4 ms·

Not sure what to say to that. If some idiot shows up in your neighborhood and starts beating on your kids, you're not going to call the police because they "sh

Not sure what to say to that. If some idiot shows up in your neighborhood and starts beating on your kids, you're not going to call the police because they "shoot journalists"? The police aren't perfect, but we need them, and they need us. Nobody can just walk away.

kyuudou 6y ago
Police just enforce laws.
- pmiller2 6y ago
  If that's all they did, black people wouldn't have to teach their kids how not to get killed when interacting with the cops.
  - kyuudou 6y ago
    Agreed, they also abuse their unconstitutional power. I'm just saying, they don't "protect and serve". They are just an armed force for the legal establishment.
pmiller2 6y ago
That depends. Are my kids journalists covering a protest? I don't need bands of state-sanctioned armed thugs roaming my neighborhood. But, yes, if the situation warrants it, and the risk is low enough, I will call police in the situation you posit. I should note, however, that I am white. Were I black, I would have to put some extra thought into that decision.
- dpoochieni 6y ago
  If the risk were higher?
  - pmiller2 6y ago
    That depends. What is the relative risk of injury to my hypothetical children from this random "idiot" versus the cops? What is my risk from said "idiot" and the cops? Keep in mind that these risks change dramatically if you replace me, a white male, with a black male. Black people literally have to teach their children how not to get killed by police. The only thing my parents ever told me about cops was to go find one if I was lost and couldn't find my way home.
- downerending 6y ago
  Where I live, the police that showed up would likely all be black. Are you saying I should reconsider calling them? I'm repelled by that idea.
  - pmiller2 6y ago
    Show me your local department's statistics on police brutality, and I'll let you know what I think. If you want an even better opinion, tell me your race and the races of any victims.

kyuudou 6y ago

Police just enforce laws.

pmiller2 6y ago
If that's all they did, black people wouldn't have to teach their kids how not to get killed when interacting with the cops.
- kyuudou 6y ago
  Agreed, they also abuse their unconstitutional power. I'm just saying, they don't "protect and serve". They are just an armed force for the legal establishment.

pmiller2 6y ago

That depends. Are my kids journalists covering a protest? I don't need bands of state-sanctioned armed thugs roaming my neighborhood. But, yes, if the situation warrants it, and the risk is low enough, I will call police in the situation you posit. I should note, however, that I am white. Were I black, I would have to put some extra thought into that decision.

dpoochieni 6y ago
If the risk were higher?
- pmiller2 6y ago
  That depends. What is the relative risk of injury to my hypothetical children from this random "idiot" versus the cops? What is my risk from said "idiot" and the cops? Keep in mind that these risks change dramatically if you replace me, a white male, with a black male. Black people literally have to teach their children how not to get killed by police. The only thing my parents ever told me about cops was to go find one if I was lost and couldn't find my way home.
downerending 6y ago
Where I live, the police that showed up would likely all be black. Are you saying I should reconsider calling them? I'm repelled by that idea.
- pmiller2 6y ago
  Show me your local department's statistics on police brutality, and I'll let you know what I think. If you want an even better opinion, tell me your race and the races of any victims.