Police Personality Issues?

What happens to the Law Enforcement Officers that join ATS?

At least two of the members that have stated they are current or former Law Enforcement have "went away" in the recent past.

Now I have gotten in some very heated and controversial debates, but I don't think I have ever come close to being kicked out.. YET.. LOL

I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas on the mind set, attitude or personality traits that cause a Law Enforcement professional to have difficulties posting and following the T and C here at ATS...

And PLEASE, I am not "fishing" for cop haters just to get into another heated debate, so please if all you have to say is a hate comment, I ask that you refrain. I will not defend my profession on this thread, that is not my purpose...

I am asking because I would like to know what others think about the posting style, attitudes and opinions expressed by Law Enforcement Officers they have encountered on here..

Thanks...

Semper

You're a sick, twisted puppy, and you must look like your avatar.

I always wanted to say that to a cop, and not get a ticket! Damn, now I feel fulfilled in life. Thanks, man.

I can't see you being in danger of getting the boot, you don't seem any more given to an occasional rant than anyone. And you're consistently saner than a few here.

And contrary to what you may hear, not everyone hates cops. They're like every other group, they have their bad ones. People just notice it more because of the whole gun and handcuffs thing.

Are you sure that everyone who claims to be a cop is actually a cop.

I really hadn't noticed this trend, but I do recall a post by a supposed officer that violated the T&C, but not to such an extent that would, in itself, necessitate "dismissal."

I would think that you would understand, better than most, the foilbles of those who seek the mantle of bureaucratic authority.

Grady I do understand, but this has been bothering me some for a little while now and what started it was my attempt to get some of the officers from my department and other departments to join ATS and, well.. Get in the fray...

I have yet to get one to sign up.... I managed to get some friends that work in the peripheral fields to join, but none really active...

I asked this specifically to get opinions other than mine as I am so close to the subject matter.. You know what they say, "can't see the forest for the trees"...

I am as subject as any to preconceived ideas and opinions and sometimes ATS is a great source for "clearing me out" as it were...

Oh Yeah...

NGC.... Your under arrest... LMAO..

Semper

I don't think it has anything to do with being cops rather their personality and do we even know if they went away for good or if life got in the way as it so often does. In any case I must agree most cops are pretty darn nice just wish we had more. I mean after all they are NEVER around when you need one.

Damn! I just lost a brilliant post.

Oh, well.

I think that if it's occupational, it might have something to do with the intellectual aptitudes of cops leaning more toward the spatial rather than the verbal and also the tendency to look at the world in polar terms, good and evil, black and white, etc.

Participating on a discussion board takes a lot of time, thought and a desire to put one's thoughts into words.

Not everyone is predisposed to this kind of thing.

Internet discussion groups of this type probably appeal to a minority of the population across most occupations, except those that attract the verbals.

Cops are probably busy cleaning their weapons during their free time.


[edit on 2007/6/4 by GradyPhilpott]

Thanks for reminding me.....

I have two that just HAVE to be cleaned....



I suppose you are correct, but that still does not explain the short "life span" of certain members that have proclaimed Law Enforcement as their careers...

I have many "friends" that are in law enforcement (Shocker) and have wonderful intellects. As some work for me, I am sure that their work load is not all that... Well maybe.. I am a difficult boss.. LOL

They just do not see the value of eliciting the opinions of those that are not associated and they lose so much by not doing so...

Shame

Semper

Originally posted by semperfortis
I have many "friends" that are in law enforcement (Shocker) and have wonderful intellects.

I'm certain that's true. A spatial aptitude is not less desirable than a verbal one, it's just that they are rarely seen together and men tend more toward spatial than verbal.

Those are generalities of course, as some men are more verbal than spatial and some women are more spatial than verbal.

The spatial ones would wind up in math, science, auto mechanics, engineering and quite probably, law enforcement.

These aptitudes are often referred to nowadays as right brain/left brain. I just can't remember which is which right now.

SHEESH,

So how do you explain me then....

Makes me feel like an outcast....

Semper

Don't feel too lonely. You might wind up like this guy.

Wikipedia: Massad Ayoob

Google: Massad Ayoob

Or, this guy:

Evan P. Marshall

Marshall's Shooting Center

Stopping Power: A Practical Analysis of the Latest Handgun Ammunition

One other thing that might argue against cops and forums like this is what I think of as 'no second guessing' syndrome. My father, my father-in-law, and two brother-in-laws were all officers, so I noticed some tendencies.

Cops feel a need to be right, a job imperative when your ass is on the line, and a natural carryover to everyday life. I would think that it would require a lot of introspection on their part to allow themselves to daily have their opinions validated,or not, in a public forum.

I also suspect that it is this need to not compromise and always be 'right', that leads to the high divorce rate among officers.

Compromising is a skill, and should be instructed on more in many walks of life. I think that it failure to compromise that leads to most confrontational situations. And it is really "...a failure to communicate." since the concept of meaningful communication implies two way dialog.

Just an idea I had. *Now can I get out of these cuffs?*

Originally posted by semperfortis
SHEESH,

So how do you explain me then....

Makes me feel like an outcast....

Semper

Well dang Semper if you are so am I.

What kind of business is that?

Bertrand Russell states that too much authority leads directly to sadism.

I think how cops are treated and thought of says much more about the other people than it does about the cops.

If people look at you and think something bad, that's about them. About their past experiences, perceptions, attitudes and beliefs.

And if they look at you and think something good, same thing. It's about them.

Semper, I disagree with you on most issues. Sometimes vehemently. But because of who I am I don't hate you or dislike you because you're a cop. That would be... well... stupid. And I ain't stupid.

Thats good BH,

I consider you one of my friends on here...

I do not have to agree with my friends, in fact often it is better that friends are open enough to disagree...


Semper

Not even cops need to disclose what they do for a living.

I don't think I've ever said what I do for a living, although I have talked about what I have done for a living.

Agreed Grady,

But,

Most of us that are engaged in a career, find that we choose the career because of any number of factors. Our personality and social concerns being foremost in that decision making process...

Whether or not we reveal our professions, how we relate to others, even on ATS, is going to be directly affected by our chosen vocation...

I don't think for a minute that there is some evil, or otherwise, super secret conspiracy against cops... Not at all.... The difficulty seems to lie with the individual and it was my question as to what that difficulty may be..

I have almost, (ALMOST) been universally accepted with open arms here at ATS and consider my time here to be successful...

The mystery is why are other cops not interested, or just not successful here at ATS...

I suppose that some of the thoughts presented here by all of you are significant, in particular the "control" and "power" issues. Having taught police ethics for some time, I can attest to that being an ongoing problem..

Semper

What a thought-provoking thread this is!

If it were some sort of occupational thing, is it possible that it could be partially because of all the training officers go through? Some sort of socialization that occurs during the process of becoming police officers?

I'm all questions and no answers.

OK here is my 10 cents.

What happens to cops who join ATS ?
What happens to trained network admins and PC repair techs who join ATS ?
What happen Vets who join ATS ?
Nothing happens that is related to there chosen careers unless they chose to use ATS as an direct outlet for methods of thinking an example of this is the conspiracy master Justin Oldham. Otherwise ATS is just like any other aspect of life people come and go for unknown reasons.

The T&C isnt hard to follow and the extra effort that members put into creating the high quality discussions on ATS is well worth it. Should someone be more interested in Flame wars rather then high quality discussions then ATS isnt the place for them no matter what there job is.

I am a cop...pissed off a lot of people on these boards, and didn't get the boot..lol. I guess when you work in a city where the average homicide rate per year is 2nd in the country, and we are involved in shootings 3 times a week, getting on ATS can be pretty tough. But I make time. I may not agree with things that are said on here, and many do not agree with me, and we can "have at it" on here...and have some fun....at the end of the day no matter who thinks their right on here, you had a chance to state your opinion and get out your two cents... that is good for most people...

trust me i deal with people who let their emotions out in the wrong way....love us or hate us (cops) our job is no walk in the park...and i invite anyone along to help me do my job who believes otherwise..

[edit on 6/6/07 by shadow_soldier1975]