American Police Brutality

Sparky · 07-09-2014, 02:43 AM

I've always wondered about the psychology of these sorts of things. Are people who are predisposed to violent outbursts find the duty of an authoritarian figure appealing? Or is it the demands of the job that bring out the worst in the cop? Is it a police culture, socially changing the general morality to adopt a different outlook on violence against certain people? I know there is no definite answer and all dependant on viewpoints. I'll be honest I don't read/hear too many reports of perfectly satisfactory police work when plenty occurs.

Does anyone here know/related to any police? Care to share personal anecdotes?

First hand experience with police has been a mixed bag. I've had to endure a prolonged "hazing"(joking/mocking) from the police simply because too many of them were called to the scene of me smoking out of a soda can, and had apparently nothing else to do for the next 30 minutes. It was pretty hilarious having the cop say "let me just have a conversation with your parents." thinking he was this upstanding model citizen(not to sound like a *******, it was nice of him to talk to my folks rather than write me up). He was pretty surprised my "parents" turned out to be a black male(i was under legal guardianship) haha

Back to my workplace culture psychological question. Surely most catholic priests don't become one at the thought of getting to exploit children, so it is something within the profession? Or just a lack of balanced journalism-people gravitating towards negative perception. If people clicked on stories all priests do for their communities maybe such accusations, better yet actual occurrences, would seem less general.

Edit: On second thought it's not at all a lack of awareness that there are good police, but just the shock that bad ones continue to exist.

djchameleon · 07-09-2014, 04:18 AM

The reporting of these bad stories is having a psychological effect on your average citizen to the point where they want to blanket all cops as being evil/****ty so when they interact with police instead of being pleasant and just cooperative. They end up being rude and stand off-ish to the point of resisting. I honestly don't blame them when you hear all the stories about people cooperating and still getting tased to death and even shot with their hands behind their backs it instills fear into individuals. I personally have pleasant experiences with police officers despite my skin color which also can play a factor in how cops treat you. I always make it known as soon as possible that I am a vet or when they ask for ID I just show them my military one and I get a thanks for serving the country along with a change in their attitude if they started out aggressive.

Good cop stories barely get reported. It isn't click bait and doesn't bring news channels higher viewer counts for their ad revenue.

Most police officers don't become cops just to assert authority and mess with people. They do have to pass psych evaluations. I do think having to deal with people constantly disrespecting you day in and day out wears down on you over time and you start to give less of a damn especially when you know that if you accidently mess up your boys and chief back at the station has your back and will help you cover it up.

~~John Wilkes Booth~~ · 07-09-2014, 06:21 AM

cops are generally nice to me. probably because i'm white and non-threatening looking. the one time i got arrested the cop at the station gave me this lecture... something like 'i know your type, you're one of those kids who pretends to be good and say sorry i'll never do it again and then turns around and does it again at the first chance.' this was confusing since i hadn't said two words to him and had no intention of saying sorry or begging for mercy. he just took one look at me and assumed all that stuff about me. if i was wearing baggy pants and had some tattoos he would have come up with a completely different life story for me, i'm sure.

djchameleon · 08-11-2014, 08:20 AM

Unarmed 18-year-old man shot dead by police in Missouri: witnesses - NY Daily News

These stories keep popping up so frequently.

The response to the incident I don't really agree with though. Having peaceful protesting turn into riots and looting.
police-killing-prompts-rioting-looting-near-st-louis/

RoxyRollah · 08-11-2014, 09:51 AM

is this the gentleman that was waving his toy gun around?

RoxyRollah · 08-11-2014, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wilkes Booth

cops are generally nice to me. probably because i'm white and non-threatening looking. the one time i got arrested the cop at the station gave me this lecture... something like 'i know your type, you're one of those kids who pretends to be good and say sorry i'll never do it again and then turns around and does it again at the first chance.' this was confusing since i hadn't said two words to him and had no intention of saying sorry or begging for mercy. he just took one look at me and assumed all that stuff about me. if i was wearing baggy pants and had some tattoos he would have come up with a completely different life story for me, i'm sure.

He knew you shot Lincoln. ..

djchameleon · 08-11-2014, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoxyRollah

is this the gentleman that was waving his toy gun around?

I don't think I've heard that part of the story.

This one has a couple different stories.

First the cops said that he was shoplifting and took something from the store. When the store said that nothing was missing and he didn't steal anything.

Then they changed their story to say that he was charging at the cops and trying to get into their car to assault one of the officers.

The other kid that got shot with the toy gun was in a Walmart.

This one got shot in the middle of the street and just left in the street for hours. He was unarmed.

RoxyRollah · 08-11-2014, 10:21 AM

ah yes Mr toy gun...

dicks with guns get blasted.. don't feel sorry for him

djchameleon · 08-11-2014, 10:27 AM

two different stories though

I understand why the kid in Walmart got shot but not this other teen from Missouri.

Wpnfire · 08-13-2014, 10:28 PM

Yeah...you're free to protest, but not free to mob up and rob stores.

View Poll Results: Do american police generally seem too violent or oppressive to you?
Yes	60	65.22%
No	23	25.00%
Undecided / No opinion / I'm a vegetable	9	9.78%
Voters: 92. You may not vote on this poll

08-13-2014, 10:28 PM	#170 (permalink)
Wpnfire Dragon Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Kansas, United States Posts: 2,744	Yeah...you're free to protest, but not free to mob up and rob stores. __________________ Last.FM My RYM Ratings *My Glitchwave Beta Profile*

07-09-2014, 02:43 AM	#161 (permalink)
Sparky not really Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,223	I've always wondered about the psychology of these sorts of things. Are people who are predisposed to violent outbursts find the duty of an authoritarian figure appealing? Or is it the demands of the job that bring out the worst in the cop? Is it a police culture, socially changing the general morality to adopt a different outlook on violence against certain people? I know there is no definite answer and all dependant on viewpoints. I'll be honest I don't read/hear too many reports of perfectly satisfactory police work when plenty occurs. Does anyone here know/related to any police? Care to share personal anecdotes? First hand experience with police has been a mixed bag. I've had to endure a prolonged "hazing"(joking/mocking) from the police simply because too many of them were called to the scene of me smoking out of a soda can, and had apparently nothing else to do for the next 30 minutes. It was pretty hilarious having the cop say "let me just have a conversation with your parents." thinking he was this upstanding model citizen(not to sound like a *******, it was nice of him to talk to my folks rather than write me up). He was pretty surprised my "parents" turned out to be a black male(i was under legal guardianship) haha Back to my workplace culture psychological question. Surely most catholic priests don't become one at the thought of getting to exploit children, so it is something within the profession? Or just a lack of balanced journalism-people gravitating towards negative perception. If people clicked on stories all priests do for their communities maybe such accusations, better yet actual occurrences, would seem less general. Edit: On second thought it's not at all a lack of awareness that there are good police, but just the shock that bad ones continue to exist.

07-09-2014, 06:21 AM	#163 (permalink)
~~John Wilkes Booth~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 2,235	cops are generally nice to me. probably because i'm white and non-threatening looking. the one time i got arrested the cop at the station gave me this lecture... something like 'i know your type, you're one of those kids who pretends to be good and say sorry i'll never do it again and then turns around and does it again at the first chance.' this was confusing since i hadn't said two words to him and had no intention of saying sorry or begging for mercy. he just took one look at me and assumed all that stuff about me. if i was wearing baggy pants and had some tattoos he would have come up with a completely different life story for me, i'm sure.