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We don’t need the confessions, we have video evidence. Save it.

salawat 6y ago
If you cannot accept contrition when it comes, even if too late for your tastes, you're just as bad as those you detest, and complicit in perpetuating the same cycle of sin. If you want to lay claim to the moral high ground, you still have to actually act as one that must that inhabits it. Not merely abstain from the extrema of behavior of those you deem lessers through their actions. It's refreshing to at least have one admit it, and you should be thrilled to see that even now, sentiment amongst those you consider guilty is turning them toward the path of redemption. Unless, again, you're just as bad as they are, and you're just looking to change the subjects of suffering in the world instead of reducing the overall amount. It isn't exactly an uncommon personality trait. So at least you're in good company if that is the case.
- runawaybottle 6y ago
  My critique is mostly tactical, as in, I am literally saying ‘we don’t need you in this discussion anymore, even to provide insight’. This is something that can happen after egregious patterns over time. It is a valid consequence. There’s almost nothing they have to lend to the debate anymore, those opportunities existed for ages. We’ll fix this without them. My stance on this is as valid as their need to have a say. If this stance is a problem that ails the world, that’s fine, it a better problem than what comes with whatever police have to express at this point. It’s a better problem. Edit: I just want to add, the cop is also admitting to crimes. Is the modern blog post ornamentation? Where you can dress yourself up in absolution? Wonderful you put it in blog form. We have no time for it, plus your guilty of crimes. How poetic.
  - mjlawson 6y ago
    Tactically, I disagree with you. You are not the target demographic. When you speak of "we," you do not speak for me, and I'd argue that you don't speak for many people who may find value in this post. Ethically, I also disagree with you. There must be a path back from misconduct in order for us to incentivize change. If people who turn in their badges because of a change of heart, who leave their clan only to be told that they're not welcome, why should they?
  - mthoms 6y ago
    >we don’t need you in this discussion anymore, even to provide insight I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows. >If this stance is a problem that ails the world, that’s fine, it a better problem than what comes with whatever police have to express at this point. I feel like I read an entirely different piece than you did... the author is not a police officer. He's a former police officer who seems to have genuinely come to hate the profession as much as anybody. Edit: To clarify, I agree with the notion that the system is broken. Which is why we absolutely should be listening to (former) cops who acknowledge its failures. That is, assuming this post is legit of course. I'm inclined to think it is, but in this day and age who knows.
    - Melting_Harps 6y ago
      > I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows. Then its clear you have been the fortunate few who have never had to be subjected to the perverse legal system in the US, or spent any time in low income areas where those tactics are 'business as usual' in what is referred to as policing. This is the norm, shows like The Wire or even Treme (both made by the same director) are just as much documentaries and exposes as they are entertainment. The latter skewing into some sort of misery porn. And to be honest, given this is Hacker News, that doesn't surprise me. I just wonder if it ever occurred to you what the plight of those immense amount of homeless people is, and what happens to them when they're no longer in sight? > I feel like I read an entirely different piece than you did... the author is not a police officer. He's a former police officer who seems to have genuinely come to hate the profession as much as anybody. Again, proving the point that this is not something that has only just occurred out of no-where, but is seemingly systemic in the very system we're discussing. Again, no one involved with any activism is surprised by what just occurred with Police, we've all seen it up close and been subject to it, its what you understand going into them. What was remarkable was how surprised the rest of you were towards them, and how often people are still quick to rationalize their behaviour. This is what authoritarian regimes do, they bolster the police to enforce political decree, not Law. Look at Hong Kong, its way more pervasive than you think and it stems from the same thing.

If you cannot accept contrition when it comes, even if too late for your tastes, you're just as bad as those you detest, and complicit in perpetuating the same cycle of sin. If you want to lay claim to the moral high ground, you still have to actually act as one that must that inhabits it. Not merely abstain from the extrema of behavior of those you deem lessers through their actions. It's refreshing to at least have one admit it, and you should be thrilled to see that even now, sentiment amongst those you consider guilty is turning them toward the path of redemption. Unless, again, you're just as bad as they are, and you're just looking to change the subjects of suffering in the world instead of reducing the overall amount. It isn't exactly an uncommon personality trait. So at least you're in good company if that is the case.

runawaybottle 6y ago
My critique is mostly tactical, as in, I am literally saying ‘we don’t need you in this discussion anymore, even to provide insight’. This is something that can happen after egregious patterns over time. It is a valid consequence. There’s almost nothing they have to lend to the debate anymore, those opportunities existed for ages. We’ll fix this without them. My stance on this is as valid as their need to have a say. If this stance is a problem that ails the world, that’s fine, it a better problem than what comes with whatever police have to express at this point. It’s a better problem. Edit: I just want to add, the cop is also admitting to crimes. Is the modern blog post ornamentation? Where you can dress yourself up in absolution? Wonderful you put it in blog form. We have no time for it, plus your guilty of crimes. How poetic.
- mjlawson 6y ago
  Tactically, I disagree with you. You are not the target demographic. When you speak of "we," you do not speak for me, and I'd argue that you don't speak for many people who may find value in this post. Ethically, I also disagree with you. There must be a path back from misconduct in order for us to incentivize change. If people who turn in their badges because of a change of heart, who leave their clan only to be told that they're not welcome, why should they?
- mthoms 6y ago
  >we don’t need you in this discussion anymore, even to provide insight I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows. >If this stance is a problem that ails the world, that’s fine, it a better problem than what comes with whatever police have to express at this point. I feel like I read an entirely different piece than you did... the author is not a police officer. He's a former police officer who seems to have genuinely come to hate the profession as much as anybody. Edit: To clarify, I agree with the notion that the system is broken. Which is why we absolutely should be listening to (former) cops who acknowledge its failures. That is, assuming this post is legit of course. I'm inclined to think it is, but in this day and age who knows.
  - Melting_Harps 6y ago
    > I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows. Then its clear you have been the fortunate few who have never had to be subjected to the perverse legal system in the US, or spent any time in low income areas where those tactics are 'business as usual' in what is referred to as policing. This is the norm, shows like The Wire or even Treme (both made by the same director) are just as much documentaries and exposes as they are entertainment. The latter skewing into some sort of misery porn. And to be honest, given this is Hacker News, that doesn't surprise me. I just wonder if it ever occurred to you what the plight of those immense amount of homeless people is, and what happens to them when they're no longer in sight? > I feel like I read an entirely different piece than you did... the author is not a police officer. He's a former police officer who seems to have genuinely come to hate the profession as much as anybody. Again, proving the point that this is not something that has only just occurred out of no-where, but is seemingly systemic in the very system we're discussing. Again, no one involved with any activism is surprised by what just occurred with Police, we've all seen it up close and been subject to it, its what you understand going into them. What was remarkable was how surprised the rest of you were towards them, and how often people are still quick to rationalize their behaviour. This is what authoritarian regimes do, they bolster the police to enforce political decree, not Law. Look at Hong Kong, its way more pervasive than you think and it stems from the same thing.