Atlanta Police Chief resigns after Black Man shot

a reply to: TheRedneck

Yep.

Brooks is why one of us always stayed sober while we were in college if we were out. If we were in, the agreement was that no one left once the booze came out.

It's why my cousin and the other parents around have an "agreement" that if the kids get into it, then they can stay at one parents' or another's, no harm no foul, everyone gets home safe the next day, and that's when the discussions can begin. But the parents stay on top of it and let it be known that home is always a safe space for that rather than kegging it in the country like so many do.

a reply to: face23785

You can call anything whatever you like Face.

It's not at all naive (on my part or anyone's) to believe that a Black American today is afraid of the police in general.

It doesn't mean you have to agree that it's a valid fear, it just means it exists. Therefore, if you're trying to deny that folks reacting out of fear alway make rational decisions ... I won't be able to help you ... that seems illogical to me just as surely as believing that all cops want to kill Black folks.

It's a fallacy of category.

a reply to: Gryphon66

I think its a lot more nuanced than this.. But whats the angle if it isnt a valid fear?

I dont see any possible conversation happening that isnt based around literally everything being racism. I think thats a real problem if it isnt the sole and exclusive reason for any and all problems.

Im willing to consider Im wrong, but I see more issues at play. I do see systemic bigotry, but I think its closer to class based than anything. Id call it "Club based," but that might dilute the conversation a bit.

a reply to: TheRedneck

Was the "widow" at the press conference the one he was abusive towards?

originally posted by: Gryphon66

It's not at all naive (on my part or anyone's) to believe that a Black American today is afraid of the police in general.

It doesn't mean you have to agree that it's a valid fear, it just means it exists.

Ah, the ole bait and switch.

Nowhere did I say that it's naive to think a black American could be afraid of police. Nor did I say whether I believe that or not, or whether it's a valid fear.

What I said was that the belief that this man resisted arrest and became violent due to that fear is naive. He was perfectly calm around these police that you think he's deathly afraid of until they went to cuff him. The family's attorney keeps noting how calm he was early on in the video. That's not someone who is thinking "Oooooh my god these white cops are gonna KILL me!!!"

a reply to: Serdgiam

Well, now you're asking for a philosophical answer ... here's the only way I can answer briefly.

Race, gender, sex, religion, etc. cannot be points of discrimination in acts of the government because of the Fifth, Fourteenth, Civil Rights Acts and other legislation. We call this protection our "civil rights" and these restrictions have also been applied to individuals and corporations in varyiing degrees. (Making it a civil issue rather than criminal per se.)

Identity politics (both Republican and Democrat) have worked to shatter the idea of "civil rights" by focusing on every subset and fractional category of personality and qualities. This is a trend that needs to be corrected.

I have rights as a human being and as an American. Those are the only rights I need.

a reply to: face23785

Ever been arrested?

If so, what was your mental state during the process?

originally posted by: Gryphon66
a reply to: face23785

Ever been arrested?

If so, what was your mental state during the process?

Yes.

Very calm. Complied with all their instructions. Had zero issues.

I grew up in a small town, where cops are bored out of their minds and just dying for an excuse. It's not uncommon to see 2 or 3 of the town patrol cars lined up behind someone who got pulled over for speeding. You didn't have to be a particular color to have a bad run in with a cop. I grew up and went to school with lots of white guys who had bad experiences with cops.

originally posted by: ketsuko
This is veering wildly out of control, and it ends up nowhere good if people don't start to put their feet down on it soon.

When you focus on the ugliness that's cropping up here and there ... when you forget to look out the window and see that it's fairly still outside ...

It's easy to say, "This is as bad as anything I saw over in the Middle East. Not as bad as Somalia ... but, getting there right quick."

I still think the attention is mostly to influence the upcoming elections. Some people though ... they're ready to step across a line there's no way to get back to again. Saw a kid thinking stoopid thoughts this past weekend ... he just didn't have the experience. Those people losing their bearing in a restaurant should know better.

a reply to: face23785

Good for you. I agree that's the wisest course.

I was arrested in college for DUI. I wasn't seriously drunk, but I was over the legal limit.

I was fine up until I was cuffed, and then something snapped. I didn't fight the cops, thankfully, but I was screaming.

The cops ignored me and put me in the cruiser, and by the time I got to the station, I was fine.

Folks are different.

a reply to: Snarl

My corner of the country may be relatively quiet. They couldn't even muster much in the way of a riot here, just a couple hundred who were easily controlled by the police, but the wider currents are disturbing. Anytime you see people in danger of losing jobs for not agreeing enough with BLM is scary.

Being told that "silence if violence" is scary. Now it's not enough to simply hold your tongue and not say anything like it was before.

Every time we have a national purge like this, the stakes for those who disagree, even a bit escalate.

Screaming in someone's face is a restaurant is assault, not free speech.

Harrassing someone having dinner with their family is illegal, not free speech.

Wherever it happens.

As long as we hold that consistent across the board, we're fine, no need for the hyperbolic "national purge" rhetoric.

a reply to: Gryphon66

If we defund the cops, who's going to enforce that?

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: Gryphon66

If we defund the cops, who's going to enforce that?

I'm in favor of "defunding" most of government, LOL.

The reality is police departments will be with us.

Anything else is merely a narrative point on both political extremes.

a reply to: Gryphon66

Why does it exist though? Is it being taught or is it learned or is it both?

originally posted by: TheRedneck
a reply to: Grimpachi

Tucker isn't doing so well because his sponsors are dropping him.

Ah, so you only pay attention to people who pander to sponsors? Got it. Money rules; truth is that which is profitable, amirite?

TheRedneck

I don't pay attention to any of them I don't even own a TV but I did see in a news feed that Tucker is losing sponsors and a brief explanation for why. If he is one of the personalities that you like to watch it has got to be tough finding out there is a backlash.

a reply to: Grimpachi

I have no opinion on Tucker, other than I can't stand people who wear bow ties and it makes me want to punch him.

Beyond that however....sponsors anymore pull support because of a perception of issue. Used to be you had to get thousands of folks calling the company to get them to pull support. Now...you just need to get that 10% of America (on either side) to act like asses over something.

Im not religious, but have had some moments of panic over the Chik Fil A thing. I like their sandwich, and don't want to see wokescolds shout them into oblivion when that opinion is obviously a minority.

originally posted by: matafuchs
a reply to: Gryphon66

Why does it exist though? Is it being taught or is it learned or is it both?

I'm sure there's a constellation of "reasons" ... but I'll tell you, if I were Black and I'd only seen the Floyd murder, I'd be very very wary of any police.

As with everything in the modern world, we're embedded in the race question (there is racism, there is no racism) 24/7.

a reply to: Gryphon66

Im a white guy. Im wary of the police. because anybody can be a target of someone having a bad day, or someone who is just an asshole. it happened to me.

Im not hard on cops for any reason other than my own personal experiences.

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
a reply to: Gryphon66

Im a white guy. Im wary of the police. because anybody can be a target of someone having a bad day, or someone who is just an asshole. it happened to me.

Im not hard on cops for any reason other than my own personal experiences.

Well, honestly, I haven't understood why the majority of good cops don't regularly bring down "guild law" on the bad ones. Sadly, the exceptions in any profession seem to come from the fact of our overly litigious society.

Psych evaluations, etc. may help weed out the dross ... but ... I think we may have to face the idea that a good cop and a bad cop are usually only differentiated by where they personally draw the line. The mentality of being in law enforcement requires a certain authoritarian tendency.

No easy answers at this stage of the game.