posted on Sep, 20 2007 @ 01:02 PM
Trying not to take this thread too far off track.
I feel that these newer generations(not referring to cops specifically right no) are a bunch of pansies towards the older ones. Let me give you a few
examples.
When my parents were going to school, beating the kids was very legal, and in fact, common place. Punishment at home, often enough used to be so
severe that today we'd call it child abuse. What many of you grew up with, todays kids would need counciling to cope with.
Back then, if you got into a fight WITH A TEACHER, you'd be suspended for 3 days.
Today, if a student attacks you, and even if you just try to push them away, you will be suspended 10 days minimum, hauled off in handcuffs, assault
charges may be filed, and you may have an expulsion hearing.
In past generations, kids played war, tackle football in the rain, games were rough, and coming home with scraps and bruises was the norm.
Now, many of the games kids play are video games. Not much activity there.
There were more dangerous jobs, and labor was very difficult, in comparison to today where many of the harder labor jobs that were common place have
been automated so that people don't have to do it.
Back in those days, buying smokes for your ma was common. Getting some drugs from the pharmacy was no problem, even children could pick stuff up.
Here, we've become very politically correct, and these new generations are softer. So it reflects how things are looked at.
For example,picking up smokes or some pills for your parents as a child is a crime now.
As far as the pain and compliance tactics. A lot of the compliance work I've seen isn't THAT effective, especially on those who may have had too
much, or have adrenaline going, so when compliance fails, then truely rough and brutal treatment is next. These younger police officers, having grown
up in a softer era seem to think that situations are more dangerous than older era cops may have viewed the situation.
In a previous era, 16 armed cops with body armor wouldn't likely be scared of taking a few shots from a guy who has a penknife or a fork. However,
today it's all about the equipment, taser, baton, gun...
Part of the pain compliance thing, to me, is an issue of political correctness backfiring. They want to control shall we say a "suspect"? But they
want to try and minimize damage, so they use a taser, or riot rounds, or what have you. But they are trained that unless you get a certain response,
unless the weapon is dropped, or the suspect reacts positively, they move up the level of force. Is this making sense? I think part of what we
see(not the whole problem mind you) but part of it has to do with the way they're trained.
Say I'm really messed up on the latest fad drug. I have a bottle in my hand, or I'm reaching in my pocket. I'm not in a clear state of mind, so I
don't hear or understand the instructions given to me, or understand the gravity of the situation. The officers are trained that, unless they get a
certain response, applied force must go up in degree, and because of this, these cops overreact to situations that in no way are as threatening as
their instructions were designed to deal with.
Now, what happened at the Kerry speech was terrible. But, they were not getting the reaction they were trained to look for, so they kept raising the
level of force. The young man was speaking his mind, but he wasn't assaulting the officers. However these cops are trained "when he does THIS, you
do THIS." Clearly what happened in that case was a SEVERE overreaction on their part, and they should be punished for that, HOWEVER one need also
look at how they were taught to treat such a situation. It's always iffy when there's a "following orders" situation.
Again, I agree, there is a great deal of abuse. I've never been engaged in illegal activity, but I have enough family history that when I see those
flashing lights, I get a mild feeling of dread in my stomach.
I just want to point out that times have changed, but the degree or severity of abuse has not increased. We are simply more aware of it now. Should we
be upset when there are abuses? Of course! But I'm not going to treat every badge man as if he was the one stomping down on some handcuffed guy.