If Racism is Bad…

[HoreTore]

Should it be?

Yes.

What you and every other libertarian misses, is that a police officer and a civilian is not in the same position. The police officer is exposed to more crime as part of his job, and being the victim of a crime for a police officer means that his job is hindered, meaning he will be unable to stop other crimes for a while. Therefore, punishing offenders against the police harsher than others reduces overall crime, which is in our own interest.

[Fisherking]

Yes.

What you and every other libertarian misses, is that a police officer and a civilian is not in the same position. The police officer is exposed to more crime as part of his job, and being the victim of a crime for a police officer means that his job is hindered, meaning he will be unable to stop other crimes for a while. Therefore, punishing offenders against the police harsher than others reduces overall crime, which is in our own interest.

It is not only police, however. There are other crimes that can only be committed against government officials and penalties for common crimes against and official can carry harsher penalties, even if the perpetrator doesn’t know.

But in dealing with the police in particular, let us say you were stopped on the street by the police and told that you just had some violation. You find it absurd and recognize nothing of the sort. Practically anything you do or say from that point on may also be translated into some sort of crime. Harassing an office, the use of foul language, resisting the police. The list could go on. And don’t reach for your ID or phone, they may think you are a threat to their safety and shoot you, and perhaps a bystander or two in the process.

[HoreTore]

It is not only police, however. There are other crimes that can only be committed against government officials and penalties for common crimes against and official can carry harsher penalties, even if the perpetrator doesn’t know.

Interfering with other parts of the government follows the same reasoning as the cops. Interrupting government business hurts the population.

But in dealing with the police in particular, let us say you were stopped on the street by the police and told that you just had some violation. You find it absurd and recognize nothing of the sort. Practically anything you do or say from that point on may also be translated into some sort of crime. Harassing an office, the use of foul language, resisting the police. The list could go on.

This is only a problem for nutters who haven't learned to behave themselves. It does not happen to normal people.

And don’t reach for your ID or phone, they may think you are a threat to their safety and shoot you, and perhaps a bystander or two in the process.

This is US-specific, and caused by the gun laws. Outlaw all civilian guns, and you won't have this problem.

[Fisherking]

Interfering with other parts of the government follows the same reasoning as the cops. Interrupting government business hurts the population.

So all people are equal except those working for the government who are more equal because of position.

Which makes since from your view point as a government worker.

This is only a problem for nutters who haven't learned to behave themselves. It does not happen to normal people.

An there never was, is not now, and never will be anyone in position of authority who abused there position?

This is US-specific, and caused by the gun laws. Outlaw all civilian guns, and you won't have this problem.

Police over most of the world carry guns and big sticks, and are known to use them. People are shot in disarmed countries too.

[HoreTore]

So all people are equal except those working for the government who are more equal because of position.

Jobs are of unequal importance, yes. Some jobs depend on someone else to do their job in order to get stuff done. A functioning justice system(as well as other types of infrastructure, like mail or electricity) is critical to a society, and needs to be operational at all times. Just like you get a higher penalty for sabotaging the local power plant than the local grocery, you get a higher penalty for obstructing law enforcement than you do obstructing a gardener.

This is highly unproblematic.

Which makes since from your view point as a government worker.

I am not employed by, or work for, the government.

But kudos for the failed attempt at an ad hominem.

An there never was, is not now, and never will be anyone in position of authority who abused there position?

Of course there are, and you find just as many of those in the private sector as you do in the government. In the private sector, however, such things are mostly regarded as business as usual, while government figures are routinely thrown in jail.

I am intrigued that you would use this type of argument, however, seeing as you are a gun advocate. As you should know, this argument applies equally to gun ownership; by your reasoning we should ban all guns because some use them for murder.

Police over most of the world carry guns and big sticks, and are known to use them. People are shot in disarmed countries too.

Our don't. Further, while Europeans certainly end up shot by the police occasionally, a European police officer generally does not worry about the suspect being armed, with the appropriate change in methods. You have to take a very different approach when you have good reason to suspect a hidden gun compared to when you have good reason to suspect an unarmed individual.

This should be pretty obvious.

[Beskar]

It is not only police, however. There are other crimes that can only be committed against government officials and penalties for common crimes against and official can carry harsher penalties, even if the perpetrator doesn’t know.

Being honest, you would have to be pretty ignorant and foolhardly not to know. Typical behaviour is usually being cautious and hesitant around an on-duty police officer due to feel of being intimidated/caught guilty with something even though you are innocent.

If you start bad mouthing and smacking an officer, you are 'asking for it'.

In life, we typically get away with a lot of things, simply because no one usually cares to get the authorities involved. But when they are involved, incidents are treated without the same disregard a joe or jane public might do.

[Fisherking]

Jobs are of unequal importance, yes. Some jobs depend on someone else to do their job in order to get stuff done. A functioning justice system(as well as other types of infrastructure, like mail or electricity) is critical to a society, and needs to be operational at all times. Just like you get a higher penalty for sabotaging the local power plant than the local grocery, you get a higher penalty for obstructing law enforcement than you do obstructing a gardener.

This is highly unproblematic.



I am not employed by, or work for, the government.

But kudos for the failed attempt at an ad hominem.



Of course there are, and you find just as many of those in the private sector as you do in the government. In the private sector, however, such things are mostly regarded as business as usual, while government figures are routinely thrown in jail.

I am intrigued that you would use this type of argument, however, seeing as you are a gun advocate. As you should know, this argument applies equally to gun ownership; by your reasoning we should ban all guns because some use them for murder.



Our don't. Further, while Europeans certainly end up shot by the police occasionally, a European police officer generally does not worry about the suspect being armed, with the appropriate change in methods. You have to take a very different approach when you have good reason to suspect a hidden gun compared to when you have good reason to suspect an unarmed individual.

This should be pretty obvious.

1)Here is the basis of privilege and elitism. Masters and servants. Grocers and gardeners are just as desirable as policemen. Maybe more so.

Utilities workers are not protected, nor anyone working for a private firm, like ambulance attendants or medical personnel. Of possible interest: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...-in-california (is NPR subversive?)

I guess he was a nutter though, huh?

2)Oh, you work for a private academy?

3)I wish!

4)Actually the US problem is one of mentality. With the rise of SWAT units all the cops shifted to a different mind set. The result is lots of casualties. Most victims of police shootings are unarmed.


Police forces, by the way, were created for control of the population for the benefit of those in power and the wealthy. Law enforcement was simply an afterthought.

[Fisherking]

Being honest, you would have to be pretty ignorant and foolhardly not to know. Typical behaviour is usually being cautious and hesitant around an on-duty police officer due to feel of being intimidated/caught guilty with something even though you are innocent.

If you start bad mouthing and smacking an officer, you are 'asking for it'.

In life, we typically get away with a lot of things, simply because no one usually cares to get the authorities involved. But when they are involved, incidents are treated without the same disregard a joe or jane public might do.

The question is not should you harass police, it is whether they need special protections under the law that private citizens are not entitled to.

I would say striking jane public is just as serious as striking a police officer. If anything the cop is better equipped to deal with violence than some guy on the street corner.

[HoreTore]

1)Here is the basis of privilege and elitism. Masters and servants. Grocers and gardeners are just as desirable as policemen. Maybe more so.

Utilities workers are not protected, nor anyone working for a private firm, like ambulance attendants or medical personnel. Of possible interest: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...-in-california (is NPR subversive?)

I guess he was a nutter though, huh?

Interrupting medical personnell, ambulances in particular, carry heavy penalties. The 'we are all the same'-bit is just nonsense. We are not all the same, our jobs are not equally important. Those jobs needed to make other jobs function are more important by definition. Usually, because of their importance, these functions are government controlled, as the private market is too unreliable for these services to function as needed.

2)Oh, you work for a private academy?

I work for an IB school.

4)Actually the US problem is one of mentality.

....which is what I said.

Police forces, by the way, were created for control of the population for the benefit of those in power and the wealthy. Law enforcement was simply an afterthought.

Extreme political paranoia: check.

[Fisherking]

Interrupting medical personnell, ambulances in particular, carry heavy penalties. The 'we are all the same'-bit is just nonsense. We are not all the same, our jobs are not equally important. Those jobs needed to make other jobs function are more important by definition. Usually, because of their importance, these functions are government controlled, as the private market is too unreliable for these services to function as needed.

You are fundamentally stratifying society with that approach. Is it more of a crime to rob a rich man than a poor one? Is it more serious to shoot a lawyer than a farmer?

These are crimes. If circumstance warrants special treatment for a crime, then a judge should decide the penalty but not special laws for favored classes. Individual government workers are no more necessary to societal function than all the others.

....which is what I said.

No it is not. The public didn’t get more dangerous, the police did.

Extreme political paranoia: check.

I wouldn’t want you to be harmed but why don’t you travel to some of the countries in Easter Europe for a time and let me know what you think afterward. Norway is not much like most of the world.

[HoreTore]

You are fundamentally stratifying society with that approach. Is it more of a crime to rob a rich man than a poor one? Is it more serious to shoot a lawyer than a farmer?

These are crimes. If circumstance warrants special treatment for a crime, then a judge should decide the penalty but not special laws for favored classes. Individual government workers are no more necessary to societal function than all the others.

Hi there.

There is a fundamental difference, recognized by law, between an individual performing a certain role, and that same individual when not performing that role. "Favoured classes"? What rubbish.

No it is not. The public didn’t get more dangerous, the police did.

Yes, because agents usually operate in a vacuum. /sarcasm

I wouldn’t want you to be harmed but why don’t you travel to some of the countries in Easter Europe for a time and let me know what you think afterward. Norway is not much like most of the world.

I was in Bosnia and Croatia a month ago; I didn't see the police running about ordering folks around, sorry.

[Fisherking]

Not at all. The US congress has been known to exempt themselves from the laws the pass. Federal employees in the US on or off duty are covered under federal, not state law making crimes against them a federal matter. And surely that could happen no where else...Never mind what you recommended.

And because you never have police approach you no one else dose. Police brutality is a myth huh

[HoreTore]

Police brutality is a myth huh

Federal employees in the US on or off duty are covered under federal, not state law making crimes against them a federal matter.

Completely irrelevant.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

How is qualitative research anecdotal?

Take, for example, anthropology....one researcher studying one tribe to learn of its culture....a single "story" or anecdote is the result. Popper would not approve.

[HoreTore]

Take, for example, anthropology....one researcher studying one tribe to learn of its culture....a single "story" or anecdote is the result. Popper would not approve.

For much of the early anthropology, I am inclined to agree.

EDIT: But then again, my knowledge of early anthropological research is rather limited, except for the many errors they made...

Still, qualitative research also includes stuff like including an open question on a question sheet as part of a larger quantitative question sheet. With a thousand individual responses, you're not very anecdotal...

[Ironside]

Not at all. The US congress has been known to exempt themselves from the laws the pass. Federal employees in the US on or off duty are covered under federal, not state law making crimes against them a federal matter. And surely that could happen no where else...Never mind what you recommended.

And because you never have police approach you no one else dose. Police brutality is a myth huh

The risk of corruption of police is always there. But that's something you have to accept, since it comes with the enforcement of law itself.

Having induvidual law enforcement would mean that the first time you get a large gang, it would take a long time before you'll get a proper response. Then you'll get the really large gangs (think riotsized, but controlled), that would require military to suppress, or they take power. PI:s would be the only ones with time to do better investigations. Plenty of wrongful convictions, etc, etc.

Having private forces? Their first mission would be to protect their employers (aka the rich) against everyone else. The treatment of everyone else is only relevant if it's so bad that everyone else makes an uprising. They would also need a control organ, that needs to be independantly funded, or you're having corruption more or less built in from the start.

And yes, attacks on civic infrastructure should be (slightly) harsher in punishment. That also means that the same induviduals getting assulted in private should be treated as the average citizen (not fully possible of course, but as an ideal).

[Papewaio]

For much of the early anthropology, I am inclined to agree.

EDIT: But then again, my knowledge of early anthropological research is rather limited, except for the many errors they made...

Still, qualitative research also includes stuff like including an open question on a question sheet as part of a larger quantitative question sheet. With a thousand individual responses, you're not very anecdotal...

Are we confusing the research data (quantitative or qualitative) to how that research is tested?

If you have an open ended question and then statistical analysis of the answers its quantitative.

If the researcher goes "Answers were long for most of them, so we think most people care about the question." It's going to be a qualitative answer and therefore anecdotal evidence.

[Beskar]

Are we confusing the research data (quantitative or qualitative) to how that research is tested?

If you have an open ended question and then statistical analysis of the answers its quantitative.

If the researcher goes "Answers were long for most of them, so we think most people care about the question." It's going to be a qualitative answer and therefore anecdotal evidence.

There is plenty of qualitative research and analysis in Psychology, it plays a good part in understanding behaviour.

[Fisherking]

The risk of corruption of police is always there. But that's something you have to accept, since it comes with the enforcement of law itself.

Having induvidual law enforcement would mean that the first time you get a large gang, it would take a long time before you'll get a proper response. Then you'll get the really large gangs (think riotsized, but controlled), that would require military to suppress, or they take power. PI:s would be the only ones with time to do better investigations. Plenty of wrongful convictions, etc, etc.

Having private forces? Their first mission would be to protect their employers (aka the rich) against everyone else. The treatment of everyone else is only relevant if it's so bad that everyone else makes an uprising. They would also need a control organ, that needs to be independantly funded, or you're having corruption more or less built in from the start.

And yes, attacks on civic infrastructure should be (slightly) harsher in punishment. That also means that the same induviduals getting assulted in private should be treated as the average citizen (not fully possible of course, but as an ideal).

Yes, indeed it is to be expected but rather than just accepted it should be guarded against, and actions taken to remove it.

The setting apart of government officials because of position is simply a bad idea. Primarily because the people drawn to such positions are often those who wish power over others. To complicate the matter further, even the perception of privilege or authority has a tendency to build resentment on both sides of the issue.

With the rest I agree.