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> I have been in the middle of protests when I worked for Reuters and the difference between peaceful and violent is very tiny. Can you spot the difference bet

> I have been in the middle of protests when I worked for Reuters and the difference between peaceful and violent is very tiny. Can you spot the difference between an African and European swallow? I bet you can't. But a professional bird watcher could tell them apart in a second. Same thing with protestors. When I was active I could easily tell the difference between someone potentially violent and someone peaceful. Woman with a stroller - probably peaceful. Person in all black with a large backpack - potentially violent. Admittedly, this was many years ago but I don't think rioters are any harder to spot these days. Thing is, most riots are planned and not spontaneous events. Troublemakers infiltrate the crowds and try to cause confrontations with the police. The police reacts with heavy handedness causing those who are peaceful to sympathize with the troublemakers. More of them join the troublemakers side causing more confrontations and eventually it spirals out of control. The simple solution to this problem is for the police to target the troublemakers and to let the peaceful protestors be. It actually is that easy because organizers almost always knows who the troublemakers are and would share that info with the police. But the police isn't interested. I suspect that is because by and large they love riots just as much as the rioters.

seunosewa 6y ago
Could the organizers arrange for citizens arrests of the troublemakers by the peaceful majority? Like asking them to leave and having them restrained by the peaceful majority if they refuse?
- ncallaway 6y ago
  This literally happens. This guy was detained by protestors and handed over to the police: https://twitter.com/s_Allahverdi/status/1267240521052946432 https://twitter.com/s_Allahverdi/status/1267240521052946432 Many protest organizers are constantly trying to identify troublemakers and stop them.
RhysU 6y ago
> When I was active I could easily tell the difference between someone potentially violent and someone peaceful. Woman with a stroller - probably peaceful. Person in all black with a large backpack - potentially violent. Wait for it... > The simple solution to this problem is for the police to target the troublemakers and to let the peaceful protestors be. You are suggesting that the police should profile individuals based on their appearance?
- hef19898 6y ago
  I think you are purposefully misreading the comment. There are ways to differentiate, mom with kid, old man vs. young guy in black clothes with a backpack. I think I know what you want to imply, but did you note the complete absence of race or colour in OPs comment? And alos the completely different circumstances, crowd control vs. standard law enforcement?
  - RhysU 6y ago
    I am not purposefully misreading. I am reading. I was gobsmacked by how ironic the proposal was and felt compelled to point it out. To show that this stuff is hard even when folks are entirely well-meaning. I did notice the absence of race or color and you will note my comment does not include any notion of race. You added race. I did note judging by appearance. You added age, out of nowhere. Using appearance to treat people differently is profiling, though not always racial profiling. Should non-racial profiling be okay? To your inclusion of age, should we treat gatherings of youth differently than gatherings of the elderly? The GP says "...for the police to target...". No distinction is made between crowd control and standard law enforcement.
    - xphilter 6y ago
      It reads to be that you’re being purposely obtuse. Any security is going to take into account the appearance of a person. Undoubtedly you understand what that means in practice in America—-that appearance has been boiled down to just race: “be on the lookout for a black man.” It’s lazy and should be called out so that police are forced to do work and learn the difference between a non-violent angry person and a violent angry person in a crowd.
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seunosewa 6y ago

Could the organizers arrange for citizens arrests of the troublemakers by the peaceful majority? Like asking them to leave and having them restrained by the peaceful majority if they refuse?

ncallaway 6y ago
This literally happens. This guy was detained by protestors and handed over to the police: https://twitter.com/s_Allahverdi/status/1267240521052946432 https://twitter.com/s_Allahverdi/status/1267240521052946432 Many protest organizers are constantly trying to identify troublemakers and stop them.

RhysU 6y ago

> When I was active I could easily tell the difference between someone potentially violent and someone peaceful. Woman with a stroller - probably peaceful. Person in all black with a large backpack - potentially violent. Wait for it... > The simple solution to this problem is for the police to target the troublemakers and to let the peaceful protestors be. You are suggesting that the police should profile individuals based on their appearance?

hef19898 6y ago
I think you are purposefully misreading the comment. There are ways to differentiate, mom with kid, old man vs. young guy in black clothes with a backpack. I think I know what you want to imply, but did you note the complete absence of race or colour in OPs comment? And alos the completely different circumstances, crowd control vs. standard law enforcement?
- RhysU 6y ago
  I am not purposefully misreading. I am reading. I was gobsmacked by how ironic the proposal was and felt compelled to point it out. To show that this stuff is hard even when folks are entirely well-meaning. I did notice the absence of race or color and you will note my comment does not include any notion of race. You added race. I did note judging by appearance. You added age, out of nowhere. Using appearance to treat people differently is profiling, though not always racial profiling. Should non-racial profiling be okay? To your inclusion of age, should we treat gatherings of youth differently than gatherings of the elderly? The GP says "...for the police to target...". No distinction is made between crowd control and standard law enforcement.
  - xphilter 6y ago
    It reads to be that you’re being purposely obtuse. Any security is going to take into account the appearance of a person. Undoubtedly you understand what that means in practice in America—-that appearance has been boiled down to just race: “be on the lookout for a black man.” It’s lazy and should be called out so that police are forced to do work and learn the difference between a non-violent angry person and a violent angry person in a crowd.
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