Police in America

[Colin]

Watch the video.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7243240.stm

[A Woman]

Would you care to enlighten me Colin, why you felt the need to post the this?

You see, this is how I see it....... It kinda smacks a little of the person who condemns a person who gossips, but then in the next breath are condoning what the gossiper does by doing just that themselves and passing it on also!!!

So colin, are you actually approving or disapproving?

[The Peepmaster]

I imagine we're all as one in disapproving of this AW. It's a shocking event, which is why the BBC has highlighted it on their news pages. Evidence of such shocking events do tend to be passed on. In a way it's saying "Thank goodness we don't have police like that".

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

I imagine we're all as one in disapproving of this AW. It's a shocking event, which is why the BBC has highlighted it on their news pages. Evidence of such shocking events do tend to be passed on. In a way it's saying "Thank goodness we don't have police like that".

Maybe so, Peepsie, but it would be a big mistake to assume that just because they haven't been caught on camera, all of our police are pure as the driven snow. Just as it would be a huge mistake to assume that all of the United States police forces can be judged by this footage (and I agree - it's shocking).

I can't actually see the reason why this should be posted here, other than as a method of attacking our American cousins law enforcement agency (and implicit in that, our American cousins themselves). The other possible motive doesn't bear thinking about!

[A Woman]

I imagine we're all as one in disapproving of this AW. It's a shocking event, which is why the BBC has highlighted it on their news pages. Evidence of such shocking events do tend to be passed on. In a way it's saying "Thank goodness we don't have police like that".

Er.... I have to come back on at you Peepsie. The subject title said "Police in America". The body of the the post was just a link and a one liner to watch the video. There is no hint of disapproval of the contents of the clip. Because it's posted in a cartoon forum (generally cartoon equating funny/laughs), then perhaps it could easily be interpreted that what was about to be watched was funny material.

That in itself then can be split into 2 categories:- singling out the American's and laughing at them, or cheap laughs at people with disabilities.

Perhaps an accompanying second liner as to what Colin personally thought would have triggered the discussion that he may have  had in mind.

Like text messaging on mobiles can be so easily misinterpreted, so can posts on forums if a little care isn't thrown in!

[The Peepmaster]

Well I'm always laughing at the Americans!

Anyway, personally, I didn't see it as a malicious post. To me it was just like the kind of thing they'll show you on Chris Tarrant on TV where you're drawn to make your own conclusions.

Perhaps I'm being charitable.

[peter]

I imagine we're all as one in disapproving of this AW. It's a shocking event, which is why the BBC has highlighted it on their news pages. Evidence of such shocking events do tend to be passed on. In a way it's saying "Thank goodness we don't have police like that".

Er.... I have to come back on at you Peepsie. The subject title said "Police in America". The body of the the post was just a link and a one liner to watch the video. There is no hint of disapproval of the contents of the clip. Because it's posted in a cartoon forum (generally cartoon equating funny/laughs), then perhaps it could easily be interpreted that what was about to be watched was funny material.

That in itself then can be split into 2 categories:- singling out the American's and laughing at them, or cheap laughs at people with disabilities.

Perhaps an accompanying second liner as to what Colin personally thought would have triggered the discussion that he may have  had in mind.

Like text messaging on mobiles can be so easily misinterpreted, so can posts on forums if a little care isn't thrown in!

I would like to say that although some here think that this is for laughs sometime we need to look outside ourselves and look at the larger world to appreciate the world so as too know when to laugh and when to cry.

[Diane CBPFC]

I don't think anyone here would think this was funny - I don't think that Colin would think this was funny.

It was an awful thing to do - but at least it was not hushed-up - the police officers will suffer the consequences of their actions.

[Calypso]

Well, I'm American and live in America, so I feel I can speak out about this. I don't think that this was intended to be something funny on here. I think it was to get a discussion going, but "Police in America," as a title, does seem to imply that this type of abuse is something that happens a lot here.

America is a very large country with many, many police, sheriffs, special agents, deputies, detectives and constables, along with a lot of private security agents. With this many law-enforcers, there will always be "bad apples," and these are the ones that are showcased to the world. Because of my country's size, it probably seems like there are lots of incidents reported. The good that police do is often overlooked because it cannot be "sensationalized" by the media. On another note,  I think that all countries have a few "bad apples" in law-enforcement.
  
Yes, I agree that the depicted incident is shameful. I also think this Charlotte Dep-Jones must be some sort of a moron -and that is frightening in itself to have in law-enforcement -if she couldn't grasp the concept that the man was a quadripalegic and couldn't stand up. Dumping him on the floor was beyond disgraceful. It states plainly in the article that she was suspended without pay. This happens when a public servant is guilty of doing something that is, without question, reprehensible. I imagine that she will be fired in disgrace, if she hasn't already been.

[peter]

Well, I'm American and live in America, so I feel I can speak out about this. I don't think that this was intended to be something funny on here. I think it was to get a discussion going, but "Police in America," as a title, does seem to imply that this type of abuse is something that happens a lot here.

America is a very large country with many, many police, sheriffs, special agents, deputies, detectives and constables, along with a lot of private security agents. With this many law-enforcers, there will always be "bad apples," and these are the ones that are showcased to the world. Because of my country's size, it probably seems like there are lots of incidents reported. The good that police do is often overlooked because it cannot be "sensationalized" by the media. On another note,  I think that all countries have a few "bad apples" in law-enforcement.
 
Yes, I agree that the depicted incident is shameful. I also think this Charlotte Dep-Jones must be some sort of a moron -and that is frightening in itself to have in law-enforcement -if she couldn't grasp the concept that the man was a quadripalegic and couldn't stand up. Dumping him on the floor was beyond disgraceful. It states plainly in the article that she was suspended without pay. This happens when a public servant is guilty of doing something that is, without question, reprehensible. I imagine that she will be fired in disgrace, if she hasn't already been.

I agree with you Calypso we always are told by the media whether it be TV radio or newspaper or now the net the bad in the world but the good does not seem news worth to them.
but if we are given a chance i like to hear about people who do good and usually for free.
We all have rotten apples but ours are the politicians who think pensioner can live off a pittance but they need us pensioner to pay for there guaranteed inflation busting pensions. Then they tax use again through local income tax that goes up each year by twice the inflation rate, but cut the work that they do for it. 

[Roger Kettle]

I'm confident that Colin didn't post this expecting us to have a good laugh. I'm sure he meant it as a head-shaking moment of disbelief. Having said that, I understand A.W.'s concern that, on a "humourous" site, this was posted without comment. I'd like to think that Colin, knowing his audience here, didn't feel a comment was necessary.

[Mince]

The Beau Peep Board is not entirely a humorous site; at least, I hope it isn't.

News items don't necessarily need comment; they are just news.

As for the title, I can never think of a decent title for my topics, and perhaps Colin could not either. Perhaps the title should have been "News Item". But let's not assume his intent from what I think was merely quickly chosen and factual.

I took this how I think Colin intended it: how could anyone do this?

[Calypso]

Perhaps the title should have been "News Item". But let's not assume his intent from what I think was merely quickly chosen and factual.

I never once said I thought that this was meant to be anything other than a discussion about what was reported in the news article. I have not assumed anything. The subject line caught my attention because it said "Police in America." When I read it, it depicted a very disturbing picture of four police officers in America.

I took this how I think Colin intended it: how could anyone do this?

I have no doubt this was intended to be a "how could anyone do this?" and it could have easily said in England, Spain, Japan or Timbuktu. But it didn't. It said "in America." I am an American. Did you think I wouldn't have a comment about this, Mince? How little you know me. Tsk. Tsk.

[The Peepmaster]

Yes, tsk, tsk indeed, Mince!

I've never been to America, and would very much like to before too long. I'm tempted to go somewhere that's not the normal UK tourist trail, (like Florida, or New York). Over to the west, around Seattle looks quite interesting.

I'm no authority on US police methods, but we've all seen the TV evidence. I was always left shaking my head after watching all those episodes of Dukes of Hazard.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

I agree with Calypso.

Whether or not it was Colin's intention, the title of this thread is provocative. Yes, it may well have been quickly chosen, and the fact the clip was set in America and involved police officers could cover Mince's assertion that it is factual. However, I would argue that it is anything but.

It suggests...no, it states that what follows is about the American police. It isn't. It's about some very bad and stupid people who just happen to have been allowed to join the American police. It's about a shocking act carried out by these people, which is currently under investigation, and appears to be heading to a just outcome. That investigation will be carried out by...you guessed it, American police, though I'm 100% certain the actions of the 'good cops' was not what prompted the thread title.

If you need further proof of the effect of the thread title, coupled with the video, then you need look no further than Peepmaster's initial response, and the words, "In a way it's saying 'Thank goodness we don't have police like that'." He's right - that is what it's saying. But it's so very wrong to be saying it.

Give me a few moments, and I'll find you a dozen similarly shocking news items from around the globe, most, if not all, accompanied by a video clip of the atrocity. I'll even try to find out in which country they occurred, so that we can all have a focal point for our anger, yes? Except that would be dishonest and disingenuous...wouldn't it?

Give me a few moments more, and I'll supply you with anecdotal evidence of similarly atrocious behaviour by our very own boys in blue. I may not be able to supply you with moving images, but don't anyone kid themselves that it doesn't go on. There are always rotten apples that sour the barrel, but to judge the barrel, to entitle a thread in such a way as to almost imply what follows is bordering on standard police procedure, does no-one any credit whatsoever.

I have no objection whatsoever to serious debate on these boards. That's life! And I didn't think at any point that Colin intended to make light of any of this. But I would urge that postings like these, with little or no accompanying commentary from the poster, be very carefully thought through before being presented in the way this one has been. It may well save the saddling up of some pretty tall horses.