Ferguson unrest

[Bonam]

Why do I need to define it when you've implied you already understand the concept (enough, apparently, to be able to call it "absurd" and reject it)?

You don't "need" to do anything. You participate in discussions on these forums entirely of your own free choice (no, it's not racism forcing you to helplessly post on a forum with a bunch of neanderthals). If you don't care to explain what you mean, then why even bother? You told another poster (smallc) that you don't think he knows what white privilege means. Regardless of what I understand or not, clearly you believe that there are some posters here who do not understand it... posters that you were in fact, engaging in "conversation" with. It does not move forward the conversation to jump up and down and yell "hahahaha you don't know what this term I like means hahaha". If you want to use a term you think others don't properly understand, define it.

The fact that you are now engaging in all this meta-discussion about "why would I need to define that?" Why would I need to explain what I mean?" nonsense tells me you are not really confident about your ideas of white privilege or unable to present them in a reasonable way. If you were, you could have already posted a succinct explanation of what it is and how it relates to the topic at hand and put this to rest.

[Shady]

Lot of lead in the water in London? I didn't say for most, I said for many. Jim Crow and segregation was 60 years ago so it's not a stretch to think there are lots of people around with first hand experiences with those and other racist policies like redlining. And of course, those policies were in place for a very very long time, so it's not a stretch to think they would continue to have an impact years later.

Since you brought them up, what do Asians, East Indians have to do with Mike Brown?

Maybe you should go back and read the last few pages of the thread again since you're clearly confused as to how the conversation has flowed.

You think that the majority of the African American population is over 60? Are you nuts? Maybe like 15%. Asians and East Indians have to do with the racist policies you're pretending are still in place. But apparently those groups are unaffected and don't have the same problems, for some reason.

[Black Dog]

You don't "need" to do anything. You participate in discussions on these forums entirely of your own free choice (no, it's not racism forcing you to helplessly post on a forum with a bunch of neanderthals). If you don't care to explain what you mean, then why even bother? You told another poster (smallc) that you don't think he knows what white privilege means. Regardless of what I understand or not, clearly you believe that there are some posters here who do not understand it... posters that you were in fact, engaging in "conversation" with. It does not move forward the conversation to jump up and down and yell "hahahaha you don't know what this term I like means hahaha". If you want to use a term you think others don't properly understand, define it.

My posting a definition or a link or something to what white privilege is doesn't really move the discussion needle either. The fact that you and smallc use the term shows at least some basic recognition of the concept means that would be a waste of time. Far better to know what specific issues you have with the idea. But instead of telling me that, you want me to answer a question that hasn't been asked.

The fact that you are now engaging in all this meta-discussion about "why would I need to define that?" Why would I need to explain what I mean?" nonsense tells me you are not really confident about your ideas of white privilege or unable to present them in a reasonable way. If you were, you could have already posted a succinct explanation of what it is and how it relates to the topic at hand and put this to rest.

The fact you're dragging me into this meta discussion instead of just saying what your issues with the concept of white privilege are isn't doing much to counter my initial assessment of your level of knowledge on the subject. Again: if you can dismiss it, I sure hope you know what it is in the first place.

Edited November 27, 2014 by Black Dog

[Black Dog]

You think that the majority of the African American population is over 60?

No. Where did I say that?

Asians and East Indians have to do with the racist policies you're pretending are still in place.

OK: how?

But apparently those groups are unaffected and don't have the same problems, for some reason.

They don't have the same problems because they don't have the same challenges.

[dre]

When all is said and done we don't pay police to run away from violent people. We pay them to arrest violent people. There are limits to what non-lethal tactic you can use with a 300lb man when you're alone. Basically, you tell him to stop and get on the ground, and if he keeps coming at you, well....

Temporary retreat is just a tactic like many others. We pay them to catch guys and this guy wasnt gonna get away in broad daylight with multiple bullet wounds.

The cops not a criminal but he did a shitty job. Officers in similar situations facing violent suspects manage to apprehend people without killing them all the time... every day. And these type of incidents damage the credibility of the police and foster a rift between citizens and police that put other cops in danger. This could have been handled in a way that didnt result in riots, dozens of burning buildings, etc, and cops manage to do it all the time. Not to mention if he had done the right thing it wouldnt have cost him his career, and he wouldnt be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life wondering when hes going to get executed in some alley.

Edited November 27, 2014 by dre

[bush_cheney2004]

Nope....cops did the same thing in Vancouver just the other day. Mentally ill guy with a 2x4 in the street. Shot dead. No retreat...and no riots...no burning buildings...no etc.

I guess they only riot for lost hockey games.

Edited November 27, 2014 by bush_cheney2004

[BubberMiley]

It's flattering when someone thinks so much of Canada they're familiar with all the local news stories in each Canadian city.

Strange, but flattering nonetheless.

[Black Dog]

Nope....cops did the same thing in Vancouver just the other day. Mentally ill guy with a 2x4 in the street. Shot dead. No retreat...and no riots...no burning buildings...no etc.

I guess they only riot for lost hockey games.

The way police handle the mentally ill is an absolute disgrace. People should be up in arms about this stuff.

....none of which has anything to do with Ferguson, but I understand trolls gotta troll.

[bush_cheney2004]

Indeed...the mentally are victims of white people too. They should protest and riot and burn down buildings.

This is true "social justice".

[Black Dog]

It's flattering when someone thinks so much of Canada they're familiar with all the local news stories in each Canadian city.

Strange, but flattering nonetheless.

Troll quotas to fill?

[Argus]

Temporary retreat is just a tactic like many others. We pay them to catch guys and this guy wasnt gonna get away in broad daylight with multiple bullet wounds.

He didn't HAVE multiple bullet wounds. He had some damage to his hand, but the shots fired at him when he ran away missed. All the damage was done when he turned and headed back at the cop.

The cops not a criminal but he did a shitty job. Officers in similar situations facing violent suspects manage to apprehend people without killing them all the time... every day.

Depends on the circumstances. If they have time, backup, space, if the assailant cooperates in some way, if the assailant isn't a freaking monster, yeah, they do get busted every day. And cops get killed too. I'm sure as far a this cop was concerned Brown had tried to kill him, and he wasn't going to just watch him run off.

And these type of incidents damage the credibility of the police and foster a rift between citizens and police that put other cops in danger.

I've been highly critical of the police in the past. But I see nothing here which causes any sort of 'rift', except with people who didn't like or trust police in the first place.

[Bryan]

The way police handle the mentally ill is an absolute disgrace. People should be up in arms about this stuff.

....none of which has anything to do with Ferguson, but I understand trolls gotta troll.

Violent is violent. You can't assess someone's mental capacity while they're attacking. The threat needs to be eliminated first.

[WestCoastRunner]

How is burning down your town going to start dialogue for positive change?

These people had opportunity to change the make up of the current government before the GJ came back with their ruling but instead did nothing. They have only themselves to blame for not being represented.

I'm pretty sure the issues are far too complex to be resolved in a couple of weeks for 'these people'. And how exactly could they have changed their current government within a few weeks? And how could they have changed the # of white people vs black people on the grand jury? Did the citizens of Ferguson have the power to do that?

[On Guard for Thee]

Well of course, the good people of Ferguson decided to have 9 of 12 on the GJ be white so as to represent roughly the population of the city. And then of course they decided to let a former white police officer lead the show as chief prosecutor. The fact his dad was shot by a black man in '64 easily neglectable as to having any possibility of creating any bias. And of course we all understand it is the fault of the black population of Ferguson that they didn't demand elections so as to achieve better representation within the few weeks leading to the GJ investigation. Yep, Capt. Canada has it all in a NUTshell.

[poochy]

NUTshell.

It is pretty impressive how a few of you on the same side of the argument feel so self righteous that you regularly insult those who disagree with you with comments like this.

[On Guard for Thee]

It is pretty impressive how a few of you on the same side of the argument feel so self righteous that you regularly insult those who disagree with you with comments like this.

And you fail to see the insulting nature of the comments that inspired my response?

[AngusThermopyle]

What I see is that the comments made were not aimed personally at you. Your response...well...

[Bob Macadoo]

What I see is that the comments made were not aimed personally at you. Your response...well...

Comments that are aimed to provoke emotional reaction are personal regardless of names used. So saying "those people", "the left", "you con-bots" as opposed to Sam, Sally or Susie is really equivalent.

[On Guard for Thee]

What I see is that the comments made were not aimed personally at you. Your response...well...

Who was the comment "these people" aimed at do you think? Sorry if you get your knickers in a twist when some of us respond to what is rather obviously a tad distasteful, even if it is attempted to be "couched"

[On Guard for Thee]

Hi BM, interesting timing on our comments

[scribblet]

Well of course, the good people of Ferguson decided to have 9 of 12 on the GJ be white so as to represent roughly the population of the city. And then of course they decided to let a former white police officer lead the show as chief prosecutor. The fact his dad was shot by a black man in '64 easily neglectable as to having any possibility of creating any bias. And of course we all understand it is the fault of the black population of Ferguson that they didn't demand elections so as to achieve better representation within the few weeks leading to the GJ investigation. Yep, Capt. Canada has it all in a NUTshell.

tTe good people of Ferguson didn't decide anything. The GT is representative of the county as required by law, are you saying that they should have broken the law convening a different jury made up of people only from Ferguson?

[Black Dog]

Violent is violent. You can't assess someone's mental capacity while they're attacking. The threat needs to be eliminated first.

Uh, actually, you probably don't need to be a shrink to assume someone is standing in the middle of the street waving a 2x4 around might be mentally ill. Not to mention in this recent case in Vancouver, the cops weren't being attacked, just as they weren't being attacked by Smi Yatim, or Michael Eligon and so on and on and on.

[Shady]

The facts are, if you assault a police officer, and try to retrieve his firarm, you are at significant risk to be shot, and possibly killed. Regardless of Jim Crow, or the ancient Babylonians, or whatever other history that people want to discuss.

[Black Dog]

The facts are, if you assault a police officer, and try to retrieve his firarm, you are at significant risk to be shot, and possibly killed. Regardless of Jim Crow, or the ancient Babylonians, or whatever other history that people want to discuss.

Cool story bro.

[Shady]

Cool story bro.

I know. True story too.