4 ms·

Sounds like the solution is to come down hard on Agent Provocateurs. You're victim blaming big-time. They're on the receiving end of bullshit and cannot opt ou

Sounds like the solution is to come down hard on Agent Provocateurs. You're victim blaming big-time. They're on the receiving end of bullshit and cannot opt out of it, but we'll condemn them for fucking up their response? I'm the most cool-headed person I know and I had to talk a neighbor down from kicking my ass on camera (and in front of my own child) just yesterday. It took a superhuman amount of restraint to not even raise my voice because the adrenaline factory was in overdrive on both sides, gearing up for a fight. The provocateur has an unfair advantage-- the element of uncertainty. Only they know they're not they're going to escalate. Defense is a losing game; it only takes one failure to anticipate a threat before you're dead or unconscious. In order to stay so calm, I had to embrace the possibility that I might actually -die- in that encounter if the guy pulled out a knife. I was armed myself, but didn't draw so as not to escalate. It's a position of vulnerability I should never have had to put myself in. Once the adrenaline rush subsided, I had to go take a fucking nap. Cops don't get that option; they're immediately dispatched to deal with the next asshole.

thomastjeffery 3y ago
Bullshit. Police can quit anytime. If you can't keep a level head as a police officer, then you are failing to uphold the oath you swore. Full stop. Police have the unfair advantage: power. With power comes responsibility. We must hold those in power accountable for that responsibility. Every person who interacts with a police officer has to deal with the element of uncertainty you are talking about. We give police loaded firearms. We give them handcuffs. We give them dogs. We give them combat training. We all know just how wrong it can go, and just how quickly. We are not allowed to leave! People are getting murdered in the US by police, and those police are often not held to justice. There is an imbalance of both power and responsibility here that lives as a constant looming threat over many of us. It's time to change this story, and that change must begin with police.
- jstarfish 3y ago
  > Police have the unfair advantage: power. Yes. That is by design. Doormats don't make for a useful police force. > Every person who interacts with a police officer has to deal with the element of uncertainty you are talking about. No, actually. You're familiar with their capabilities and the rules within which they lawfully (and unlawfully) operate. Intelligence is clearly on your side. There is no "uncertainty" when it comes to police; you seem to know exactly what to expect and how to manipulate them into any particular outcome enough to be able to exploit it on camera. That is the antithesis of uncertainty. If there were uncertainty, people would be too afraid to fuck with them like this. It's certain you can safely do this. Cooperation tends to work pretty well for most people. Belligerence escalates the situation. Be the change you want to see.
  - thomastjeffery 3y ago
    Tell it to Mike Brown. Tell it to George Floyd. Tell it to Breonna Taylor. Oh, that's right: you can't. The very best of police can't either. Belligerence is escalating the situation of someone recording you. Belligerence is escalating the situation of someone yelling at you. Belligerence is threatening to assault and kidnap any person who doesn't behave precisely as you command. I expect every police officer to be the change they swore an oath to be. No less.
ceejayoz 3y ago
> They're on the receiving end of bullshit and cannot opt out of it, but we'll condemn them for fucking up their response? Cops can absolutely opt out of it. It's not a race, it's a job. If you're a cop and you can't deal with annoying members of the public without violating their Constitutional rights, you aren't in the right job.
tehwebguy 3y ago
Every single person with a job “cannot out opt out of it“ like you’re saying. Everyone who’s ever worked retail has dealt with awful customers (for a lot less money and mostly zero union protection). I see this inappropriate defense of police all the time but the truth is police who can’t handle someone being unkind (but not physical or unlawful) without violating their rights are not fit to have a gun, badge and special powers.

thomastjeffery 3y ago

Bullshit. Police can quit anytime. If you can't keep a level head as a police officer, then you are failing to uphold the oath you swore. Full stop. Police have the unfair advantage: power. With power comes responsibility. We must hold those in power accountable for that responsibility. Every person who interacts with a police officer has to deal with the element of uncertainty you are talking about. We give police loaded firearms. We give them handcuffs. We give them dogs. We give them combat training. We all know just how wrong it can go, and just how quickly. We are not allowed to leave! People are getting murdered in the US by police, and those police are often not held to justice. There is an imbalance of both power and responsibility here that lives as a constant looming threat over many of us. It's time to change this story, and that change must begin with police.

jstarfish 3y ago
> Police have the unfair advantage: power. Yes. That is by design. Doormats don't make for a useful police force. > Every person who interacts with a police officer has to deal with the element of uncertainty you are talking about. No, actually. You're familiar with their capabilities and the rules within which they lawfully (and unlawfully) operate. Intelligence is clearly on your side. There is no "uncertainty" when it comes to police; you seem to know exactly what to expect and how to manipulate them into any particular outcome enough to be able to exploit it on camera. That is the antithesis of uncertainty. If there were uncertainty, people would be too afraid to fuck with them like this. It's certain you can safely do this. Cooperation tends to work pretty well for most people. Belligerence escalates the situation. Be the change you want to see.
- thomastjeffery 3y ago
  Tell it to Mike Brown. Tell it to George Floyd. Tell it to Breonna Taylor. Oh, that's right: you can't. The very best of police can't either. Belligerence is escalating the situation of someone recording you. Belligerence is escalating the situation of someone yelling at you. Belligerence is threatening to assault and kidnap any person who doesn't behave precisely as you command. I expect every police officer to be the change they swore an oath to be. No less.

ceejayoz 3y ago

> They're on the receiving end of bullshit and cannot opt out of it, but we'll condemn them for fucking up their response? Cops can absolutely opt out of it. It's not a race, it's a job. If you're a cop and you can't deal with annoying members of the public without violating their Constitutional rights, you aren't in the right job.

tehwebguy 3y ago

Every single person with a job “cannot out opt out of it“ like you’re saying. Everyone who’s ever worked retail has dealt with awful customers (for a lot less money and mostly zero union protection). I see this inappropriate defense of police all the time but the truth is police who can’t handle someone being unkind (but not physical or unlawful) without violating their rights are not fit to have a gun, badge and special powers.