people in the IT industry have been similarly convicted of these crimes mentioned above - I would hazard a guess that there are more convictions there than from forces personnel.
The IT industry is responsible for the massive promulgation of most forms of child ****, self harming websites, websites that promote violence in general and agianst women in particular - all with very little self regulation - he should look a little closer to home before casting aspersions in areas he obviously has no knowledge of.
A point to note - I would be interested in Mr Winns political background (I think I can guess) For the record the more recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were instigated by a labour government that I personally didn't vote for - but thats democracy for you....
As a serving soldier I absolutely defend (to the death) the democratic right of Mr Winn to hold and express his veiws - but it is only due to the sacrifices of ordinary working class members of the forces past and present that allow him this right. Think on.
gilesy25, taunton says...
7:09pm Wed 17 Mar 10
St. Austell, TAUNTON says...
7:26pm Wed 17 Mar 10
ask for names, ranks and numbers of the offenders in order to report them to their commanding officer but was dissuaded by my wife who feared I could have precipitated a riot! Against this background and possibly Mr. Winn having a similar experience I can understand his reluctance to employ some
former service personnel.
gilesy25, taunton says...
7:31pm Wed 17 Mar 10
St. Austell wrote:naked bar!!!! brilliant, they do this in civilian rugby teams, universities etc too. No ones an angel after a skinful of beer. Mr winn's views are totally shocking and uncalled for and he shouldn't be defended
On one occasion my wife and I observed the way some army personnel behaved in a bar on a cross channel ferry. They were loud abusive and finally started to undress in the bar - who wants to see the buttocks of an army private? The matter was brought under control when the bar was closed and secured on orders from the captain. At the time I was tempted to ask for names, ranks and numbers of the offenders in order to report them to their commanding officer but was dissuaded by my wife who feared I could have precipitated a riot! Against this background and possibly Mr. Winn having a similar experience I can understand his reluctance to employ some former service personnel.
bemusedman, says...
7:52pm Wed 17 Mar 10
Controversy, the same as sex, sells I'm afraid.
Dan@Taunton, Taunton says...
1:45am Thu 18 Mar 10
. It's also doubtful that these comments will even be visible after the next 48 hours or so as normally at the first sight of anyone expressing a slightly controversial view or two people disagreeing with eachother the stories are removed. Shame on you Gazette if that happens, people want to debate, let them debate, if you don't want it then don't let people comment at all. Similar to how selective you are about which letters you publish in your weekly paper! Let us speak!
karlwinn, Taunton says...
2:17am Thu 18 Mar 10
For the record I have employed ex-Military staff. This was not my issue in my private email exchange with the MD of Forces Recruitment Services Ltd. What I objected to was being asked to give preference to employing ex-British Military personnel under their "hire-a-hero" scheme, simply because they have served in our Armed Forces.
I admit that at one point in this private exchange I did say I would prefer to offer employment to criminals because they had at least been investigated and brought before the courts to be held accountable for their actions. I regret those comments but it was said in private, and it was made clear that this was my personal view.
My policy is, and remains, to give jobs to people based on their merit as individuals, and not simply because of their service in the armed forces.
Contrary to popular sentiment serving in the British Military is not in itself “brave” or “heroic”, and it certainly isn’t in support of “democracy”, least of all ours.
The reality from the north of Ireland, to Afghanistan and Iraq, is that the British Military have committed crimes against unarmed civilians. The perpetrators of such atrocities however remain unaccountable for their actions, safe in the knowledge that the principle policy of the British Government is to ensure their protection from prosecution.
British Military involvement in the north of Ireland has resulted in 367 direct killings by the British State of unarmed, men, women, and children. The victims’ families still campaign for these cases to be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible brought before the courts, in order to achieve justice and closure.
The Dublin and Monaghan bombings – the greatest single loss of life during that 30 year conflict in Ireland - the British Government refused last year to hand over documents that were requested by the Irish TD Bertie Ahern on the role of the British Military in the bombing that killed 33 people in Dublin in 1974.
All the way through to our disgraceful and dishonest presence in Iraq and Afghanistan (see yesterdays report on the murder of 8 Iraq civilians while in British Military "custody"). The British Military has a legacy of unlawful killings that need thorough investigation.
It is simply not good enough to argue that such victims "were Catholic, or Nationalists / Republican" or even "Muslim", and therefore the victims’ families are not worthy of justice and closure. If we truly value democracy and justice we need to ensure we are not selective in its application.
The "war-on-terror" is a lie, and anybody who cares to examine the actual facts will know it. If anything it is not the Taliban that is a threat to our democracy and civil rights it is the British State.
Sadly, the British Government has used the lie of a “war on terror” to justify their support of US strategic ambitions in the illegal invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. It will give no comfort to the parents who have lost a son or daughter in this conflict when the British Military withdraw from these countries and history exposes this lie for what is it.
Regards
Karl Winn
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
7:18am Thu 18 Mar 10
Elspeth2, Somerset says...
7:38am Thu 18 Mar 10
Apology too little too late.... apology perhaps because you have had several contracts cancelled and can only see failure of your business.
You know the saying never commit anything to an email as it can be used against you anytime anywhere.
webtastic, Taunton says...
9:03am Thu 18 Mar 10
o.uk) know that this man is warped, from his salesmen who use bully and pressure tactics to his non-existant customer service. In the future anyone considering to become a client of this man should stay well clear.
As for his remarks in the local and national papers, it is a disgrace. Those of us who know a bit about him know that he is indeed Irish and so his is heritage, that is why he has a few pro IRA websites floating about in Cyberspace and has never kept this a secret.
If you are so anti-britain then bog off to the skanky wastelands where you belong.
The british empire is a nation not to be messed with, at one stage we used to own 7/8 ths of the world, I am proud to have been born in this country and proud to be english, such a small island amongst so many super powers!!
Our boys who put their lives on the line everyday for our security should be hailed for the heroes they are, to compare them with paedophiles and drug dealers is an example of your dislike for our country and our countrymen - stop moaning about injustices and think yourself lucky that you can drive your £40k motor and live in your swanky house and earn the british pounds that you do.
I hope your business goes bust and shame on any company who does business with you in the future.
Gunte Beckwermert, Ulster says...
9:12am Thu 18 Mar 10
Auf wiedersehen und viel gluklig nicht!
Cornelius Bushwhacker, Taunton says...
10:06am Thu 18 Mar 10
I commented earlier in this thread.
It would be very nice to see the hard evidence of the 367 direct killings of unarmed people in the 'North of Ireland’ by the British Army, but what of the other 1,490 civilians killed? Who were they accredited too?' - could it be by any chance that these include those that were killed by IRA bombs that were given a warning but far too late to evacuate the area?
Or that of the likes of Kevin McCraken (apparently a loving and caring man according to his eulogy) who was innocently gunned down by the ‘soldiers of the crown’ whereas actually the only reason he didn’t kill the soldier first that he was pointing his Heckler and Koch G3 rifle at was because he had a stoppage and the brave jock got in there first.
While we are on the subject of abuse why don’t we discuss the punishment beatings, kneecappings and tar and featherings that I, and people like me, ended up picking up the pieces afterwards? It’s not very nice to have to pick up a bloated corpse of someone who has been tortured by the IRA.
So Mr Winn when you are talking about murderers and abuse try looking abit closer to your obviously ‘republican’ home.
By the way I don’t think I want that interview now, I don’t want to join a company that’s about to go down the drain.
Just out of interest – do your employees share your views?
Alex Scott, Bridgwater says...
10:17am Thu 18 Mar 10
ed governments. Service personnel will frequently be opposed to these decisions but fully understand that it is their duty to serve their country. Winn’s blinkered analysis of the situations in Afghanistan, Iraq and, particularly, Northern Ireland distorts history to an extent that is actually offensive. In respect of the latter, he fails to mention that the British Army was initially deployed to protect the Catholic minority and that the IRA was responsible for more Catholic deaths. Most importantly, of course, he fails to mention that those attempting to destroy by violent means established authority in Northern Ireland always had the option of using the democratic process.
In the face of the most vicious terrorist onslaught experienced in Europe, the British Army was crucial in preventing the province’s collapse into anarchy and total civil war. That regrettable episodes occurred in such a situation was almost inevitable. However, if the former terrorists are prepared to ‘move on’, why can’t Karl Winn?
Noticeably, Mr. Winn seems prepared to host a website celebrating the life of Oswald Mosley. What a strange set of moral standards he seems to espouse!
Cornelius Bushwhacker, Taunton says...
11:44am Thu 18 Mar 10
To coin a phrase from George Orwell, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men (and women) stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
I joined knowing that I defended a democracy where people had a freedom of speech. Let him have his say, I just hope he does sleep well at night knowing that the reason he does is because we do stand ready to do the dirty work that allows him to have his say.
I just feel sorry for his staff who will undoubtedly feel the squeeze of his words when trade starts to drop and customers take their business elsewhere – after all who wants to be associated with someone who doesn’t back our brave boys and girls and in fact directly attacks them.
Cornelius
For Tom Gaden, Eleanor Dlugosz and all the others that have been lost, may they rest in peace.
gilesy25, taunton says...
2:13pm Thu 18 Mar 10
medic999, somerset says...
10:48pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Quite how Mr Winn imagines paedophiles become "ex" paedophiles” beggars belief; if it was his son or daughter that had been so abused would he still feel the same? I feel sorry for his family.
As it happens, I don’t agree with our government’s justification for this war but it is a complex subject in many ways and not all “black and white”. So, “we”, “Great Britain” are over there regardless of our individual personal feelings on the matter and it is the professionalism of our soldiers that will help get them through many difficult times.
These soldiers are fighting over there, some of them despite wishing otherwise but as such they deserve our respect and our heartfelt thanks that we have at least got a fighting force at our disposal to fight for us and any other country that our democratically voted government sees fit.
Sometimes our soldiers make mistakes in the public eye, such as rowdy behavior or fighting but we shouldn’t forget that they are human too. Can any of us truly say we have never ever behaved in a way that we regret? I think not!
He accuses soldiers of being murderers and taking "blood money" from the government. He says its not all soldiers that he has a problem with but how will he determine which ones deserve his goodwill? Will he ask them if they have ever killed anyone? As an employer and a member of the public, he has no right to ask this question of any of our soldiers. This is my opinion of course…which our soldiers, past and present are currently fighting in order to protect my right to voice.
I am an ex soldier who has worked operationally overseas, I was a medic in the RAMC and yes, I carried and was trained to use my weapon should the need arise. I gave medical treatment to soldiers and also the local villagers and their families for both serious and minor problems. I did not discriminate, despite knowing that I may at times be treating someone who had committed terrible atrocities on others. I simply didn’t ask what they had done and got on with helping them.
I am now a Paramedic and work for the NHS, another part of the same government he so despises. I wonder what this man would say if he suffered a heart attack and required my services to treat him? Would he refuse my treatment and rather die? He is entitled to this if he so wishes. I have been to others much younger who have unfortunately not survived so maybe he should think on this question for a while. He is entitled to his beliefs just like all of us, provided they do no harm to others, this is what all the veterans fought for in WW1, WW2, Bosnia, Kosovo and now in Afghanistan where so many have died. Ireland was also a bad time with many conflicting opinions again but we have peace now and if he is so anti-British why is he here???? There is always the republic of Eire.
Again, I don’t discriminate and work hard to treat all my patients equally. This includes ones who are under the influence of drink or drugs and are physically or verbally abusive, people with diseases or conditions that some opinions believe should pay for their own treatment, our regular callers who generally don’t need to call us at all and so cost much time and money, all these people and many, many more have the potential to be adversely affected by me and my colleagues if we allowed personal feelings to interfere. But we don’t. We do our job. This is what our soldiers do too.
Perhaps Mr Winn should rethink a little before he goes down the rocky road to perdition, followed shortly by his business. Not that many will care.
ILMV, Taunton says...
11:20pm Thu 18 Mar 10
http://jobseekers.di
rect.gov.uk/detailjo
b.aspx?sessionid=286
fe51d-8614-4afe-8ab8
-a75ecc01cb63&pid=2&
j=TTN/29890
thecrusader, says...
8:57am Fri 19 Mar 10
Other business fronts for him are pumpkin-media.co.uk and easycms.co.uk
dan666, taunton says...
9:15am Fri 19 Mar 10
majormark, Bridgwater says...
9:32am Fri 19 Mar 10
I hope I never have the displeasure of meeting this creep.
DonSeer, Taunton says...
12:44pm Fri 19 Mar 10
xBraddersx, Wellington says...
2:22pm Fri 19 Mar 10
To personally attack the people in the Armed Forces and to say that a person who abuses young children is a better person then a dedicated professional stand up member of this country is unacceptable!
I would say that his best course of action is to apologise to myself and the rest of the Forces community for comparing us against those utterly disgusting people who abuse children.
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
3:05pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Mike1963, Eye says...
4:54pm Fri 19 Mar 10
No, you didn't ask any of those brave servicemen & women to fight, yet you'll no doubt enjoy the freedoms that such selfless actions will afford you. You suggest that they're no different to anyone else working elsewhere in the world and that 'occupational hazard' comes to mind. Oh yeah? Something tells me you wouldn't want to swap places with them though. Still, you keep talking nonsense. After all, someone fought for your freedom to do so - and you didn't ask them to do that either.
hayleigh, bridgwater says...
5:17pm Fri 19 Mar 10
I hope this man loses all of his business, bring back national services for the likes of this man.
gilesy25, taunton says...
6:29pm Fri 19 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin wrote:Our armed forces didn't ask to be sent to Iraq/Afghan, they were drafted there and didn't have a choice. Many like me joined up to be a part of something, pride, training and professionalism etc. not to play war everyday. I never went front line and I will admit that I'm not a hero, but the boys and girls right at the front line are. You didn't ask anyone to fight in WW1 or WW2, but the fact that you have your freedom means that surely you appreciate what our servicemen have done and are doing for you? It makes me feel sad knowing that if the poo really hits the fan, that our forces will be defending the like of you and mr winn.
Just because your in the, or have served in the forces does not make you a hero and the rest of us cowards.I am so sick of hearing crap about the forces laying there lifes on the line for me....I dint ask anyone to fight in the gulf , iraq or anywhere else it,s a job like any other...they know the risks! I great respect for the forces all over the world but there no different to any of us working in world anywhere else..ocupational hazard springs to mind!
Prendagast, Taunton says...
7:23am Sat 20 Mar 10
Both his parents were Mosley supporters, as he claims to be.
Mosley had a policy of 'Ireland's Right to Unite' and Winn takes this up to mean extreme Irish republicanism, which he espouses.
This extreme republicanism explains his hatred of British soldiers.
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
8:43am Sat 20 Mar 10
MissTaunton, Taunton says...
12:20pm Sat 20 Mar 10
gilesy25, taunton says...
1:18pm Sat 20 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin wrote:You haven't served so you wouldn't know anything about the pride you get from being in the forces! You are generalising the armed forces as young lads wielding weapons, what about the highly training soldiers, sailors and airmen with 20-30 years experience who have have completed degrees, nvq's additional training etc? I can't understand why you are against the current armed forces so much. I'm guessing you've had a bad experience with a young squaddie in the past, which I could completely understand given your attitude problem. Do you think that all the soldiers from WW1 and WW2 were angels? especially when some came home and found there wives, girlfriends or fiancées had cheated on them, I expect they were very democratic, sat down and had a chat.......I doubt it! Everyone has the idea that the lads in the forces today go out looking for a fight, when in fact a lot of the time it is the locals that see them as a challenge, I've experienced this in Plymouth, Portsmouth and Cornwall where the local population don't like outsiders, and I've also witnessed it in Taunton with 40 commando, but on the other side with young lads who want to have a pop at a marine. Your average soldier, sailor, airman will be a fine upstanding member of the community and like me will be able to land a good job, because most employers know what they are getting, not some university graduate that has never done a days work in his life,lived out of mummy and daddies wallet and gone out drinking every night. See I can generalise and make assumptions too!
@ mike and gilesy what are you talking about ...does a 17 year old pisshead fight for my freedom just because he or she is in the forces half of them are too stupid to know what they have signed up for....freedom yes but that came from the second world war where boys were men and pride was paramount.so dont give me crap about the forces today its a different ball park for the most.
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
4:18pm Sat 20 Mar 10
gilesy25, taunton says...
5:38pm Sat 20 Mar 10
roady1966, taunton says...
5:41pm Sat 20 Mar 10
St. Austell, TAUNTON says...
6:28pm Sat 20 Mar 10
As I have already stated some service persons have been observed to be hooligans who reflect poorly upon the UK and who I would not have wished to employ.
Mr. Winn may have been quoted out of context in his reference to the employment of former service personnel and may regret his enunciation. However I see no reason why he should not employ whoever he considers to be suitable for his employ as long as he demonstrates an “equitable” approach to recruitment.
gilesy25, taunton says...
7:30pm Sat 20 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
9:35pm Sat 20 Mar 10
MilkmanDave, Taunton says...
1:09am Sun 21 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
12:01pm Sun 21 Mar 10
gilesy25, taunton says...
12:32pm Sun 21 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
3:53pm Sun 21 Mar 10
gilesy25, taunton says...
4:22pm Sun 21 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
6:08pm Sun 21 Mar 10
British Soldier, Taunton says...
7:31pm Sun 21 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin wrote:Well Oxy seeing as you are so well educated to pick up other peoples typing errors - i think you should go back and look at some of your own howlers 'dint' know that was actually a word - did anyone else.
@milkmandave....it,s SPARRED!!! not spared now whos the moron..and you talk politics
And for the record I 'dint' ask to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Sierra Leone, I was sent there by the elected government of the day - probably the very people you voted for.
As for the 17 year old 'pissheads' as you put it - were you any better when you were that age? probably not, only they have a thing called mates and are resonably well paid so why not, they should be allowed to let their hair down seeing as what the elected government of the day has put them through!
And a final word on these 17 year olds (or should I say 18 year olds - we don't letthem on Operations until they are old enough to vote) they are the finest the country has to offer, I have seen young men and women hold it together when you would have probably been wetting your pants!
Oh and by the way we haven't used the SLR for about 20 years
Elspeth2, Somerset says...
10:04pm Sun 21 Mar 10
gilesy25, taunton says...
10:10pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Elspeth2 wrote:passion
Why is it nearly every debate on line in this newspaper ends up with name calling and insults? These comments started out as a honest discussion and have descended into name calling and insulting remarks.
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
6:51am Mon 22 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
7:16am Mon 22 Mar 10
somersetboy, taunton says...
8:40am Mon 22 Mar 10
Mariko, Taunton says...
10:31am Mon 22 Mar 10
Of course, if Mr Winn really does enjoy the company of paedophiles and drug dealers we should not begrudge him this pleasure!
*Flick*, Taunton says...
10:34am Mon 22 Mar 10
Somersetboy "they also cry a lot when they get wounded and want loads of compensation, its war they are in expect to get wounded or die."
Aren't you a lovely boy? So if you had an accident at work which left you unable to work again would you want compensation? I'm pretty sure you would. Lots do know they will get injured or worse, but they want to give their families a better chance to try to access whatever funds they can - most people would do this whatever walk of life they come from.
oxyheamaglobin - most of what you said is ridiculous, but of course it is your opinion =)
"and the other point by gilesy and co was that there fighting for my freedom, which is a load of crap to be quite honest" - a fine example (with another spelling mistake silly boy) If we didn't have the armed forces then I am pretty certain we would not have freedom, we would be wide open for an invasion of some sort. Terrorist attacks would be far more frequent and so on.
The point of the matter is that he should not have compared servicemen to paedophiles. This is an awful comment to make. I wonder how he would feel about it had one of his own children been abused, this is of course just an expample, I have no idea if this vile man does have children. It seems he has voiced his opinion at the wrong time to the wrong people and this will damage his business no end. And so it should. In this day and age we need to support our soldiers - the great majority to not believe they should be in Afghanistan - but they go as it is their job and they do as they are told. Yes some servicemen are rowdy and abusive, but so are some investment bankers I know. Everyone has it in them, it is just more obvious in a military town.
I am of course biased in my opinion as I am married to a Marine. I have met so many of his friends who are lovely, respectful men. On the other hand I have also encountered some very vile creatures also serving, but I am marue enough to understand that not everyone is like that.
It is a shame it has come to name calling etc, as I love a good debate. The reason I think these conversations get heated is the passion and belief behind our opinions, and it is right that we should stand up for ourselves and our beliefs. Just sometimes, in Mr Winns case it is best to keep them to yourself. He obviously has some deep rooted issues concerning our Troops and also the situations in Ireland. But on thing I will say is that if he hates our forces and government so much why doesn't he just go back to Ireland? He is a misserable excuse of a man.
*Flick*, Taunton says...
10:39am Mon 22 Mar 10
Oooops typo - I am MATURE enough =)
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
12:42pm Mon 22 Mar 10
roady1966, taunton says...
2:00pm Mon 22 Mar 10
*Flick*, Taunton says...
2:16pm Mon 22 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin, Not quite as stupid as you, although if you read back I never did call you stupid - you came up with that one all by yourself =).
And I am not on a crusade either, so I'm clearly missing your point....
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
4:41pm Mon 22 Mar 10
bemusedman, says...
4:45pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Gilesy, the fact that your very first post on this thread called me an idiot, combined with your unbelievably childish insertion of penis references into other peoples names, suggests to me that you have as much notion on "sensible debate" as Karl Winn does on tact and sensitivity.
And oxyhaemoglobin, there seems to be a pattern developing, where no matter what the topic is, as soon as you get involved in the debate you inevitably start the internet forum equivalent of a royal rumble.
What started out as quite a good debate over a hot topic has now descended into a slagging match and, quite frankly, it's boring.
British Soldier, Taunton says...
5:48pm Mon 22 Mar 10
oxyheamaglobin wrote:Like I said a typing error that's all, after all I'm only human!
@ british soldier...letthem? dont know that word either? we can all pick fault...the point being made that just because you have served in the forces which is a JOB does not entitle you to preferential treatment nor does it automatically qualify you to be a hero, and the other point by gilesy and co was that there fighting for my freedom, which is a load of crap to be quite honest. not since the days of ww2 has anyones freedom being under threat in this country.As for my remarks about young soldiers power drinking and causing fights ofcourse that does not happen because they are the finest of the fine.....oh and i dint drink until i was 22 which is when i left plymouth and it was safe to do so!
As for your freedom, and safety, if we didn't have people who were prepared to lay down their lives for the sake of the unthankful my guess it wouldn't belong before National Service would be brought back in again. Then God help us if the likes of you had to do your bit!!!!
It showed exactly what the unemployable people in this country were like in that programme about British people filling in for the immigrants, a bunch of lazy, benefit seeking spongers. At least with the Forces these are given some direction and discipline to get off of their backsides and do something about their situation and if an employment company is giving them a helping hand when they have left – good on them.
Just out of interest Oxy – what do you do for a living, judging by the times you have written your comments your either self employed, misemployed or unemployed, which one is it?
Taunton_chap, Taunton says...
9:32pm Mon 22 Mar 10
Its lucky for now we are not at threat of invasion because if the majority of people here are anything to go by we wouldn't be able to hold another invading nation.
*Flick*, Taunton says...
9:20am Tue 23 Mar 10
Ani200566, Taunton says...
12:41pm Tue 23 Mar 10
I cannot believe that this man has not broken any employment law by filtering applications and refusing to even consider an ex military person.
I am incensed that Mr Winn would consider and I quote "ex-drug dealers, convicts and even child molesters" over a law abiding ex military person.
He is either very short sighted or ignorant to the skills that military personnel possess. They are punctual, trustworthy, loyal, educated, accurate, considerate, courteous the list is endless!!! Why would he employ someone with any less than these attributes. He must consider rehabilitation of offenders over the profitability and growth of his company and perhaps he has so much money he doesn't care!!!!
I wouldn't be surprised if his employees all sort other employment rather than be taken down by this man's unpatriotic and narrow minded point of view. In fact if I worked for that company I'd be embarrassed to say I worked there!
Karl Winn
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Elspeth2, Somerset says...
9:26am Wed 17 Mar 10
I do not support the war in Afghanistan but if I was an employer I would employ an ex service man.
The frightening thing is there are many people out there who agree with him (albeit from the written comment not spoken word) you only have to look at the comments posted where this story has been reported.