[Kadetklapp]

Originally Posted by Mrs.Cicero

I'm not a cop, so I don't know why anyone else hangs out here. I do it because Mr.C accuses me of being of morose, dark humor. I come here to lighten up.

Mrs.Cicero

Well, you have come to the right place.

[Sam Spade]

Originally Posted by Kadetklapp

I've been on a couple of LE boards as well and found them to be pretty bland, but I think a lot of the guys here are the exception. Maybe it is the dynamic of being transparent to the general public, but where in the hell does the group hatred come from? It's like....it feeds itself and reproduces and then the next thing you know, 4/5 GnG posters have uncles who are cops but they hate them anyway...

I've had some off-line discussions with a moderator that were doozies as the yapping dogs of the sub-forums got out of control. Blew off the pressure, made some points clear, resumed life. It's pretty normal.

Where does it come from? Hatred comes from fear. Fear often comes from ignorance, which is why Russ is so big on promoting ride-alongs. Regardless of where it comes from, it's not rational. Joe Poster reads about something, usually something factually incorrect or incomplete, and he pictures that applying to him. "Erik Scott was a fine, upstanding guy with a career and a CCW. If the cops shot him down, they could do the same thing to me." That Erik was also drugged out of his mind, caused a commotion, flashed his gun and disobeyed lawful commands before he appearing to create a lethal threat to the responding cops gets lost in the emotional response. Yet some people do end up getting it when it's laid out. Others, the prolific haters that you describe, take the "authority is evil" position so many times that it becomes habit and unshakeable. Nothing to do with them, except flay them at every need and create an example and warning for others.

[Kadetklapp]

Originally Posted by Sam Spade

I've had some off-line discussions with a moderator that were doozies as the yapping dogs of the sub-forums got out of control. Blew off the pressure, made some points clear, resumed life. It's pretty normal.

Where does it come from? Hatred comes from fear. Fear often comes from ignorance, which is why Russ is so big on promoting ride-alongs. Regardless of where it comes from, it's not rational. Joe Poster reads about something, usually something factually incorrect or incomplete, and he pictures that applying to him. "Erik Scott was a fine, upstanding guy with a career and a CCW. If the cops shot him down, they could do the same thing to me." That Erik was also drugged out of his mind, caused a commotion, flashed his gun and disobeyed lawful commands before he appearing to create a lethal threat to the responding cops gets lost in the emotional response. Yet some people do end up getting it when it's laid out. Others, the prolific haters that you describe, take the "authority is evil" position so many times that it becomes habit and unshakeable. Nothing to do with them, except flay them at every need and create an example and warning for others.

I guess I just expect better of gun enthusiasts. What you describe (which is correct) is exactly the same mindset of the antis and the sheep.

[Sam Spade]

Originally Posted by Kadetklapp

I guess I just expect better of gun enthusiasts. What you describe (which is correct) is exactly the same mindset of the antis and the sheep.

Funny you should say that. I went through a recent thread on GTPI, where there was a chorus praising former-Judge Napalotano and his commentary on how far from liberty we've come. I pointed out some things that were off about the piece, a few that were my opinions but most that were firmly rooted in fact. The name-calling and utter absence of critical thinking that surfaced were amazing. I brought up that the methodology of their arguments were totally indistinguishable from that of the left, and more unpleasantness ensued.

Another poster came along (sorry, I forget who) to say that 90% of the population forms its opinions in just that manner, and that's the way it was. The bell curve is inescapable. With a lot of work, you can move someone a little way along it. With major, major work, you can move the whole thing, but not usually.

[Cubdriver]

Well, as someone who's NOT associated with law enforcement, I personally enjoy reading this section of the forum and am glad that it's not LEO only. It's interesting to see things from your point of view, and to varying degrees horrifying - fascinating - amusing and insightful to read your stories. People never cease to amaze me (and all too often NOT in a good way), and by the nature of your profession it seems you guys get to interact with many of the more 'colorful' ones on a regular basis.

I've learned some tips for traffic stops that I might not otherwise have thought of - things like dome light on at night, make an effort to be calm and move slowly, say what you're going to do before doing it (like in don't quickly dive for the glove compartment when asked for registration), etc. Thus far I've not needed to put this new information to use as I try to avoid interacting with you folks on a 'professional' level, but it's good to know it just in case. I'd never really thought about just how high-stress pulling someone over is for the cop until really stopping and thinking about it. I'd bet long odds that MOST people don't give it a thought.

Knowledge gained here has also been helpful in debating idiots on facebook and in other forums yipping about things like the horrible police brutality in the OWS protests, trying to explain ask-tell-make, ferreting out the WHOLE video, and not just the part where the allegedly peaceful students sitting and singing hymns were mercilessly hosed down with OC without any warning or provocation. It's nice to occasionally see someone's eyes opened up when they see the ten minutes leading up to the news clip where the police tried just about everything to get the crowd to disperse, and also see the 'innocent' party screaming, swearing, threatening and practically going ballistic while the cops stand there biting their tongues and trying to calmly reason with them. It puts things in a different light.

It's also amusing to see you take on unarmed opponents in battles of wits here on the forum.

Dragoon's dinosaur stories are cool - it's good to hear from someone with first-hand knowledge.

And TBO, welcome back from your hiatus.

Hope all of you have a safe holiday season, and keep up the good work.

-Pat

[golls17]

Cops only stop red cars with hot women driving them...

[razdog76]

Originally Posted by TheeBadOne

I hear you.

I believe the reason I (and some others) come to an open forum like this, despite the occasional stream of excrement we must endure, is the opportunity to meet, interact, learn from, and help some regular folks we otherwise may not meet in the real world.

I am a member of some LE vetted boards/forums, and they are great, but still find myself here more for what I believe is the above reason.
Yeah, sometimes it's more than a little frustrating, but I try to "consider the source" and not get dragged down to the level of poop slingers. I'm human, I don't always succeed, but that doesn't keep me from striving to be better. I just have to remind myself of the above once in a while.

All the best

TBO

Absolutely why I love the forum. for every troll, there are many non-trolls that read things, and every once in a while contribute something. Although some confirmation might be nice sometimes, I feel as though having non (LEO's, CO's, etc...) keeps me grounded, and allows an opportunity to educate.

However, if someone wants to throw down in a battle of semantics, its on cuz.

[WarCry]

Originally Posted by ateamer

You don't need to have actually worked as a law enforcement officer to give out (advice) or tell war stories. Hanging out at the Quik Stop and (overhearing) the real cops' stories and going on a ridealong in 1994 (is enough to qualify you) as knowing just as much.

Hey! I'll have you know I've been on THREE ride-alongs, and two of them were last year. And I only occasionally speak up in GNG threads and.....






....oh, crap, it's me, isn't it?

[Sharky7]

Originally Posted by Cubdriver

It's also amusing to see you take on unarmed opponents in battles of wits here on the forum.



-Pat

That made me chuckle.

[lawman800]

Originally Posted by Kadetklapp

I've been on a couple of LE boards as well and found them to be pretty bland, but I think a lot of the guys here are the exception. Maybe it is the dynamic of being transparent to the general public, but where in the hell does the group hatred come from? It's like....it feeds itself and reproduces and then the next thing you know, 4/5 GnG posters have uncles who are cops but they hate them anyway...

I am on a vetted board where there is a verification process but it's because I already know the sponsoring entity and I know a moderator. The people there are great but the activity level is much more reduced in part because of the reduced membership. Some LE don't know or don't bother with the process to get in the vetted boards and that's fine. There are some vetted boards I am not a part of because I am lazy, I will admit it.

This is one of the most active LE sections on any forum and I have a lot of fun here, talking with a lot of like-minded people who reinforce my notion that most cops are very funny people with a peculiar sense of humor.

I have met a few members who are in the area, know a few who know others that I know, and met a few members who came to town to visit. All great people that I otherwise would never have met.

I learned a lot from everyone here and hopefully imparted some wisdom as well... more wisecracks... but hopefully some useful nuggets as well.

[lawman800]

Originally Posted by gollbladder13

Cops only stop red cars with hot women driving them...

We stop red cars with hot women in them, doubly as much if it's a convertible. 100% of the time if the hot woman is married to a guy who lives 7 jurisdictions away, and we don't have our hats on and we didn't make an appointment.

We also stop all cars with tints and fart can exhausts just to harass the driver for no reason, nevermind that both the tint and fart can are sufficient and legitimate probably cause to stop the car.

[Dragoon44]

If the letter of the law favors someone they want the letter of the law adhered to, if the officer does not they are a jack booted thug and should be fired.

If the letter of the law is against them then they want the officer to use "discretion", if the officer does not, and instead follows the letter of the law then they are a jackbooted thug and should be fired.

[Ajon412]

Originally Posted by lawman800

I am on a vetted board where there is a verification process but it's because I already know the sponsoring entity and I know a moderator. The people there are great but the activity level is much more reduced in part because of the reduced membership. Some LE don't know or don't bother with the process to get in the vetted boards and that's fine. There are some vetted boards I am not a part of because I am lazy, I will admit it.

This is one of the most active LE sections on any forum and I have a lot of fun here, talking with a lot of like-minded people who reinforce my notion that most cops are very funny people with a peculiar sense of humor.

I have met a few members who are in the area, know a few who know others that I know, and met a few members who came to town to visit. All great people that I otherwise would never have met.

I learned a lot from everyone here and hopefully imparted some wisdom as well... more wisecracks... but hopefully some useful nuggets as well.

This......I think peculiar is being awfully generous......I'd say dark, morose as we get to see people at their very worse and conversely, at their best and if you didn't have a sense of humor when you started in LE, you soon develop one quickly..You have to....We also have a lot more in common then most expect and it doesn't matter what part of the country we're from, what type of LE we perform or who signs our pay check...As a buddy of mine once told me "If you talk to one cop, you've talked to them all"......

[dmjonez]

It is important to check a woman's teeth.

Always get IBTL....

[lawman800]

Originally Posted by Ajon412

This......I think peculiar is being awfully generous......I'd say dark, morose as we get to see people at their very worse and conversely, at their best and if you didn't have a sense of humor when you started in LE, you soon develop one quickly..You have to....We also have a lot more in common then most expect and it doesn't matter what part of the country we're from, what type of LE we perform or who signs our pay check...As a buddy of mine once told me "If you talk to one cop, you've talked to them all"......

Yep, and if you know a cop that doesn't have that type of sense of humor, or any sense of humor, or has nothing really in common with cop types... that cop usually:

1. Doesn't last on the job and quits or gets fired
2. Stays on the job but resorts to alcohol or other stupidity
3. Is a crappy cop
4. Gets promoted above you by burning someone else (or you)

[lawman800]

Originally Posted by dmjonez

It is important to check a woman's teeth.

Violate this rule and risk losing a super cool awesome trick top of the line 40" LCD TV!

[CJStudent]

Originally Posted by lawman800

Violate this rule and risk losing a super cool awesome trick top of the line 40" LCD TV!

Sony Bravia FTW!

[TBO]

There is no penalty or concequence for an LEO who makes a mistake or does something wrong other than termination.

No training/retraining, apology, time off, demotion will do, only termination.

Even if it's not a crime or violation of law or department policy, the LEO should be fired.

[Hunca Munca]

Originally Posted by cjstudent

sony bravia ftw!

bravia for life!!!!!

[RussP]

...that some people are afraid to start threads in Cop Talk asking for LEOs input on a specific incident...

[razdog76]

I think Coptalk is like morning radio, there are many more people listening to the conversations, than participating.

[PawDog]

Things I've Learned on Glock Talk

If all drugs are legalized, all drug dealing gang bangers will all become productive, well employed members of society, instead of continuing to commit the other crimes they're also involved in, i.e., robbery, auto theft, burglary, rape, etc.

[RussP]

Originally Posted by razdog76

I think Coptalk is like morning radio, there are many more people listening to the conversations, than participating.

That is Gooooood!!

[Dragoon44]

I learned I was an Internet bully, apparently if you tell people something straight and don't sugar coat it you are being a bully.

[GlockinNJ]

I've learned that every thread eventually goes off the rails...