You make fair points. We have a lot of work to do (an understatement, I know) and I expect that trust and respect will not come easy, if it is even possible. This would have been a much simpler situation without the damned note. I'd venture to say that this incident will serve to divide rather than unite, given the reactions in this thread, which is a shame because it's indicative of the apparent futility of any goals of harmony. Of course, good people won't give up or stop being good. I just hope that we can have a better execution and outcome the next time a similar situation arises.
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Cops make surprising gesture when couple refuses to sit near them
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You make fair points. We have a lot of work to do (an understatement, I know) and I expect that trust and respect will not come easy, if it is even possible. This would have been a much simpler situation without the damned note. I'd venture to say that this incident will serve to divide rather than unite, given the reactions in this thread, which is a shame because it's indicative of the apparent futility of any goals of harmony. Of course, good people won't give up or stop being good. I just hope that we can have a better execution and outcome the next time a similar situation arises.
old manatee
Banned
That note is textbook passive aggressive. If someone paid for my meal and left that note I would still leave the restaurant full payment and tip for my check.
They weren't trying to be nice. They were trying to teach a lesson to someone who was already uncomfortable in their presence.
supermarioworldE
Banned
Big whoop. Had they simply paid for the meal without the snark, there'd be no debate about the genuineness of it.
excelsiorlef
Member
Well I mean this is litteral PR. It's a puff piece all about them. The couple is unidentified, their reasons unexplored, their reaction to the note especially unknown.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
Well they obviously would like people to think about them differently. That's like their goal right now. So PR is necessary. There was a Police hosted community day this past week in my town. They want to make people not hate them.
How feasible is that in a country that has more firearms than inhabitants?
old manatee
Banned
excelsiorlef
Member
Right but without addressing any of the issues.
I point again to the note.
There is no acknowledgement of understanding of the issues just low grade guilt trip attempt. Garbage.
Doug Heffernan
Member
oh ffs...
Some of these replies are ridiculous. How about just appreciating a good deed and not trying to push an agenda?
These officers could have been bitter about the situation but they took the high road, good on them.
excelsiorlef
Member
Lol again read the note. Good deed my ass.
This whole article is pushing an agenda. We're just pushing back.
their agenda vs your agenda, nobody wins.
wesleyshark
Banned
But one side is 100% right and the other side is 100% wrong, according to both sides.
excelsiorlef
Member
It's not my fault cops can't even pull of #NotAllCops PR puff pieces right.
Liu Kang Baking A Pie
Member
This is like the news story version of a bullshot.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
This is the problem. Nobody even tries to understand. On either side. It's fuck you. That's it.
Like there is a right way to pull this off...the last thing anyone needs is more agenda-driven nonsense to share across social media. This forum in particular has seemed to really fall victim to this kind of one-sided thinking recently and it's really disappointing because all of these threads end up being a total mess of people relentlessly pushing their agendas, this one included.
excelsiorlef
Member
This is hilarious in the context of an article where one side is completely absent and no attempt to understand them was attempted.
Double so when the note also ahowed a complete disinterest in understanding the other side instead opting for shaming and guilt tripping.
Writing a note that isnt a total passive aggressive guilt trip is a start. Write something that acknowledges the state of affairs. That would be a start.
These cops were literally Nice Guys (TM)
wesleyshark
Banned
Why won't anything change? No one wants to budge first.
What exactly are black people supposed to budge on though? The ball is in the cops court and has been for decades.
old manatee
Banned
I don't think that's the case here. I've been to plenty of late night restaurants after a night of drinking and tried to stay away from cops.
I'm not saying this entire story isn't total bullshit, I honestly don't know if it is or not. But even if it was true you would discredit it any way you can because this doesn't fit the narrative you support. Both sides do this relentlessly and it's extremely frustrating for someone like me; who isn't one-sided, to see happen constantly because it's totally counterproductive. I know this will be in one ear and out the other anyway so carry on passionately pushing your agenda, whatever side that may be. I'm sure it will help the situation.
Props for taking this attitude and coming back to the thread to apologize.
excelsiorlef
Member
I mean afterall if you have nothing to hide amirite?
Couple were no angels probably.
Fuck.
Agreed
You keep accusing me of something that you don't know to be true.
My focus has been consistently on the note and what it means and how it belies their motivation.
But hey way to be above it all or whatever makes you feel superior at night.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
It's funny because it's true? I'm not defending either side with that. I'm saying both are stubborn, and make no real attempt to listen.
One side sat far away from the cops, just to make it obvious that they didn't like cops. The other side bought them food, in a "kill them with kindness" type of way.
Also, I feel like this Key & Peele sketch is relevant here. But we don't really know.
it is what you guys want it to be.
So cops are being forced to go to war with minorities and are dying by the tens of thousands in a distant land that doesn't want them there?
excelsiorlef
Member
Yes this is a new thing and not a decades long fight.
A Link to the Past
Banned
Do you have a figure on the number of good cops? I've heard figures that show that a majority either are bad cops, or protect them.
Did the news clip of this get posted yet? A reporter interviewed one of the officers and he said basically (I'm paraphrasing) the couple made it clear they didn't want to sit by the officers and the officer said back to them "we're not here to hurt you".
He said another officer suggested picking up their tab and so they did. He said it was because he wanted to show them that they're really not here to hurt you... UNLESS....then he quickly corrected himself and moved on talking about how they wanted to work to change public perception.
If was really funny because he basically said we won't hurt anyone unless they give us a reason to. That's not what he actually said, but he might as well have. Just shows everyone calling this out for the passive aggressive stuff was right all along.
He said another officer suggested picking up their tab and so they did. He said it was because he wanted to show them that they're really not here to hurt you... UNLESS....then he quickly corrected himself and moved on talking about how they wanted to work to change public perception.
If was really funny because he basically said we won't hurt anyone unless they give us a reason to. That's not what he actually said, but he might as well have. Just shows everyone calling this out for the passive aggressive stuff was right all along.
Spring-Loaded
Member
Just to mix things up for once
And you think those people say far away from the cops "just to make it clear they didn't like cops"? How can you know when hey we're never interviewed, and how do you know it had nothing to do with the events over the past week coupled with decades of unpunished police brutality?
What the hell are black people supposed to budge on when they are getting killed following an officer's order?
Spring-Loaded
Member
He will never be able to give you a decent answer.
Feasible? Very. It's quite possible to do.
Likely? Not at all, given the political climate of this country.
They were criticized for not standing up to the war, and in a way yea cops are forced to deal with people and areas that don't want them there. Just like this thread's newstory showed after all.
Fair enough, millennials take it up another notch and don't trust anyone, rightfully so I suppose
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
Seems like it, but I don't know for sure. I was just presenting two sides to be compared. I could've easily described them both in the polar opposite and I would believe them just as much. I have no opinion on which story is correct because we don't really have evidence.
Yeah and? Cops are being criticized for shooting people at traffic stops and in general treating minorities like they are all potential violent criminals and stepping all over their rights. The cops aren't fighting a war but certainly act like it whenever they get the chance. The cops aren't soldiers, they're public servants who are supposed to work with the community to protect and servant. The cops aren't judge, jury and executioner and shouldn't be blowing people away because they're nervous or scared or the victim fit a type.
7DollarHagane
Banned
It says something about your ability to judge people based on their individual actions and knowledge of them vs labeling them and judging them based on what other people have done.
excelsiorlef
Member
We have the note and now their words sooo....
BrutishMrFish
Member
It's also possible that they were just worried that someone would shoot at the cops, but too hungry to switch restaurants.
If "they were probably drunk or high" is a feasible explanation, that one is too.
Plenty of people are judging the cops in the article based on their individual actions, which did include paying for a couple's meal, but also included writing a snide note about it and posing for a photo op.
Cops are fighting the longest lasting war we've ever had - the war on 'drugs' thanks to superpredator politicians and their voters. The people want to be tough on crime. But yea no one is disagreeing with that there are bad cops and reform is needed, but good luck treating them like second class citizens. Not too different from blaming all soldiers for military rape culture. Mad props to the boys in blue.
You may not realize it when you smoke, but you stink
I smoked weed for like 20 years straight, every day, never realized how powerful that smell was until I stopped smoking weed and cigarettes and got my sense of smell back.
Now adays I'm like a hound dog and I can smell that shit from a mile away, so yeah I can see people not wanting to sit by the cops and then have the cops wait for them into the parking lot and pull them over after they left.
Some cops though will straight up not even care if you're smoking as long as you're not causing trouble, every cop is different.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
Key & Peele sketch I replied to you with go watch it lol
Also, who's words. Did the restaurant goers reply?
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