3 ms·

"Even going to the tape, though, is not always enough. The mother of the guy in the Santa suit maintained that the police should’ve taken her son, who eventuall

by mlrtime 12y ago

"Even going to the tape, though, is not always enough. The mother of the guy in the Santa suit maintained that the police should’ve taken her son, who eventually passed out, back to his room, not to jail. Recounting the story, Mr. Williamson looks momentarily exasperated. He tried to explain, he says, that her son was safer sleeping off his drunkenness under supervision." It seems the LEOs cannot win when dealing with a mother who 'knows best'

cowardlydragon 12y ago
Well, considering he's one of the three people arrested per weekend out of "thousands"... it's arbitrary and ineffective.
- mmanfrin 12y ago
  Three people arrested for doing things considered over the top (e.g. passed out on a park bench, breaking in to a dorm of the opposite sex) out of thousands of drinkers -- who they do not enforce drinking laws on.
saalweachter 12y ago
I'd chalk it up to the squeaky wheel problem. There are a huge number of situations where there are two sets of rules or prices or options, one for most people and one for people who complain once. If you're a sucker, you pay retail. If you make the slightest effort to haggle, you can save money. You can bargain your traffic tickets down to non-moving violations for fewer points off your license and a smaller fine. If you complain at a hotel you might get a free spa pass. If you have overdue library books, you can sometimes sweet talk the librarian into waiving your fine. If you ask for a raise, you might get it. There are a huge number of situations where -- by making the slightest protest -- you can sometimes save a bit of time or money or get something for nothing, and moreover there is usually no penalty for trying. I don't think this mother was doing anything different: she may not think her child is a special flower, but she has learned through much experience in life that it never hurts to ask for special treatment, because you sometimes get it.

by mlrtime 12y ago

cowardlydragon 12y ago

Well, considering he's one of the three people arrested per weekend out of "thousands"... it's arbitrary and ineffective.

mmanfrin 12y ago
Three people arrested for doing things considered over the top (e.g. passed out on a park bench, breaking in to a dorm of the opposite sex) out of thousands of drinkers -- who they do not enforce drinking laws on.

saalweachter 12y ago

I'd chalk it up to the squeaky wheel problem. There are a huge number of situations where there are two sets of rules or prices or options, one for most people and one for people who complain once. If you're a sucker, you pay retail. If you make the slightest effort to haggle, you can save money. You can bargain your traffic tickets down to non-moving violations for fewer points off your license and a smaller fine. If you complain at a hotel you might get a free spa pass. If you have overdue library books, you can sometimes sweet talk the librarian into waiving your fine. If you ask for a raise, you might get it. There are a huge number of situations where -- by making the slightest protest -- you can sometimes save a bit of time or money or get something for nothing, and moreover there is usually no penalty for trying. I don't think this mother was doing anything different: she may not think her child is a special flower, but she has learned through much experience in life that it never hurts to ask for special treatment, because you sometimes get it.