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'Police. Step Away From the Chess Table'

cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com

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Re: 'Police. Step Away From the Chess Table'

#41

Post by tedunangst »

ugh wrote: post #22
boredguy8 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to out myself as a nerd, but if my history is any indication, some kids play chess. And even checkers.

Sure, but how is that relevant for my argument? Kids and adults enjoy chess and checkers, both should have access to public chessboards, slides and swings are for the most part only enjoyed by and only safe for kids.

There are lots of chess boards outside of playgrounds. They are generally occupied by adults. I think the point of putting the table inside the playground was specifically to enable kids to use it.

Amending the sign to read something like "no adults, unless playing or watching chess, but not if a child has been waiting to play, except ..." would get complicated fast. Just go to a different park already.

Re: 'Police. Step Away From the Chess Table'

#43

Post by oiuyhgtfryhuj »

nkassis wrote: post #42
iamdave wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

*sweeps palm over head Whoooosh

I think he meant it was very american ;p

I think there is an american version where a beige democrat side face a grey republican side and they both discuss the issues sensibly before devolving all power to the individual pawns

Re: 'Police. Step Away From the Chess Table'

#45

Post by jonah »

gridspy wrote: post #26
patio11 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I were a gambling man, I would bet on the chess players being homeless. reads article I win.

The article only specifies that one player is homeless. I don't see why that is relevant, beyond society pushing those at the brink further over it.

It's the same as no loitering or no sitting laws in many towns.

Heck in my town, it's not legal to sit on the main street, yet there are benches all along.

Selective enforcement.

Re: 'Police. Step Away From the Chess Table'

#46

Post by Natsu »

mjgoins wrote: post #40
teilo wrote: post #8

Here's a novel idea: Instead of a summons, how about the police calmly but firmly explain the law to them and ask them to leave? If they won't leave, THEN issue them a summons.

The police in NYC have illegal quotas on summonses and tickets. They were a sort of quasi-secret until very recently. Perhaps these cops needed to meet theirs?

I'm certain that people will demand a citation for a claim like that. Therefore, I will provide a citation of that fact for you:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/nyregion/10quotas.html

Re: 'Police. Step Away From the Chess Table'

#47

Post by VladRussian »

people, unfortunately even in the US, give pretty unlimited power to the governments at all levels. The lower level of government, ie. the less visible they are, the more moronic laws they are coming with. Police is supposedly just enforcing the laws, whatever it be (of course there is a lot of discretion in the enforcement and prosecution, yet it would be a separate matter)

Re: 'Police. Step Away From the Chess Table'

#48

Post by almost »

oiuyhgtfryhuj wrote: post #5

They should think themselves lucky - in the UK they would now have a lifetime on the sex offenders register. Being in a playground while adult and male!

Really? I lived in the UK and I quite often take a shortcut through a playground when going for a walk near my parents place. It has never occurred to me that this might be a problem and I've never had so much as a nasty look for doing it. I'm male and apparently also an adult :)

Re: 'Police. Step Away From the Chess Table'

#49

Post by oiuyhgtfryhuj »

almost wrote: post #48
oiuyhgtfryhuj wrote: post #5

They should think themselves lucky - in the UK they would now have a lifetime on the sex offenders register. Being in a playground while adult and male!

Really? I lived in the UK and I quite often take a shortcut through a playground when going for a walk near my parents place. It has never occurred to me that this might be a problem and I've never had so much as a nasty look for doing it. I'm male and apparently also an adult :)

Try being in public with a camera, or even holding a phone up to read the screen as if you might be using it as a camera.

British Airways recently had to admit they had a secret policy of moving men seated next to other's children on flights. It only came up when they moved Boris Johnson from sitting next to his own kids, they didn't realise they were his own children - presumably they looked human (although you have to wonder if the kids were secretly relieved)

Re: 'Police. Step Away From the Chess Table'

#50

Post by almost »

oiuyhgtfryhuj wrote: post #49
almost wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I lived in the UK and I quite often take a shortcut through a playground when going for a walk near my parents place. It has never occurred to me that this might be a problem and I've never had so much as a nasty look for doing it. I'm male and apparently also an adult :)

Try being in public with a camera, or even holding a phone up to read the screen as if you might be using it as a camera. British Airways recently had to admit they had a secret policy of moving men seated next to other's children on flights. It only came up when they moved Boris Johnson from sitting next to his own kids, they didn't realise they were his own children - presumably they looked human (although you have…

You know, i hear stuff like this a lot. Mostly on reddit and sometimes on here. But Ive never experienced anything like this at all, nor am i aware of anyone i know experiencing anything like that so i just choose to forget about. I still smile at kids in the street and use my camera phone in public and trust people not to be complete idiots, works for me :)
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