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Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

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Re: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

#21

Post by mthoms »

Melting_Harps wrote: post #17
mthoms wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>we don’t need you in this discussion anymore, even to provide insight I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows. >If this stance is a problem that ails the world, that’s fine, it a better problem than what comes with whatever police have to express at this point. I feel li…

> I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows. Then its clear you have been the fortunate few who have never had to be subjected to the perverse legal system in the US, or spent any time in low income areas where those tactics are 'business as usual' in what is referred to as…

Whoa. I've never had a comment of mine so wildly misread. You even managed to throw in a personal attack and a diatribe against all of HN. Incredible.

We're in total agreement that the entire system is corrupt. I can't for the life of my understand why you interpreted my comment to mean anything else.

Re: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

#22

Post by Melting_Harps »

mthoms wrote: post #21
Melting_Harps wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I strongly disagree. This article has given me more insight into the process by which a cop "becomes evil" than literally any other piece I can recall. I hope it's authentic but who knows. Then its clear you have been the fortunate few who have never had to be subjected to the perverse legal system in the US, or spent any time in low income areas where those tactics are 'business as usual' in what is referred to as…

Whoa. I've never had a comment of mine so wildly misread. You even managed to throw in a personal attack and a diatribe against all of HN. Incredible. We're in total agreement that the entire system is corrupt. I can't for the life of my understand why you interpreted my comment to mean anything else.

> Whoa. I've never had a comment of mine so wildly misread. You even managed to throw in a personal attack and a diatribe against all of HN. Incredible.

You disagreed with a post that suggests that this wasn't the case. As for the personal 'diatribe,' I've argued this POV here before these recent events to a great deal of opposition as if it was a non-issue. Its in my post History of you care to find it.

I even quoted a person in the thread denying the validity of these claims, as if they're even really needed to discern the obvious.

> We're in total agreement that the entire system is corrupt. I can't for the life of my understand why you interpreted my comment to mean anything else.

Your post doesn't seem to suggest that, but if that's the case then I apologize if you think I was vilifying you.

But understand this is visceral for some of us that have been in the same position and have had our Lives thrown into disrepute for no other reason than 'pissing off' someone with a badge and a gun and saw no recourse for their violent behaviour.

I'm ultimately glad this happened, if only it allows the country to see what kind of despotism has creeped its way under the guise of Security since 9/11 that is normally kept out of sight from most People.

I mean did you see this recent article of the Pentagon targeting GenZ 'terrorists' in some perverse simulation in 2018:

https://theintercept.com/2020/06/05/pentagon-war-game-gen-z/

Re: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

#23

Post by mthoms »

Melting_Harps wrote: post #22
mthoms wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whoa. I've never had a comment of mine so wildly misread. You even managed to throw in a personal attack and a diatribe against all of HN. Incredible. We're in total agreement that the entire system is corrupt. I can't for the life of my understand why you interpreted my comment to mean anything else.

> Whoa. I've never had a comment of mine so wildly misread. You even managed to throw in a personal attack and a diatribe against all of HN. Incredible. You disagreed with a post that suggests that this wasn't the case. As for the personal 'diatribe,' I've argued this POV here before these recent events to a great deal of opposition as if it was a non-issue. Its in my post History of you care to find it. I even quote…

Have a look at the quotes I was specifically replying to. I was simply disagreeing with the idea that we should ignore everything and anything that former or current police have to say about what's wrong with the system.

I think that's true especially in the context of this blog post. That is, someone who has (allegedly) served "the system" and now sees how pervasively evil it is.

Of course, I'm not suggesting we should give their input undue weight or that we shouldn't take it with a huge grain of salt. In fact — we may ultimately decide to ignore it altogether but.... the more information we have the better.

Your apology is accepted, thanks. I'll attempt to clarify what I wrote.

And wow, the link you posted is positively terrifying. I hadn't seen it, but I'm a big fan of what The Intercept does. Cheers.

Re: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

#24

Post by thephyber »

_bxg1 wrote: post #19
wand3r wrote: post #18

> I don’t want to center the conversation on myself and my big salty boo-hoo feelings about my bad choices. It’s a toxic white impulse to see atrocities and think “How can I make this about me?” I just don’t buy this. I think this is not written by a cop at all. Such weird characterizations and worded with a of political ideology. It goes on and on. I can’t tell if it’s trolling or if someone used a bunch of stories…

Yeah, without even reading it this set off a number of red flags for me. If this person is real, they should submit their story to a journalist at a major publication who can verify their identity without making it public.

You mean they wouldn't name their Medium user "Ofcr A. Cab"? No Way!

ACAB = "All Cops Are Bad/Bastards"

Re: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

#25

Post by thephyber »

mthoms wrote: post #20
shadowprofile77 wrote: post #15

>It’s a time that I acted as a violent agent of capitalism and white supremacy. With this he lost me a bit on trustworthiness. What the hell does capitalism have to do with thuggish policing? Many European states with generally decent cops are quite capitalist (not to mention Canada just to the north of the U.S) and many socialist/communist states were famous for the brutality of their police, just as are some essent…

Capitalism is not binary - the countries you mentioned are predominantly capitalist but have more robust social safety nets for people in need. They also (generally) don't have things like civil forfeiture, for-profit prisons, "cash" bail and corporate control of politicians by "donation". All are aspects of capitalism taken to the extreme (IMHO). I agree it was suspect wording though. It would have served the author…

> Capitalism is not binary

I think this is the biggest problem with political discourse right now. We don't really have the vocabulary to accurately describe the status quo or a desired end state we should aim for.

Re: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

#26

Post by thephyber »

aspenmayer wrote: post #2

'We used to have informal contests for who could cite or arrest someone for the weirdest law. DUI on a bicycle, non-regulation number of brooms on your tow truck (27700(a)(1) of the California Vehicle Code)… shit like that. For me, police work was a logic puzzle for arresting people, regardless of their actual threat to the community. As ashamed as I am to admit it, it needs to be said: stripping people of their free…

> We used to have informal contests for who could cite or arrest someone for the weirdest law.

There are books and websites written about the dumbest laws still on the books, which give police lots of flexibility to shop for a charge if they really want to get you.

> NEW JERSEY - All motorists must honk before passing another car, bicyclist, skater, and even a skateboarder.[1]

I've tried to figure out how to incentivize my representatives to drop useless laws, but I don't know how. I can't imagine basic old shame works these days when thousands of US voters send social media death threats to "the other team" on a daily basis.

[1] http://www.dumblaws.com/law/1293

Re: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

#28

Post by _bxg1 »

thephyber wrote: post #24
_bxg1 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, without even reading it this set off a number of red flags for me. If this person is real, they should submit their story to a journalist at a major publication who can verify their identity without making it public.

You mean they wouldn't name their Medium user "Ofcr A. Cab"? No Way! ACAB = "All Cops Are Bad/Bastards"

Hah, didn't even notice that.

Re: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

#29

Post by _bxg1 »

aspenmayer wrote: post #2

'We used to have informal contests for who could cite or arrest someone for the weirdest law. DUI on a bicycle, non-regulation number of brooms on your tow truck (27700(a)(1) of the California Vehicle Code)… shit like that. For me, police work was a logic puzzle for arresting people, regardless of their actual threat to the community. As ashamed as I am to admit it, it needs to be said: stripping people of their free…

I feel the need to point out, since this is the top comment, that there are numerous reasons to believe this piece is not real.

Re: Confessions of a Former Bastard Cop

#30

Post by otterley »

_bxg1 wrote: post #29
aspenmayer wrote: post #2

'We used to have informal contests for who could cite or arrest someone for the weirdest law. DUI on a bicycle, non-regulation number of brooms on your tow truck (27700(a)(1) of the California Vehicle Code)… shit like that. For me, police work was a logic puzzle for arresting people, regardless of their actual threat to the community. As ashamed as I am to admit it, it needs to be said: stripping people of their free…

I feel the need to point out, since this is the top comment, that there are numerous reasons to believe this piece is not real.

Can you enumerate these reasons? Just saying "there are reasons" is not very useful to anyone.
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