3 ms·

As a white male, I've routinely been disrespected and stopped extraneously in California, Massachusetts, and New York, without further ticketing or incident, ju

by serf 12y ago

As a white male, I've routinely been disrespected and stopped extraneously in California, Massachusetts, and New York, without further ticketing or incident, just merely as a form of harassment. I'm inclined to believe that gender and race have little to do with the dealings of a power-hungry organization, and even more inclined to believe that personal (anecdotal) race/age/gender has even less to do with understanding the power-grab that's going on between military groups and the rapidly growing 'paramilitary' that people seem to believe various PDs are growing into.

justinsteele 12y ago
As a white male, I disagree with your belief that race has little to do with police interactions. http://www.nyclu.org/content/stop-and-frisk-data http://www.nyclu.org/content/stop-and-frisk-data There is much, much more data as well. It's rather frightening that it has taken this long for us to do anything about it.
- serf 12y ago
  You're misunderstanding my intended point. I meant to illuminate the fact that a person of the same race and creed can have vastly different (anecdotal) experiences. The link you provided shows me two things : Ethnic groups are the chunk of victims (I know this, and it's terrible), and the numbers are rising. I want my focus to be on that second point. Police are acting out of bounds in recent history. The racial problem is not new. I don't condone it, and it's terrible, but the times' are changing, and police are a problem now for everyone regardless of the racial split. The percentages may stay somewhat static, but check out the difference illustrated by that link in sheer numbers over time! Yes, ethnic groups are disproportionately targeted, but yes, everyone is being targeted for these searches with greater frequency now.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
johnlong 12y ago
"As a white male, I've routinely been disrespected and stopped extraneously in California, Massachusetts, and New York, without further ticketing or incident, just merely as a form of harassment." How do you people manage to have so many interactions with the police? I'm 29, white, living in San Francisco for five years, grew up in London. I have literally never even spoke to a police officer in my entire life.
- serf 12y ago
  Go to places where it's unavoidable. Courthouses, high security events, political rallies. Any place where the consensus is that they "need to keep the peace". Live in a place that is considered high crime by the surrounding communities. Be a different color/religion/orientation/gender than the police officer nearest you. Be financially distraught. Be poor, and have no where to live. Live flashy within the law. Drive a fast looking car. Paint it red. Put some loud (but entirely legal) exhaust system on it. Lower it to the limits of legality, and put some big chrome wheels on it. Be empathetic and understanding towards criminals and the reasons they became labeled as such. That's the best way to meet a police officer, probably. I've never said something this honest to another individual on hacker news before : I envy you who can avoid the police. I'm not familiar with London, but it's miraculous here in the states.

by serf 12y ago

justinsteele 12y ago

As a white male, I disagree with your belief that race has little to do with police interactions. http://www.nyclu.org/content/stop-and-frisk-data http://www.nyclu.org/content/stop-and-frisk-data There is much, much more data as well. It's rather frightening that it has taken this long for us to do anything about it.

serf 12y ago
You're misunderstanding my intended point. I meant to illuminate the fact that a person of the same race and creed can have vastly different (anecdotal) experiences. The link you provided shows me two things : Ethnic groups are the chunk of victims (I know this, and it's terrible), and the numbers are rising. I want my focus to be on that second point. Police are acting out of bounds in recent history. The racial problem is not new. I don't condone it, and it's terrible, but the times' are changing, and police are a problem now for everyone regardless of the racial split. The percentages may stay somewhat static, but check out the difference illustrated by that link in sheer numbers over time! Yes, ethnic groups are disproportionately targeted, but yes, everyone is being targeted for these searches with greater frequency now.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

johnlong 12y ago

"As a white male, I've routinely been disrespected and stopped extraneously in California, Massachusetts, and New York, without further ticketing or incident, just merely as a form of harassment." How do you people manage to have so many interactions with the police? I'm 29, white, living in San Francisco for five years, grew up in London. I have literally never even spoke to a police officer in my entire life.

serf 12y ago
Go to places where it's unavoidable. Courthouses, high security events, political rallies. Any place where the consensus is that they "need to keep the peace". Live in a place that is considered high crime by the surrounding communities. Be a different color/religion/orientation/gender than the police officer nearest you. Be financially distraught. Be poor, and have no where to live. Live flashy within the law. Drive a fast looking car. Paint it red. Put some loud (but entirely legal) exhaust system on it. Lower it to the limits of legality, and put some big chrome wheels on it. Be empathetic and understanding towards criminals and the reasons they became labeled as such. That's the best way to meet a police officer, probably. I've never said something this honest to another individual on hacker news before : I envy you who can avoid the police. I'm not familiar with London, but it's miraculous here in the states.