Re: Hate Thread
The problem is the solution really. Our system is checks and balances. Chances of singular corruption rise with small events but it's pretty much impossible to run into an entire corrupt system. I mean, yeah, there's small levels in every portion of the branch and seeing them every day makes you feel like you might get into trouble for nothing but it never goes that far. Personality-wise, I was the kid who absolutely loved getting in trouble for doing nothing. I would purposefully put myself into situations that made it seem like I was doing something wrong or illegal and have fun arguing with the guy til I was blue in the face, and I could do so with utmost confidence cuz I knew nothing could ever go wrong. It terms of policing and dealing with it as an adult however, I've always been able to keep calm with the knowledge of a checks and balances system. You have to be able to stay calm, level-headed, and diplomatic, because if the officer ever takes it to the next level DESPITE your cooperative actions, he's the one who gets the stick. However, THE SECOND you resist it physically, especially in your case of fighting off a security guard in a matter you weren't involved in, they will throw the proverbial book at you.
Of course this is left up to individual variances, sometimes cops feel they're justified for pushing too hard, which are the ones you can catch with diplomacy through the system, but then there are some that know they're being assholes for the sake of being an asshole and will never push it if you don't escalate yourself so they can take you down. Without you losing your temper, they just dance around what's ok and what isn't. Those you can only really outwit cuz you can't get them physically.
Ex: The cops in my area have absolutely nothing to do. There are no violent crimes, and in the case of misdemeanors with teenagers, they're usually really cool. However, and it's sad and I feel bad about it, they must get paid some way and they have to issue out regulation amounts of punishment, so they go completely insane on traffic laws. I've tried to be calm and diplomatic with them, but dealing with police in cars is one of the most subjective areas of justification for any action they take and the police around here, despite no real danger, liken themselves to heroes. All my actions ever did is leave me with a slight fear of authority. I've gotten pulled over 3 times, resulting in 2 tickets despite my calm demeanor. However, my father got out of a ticket by asking the cop "Oh yeah, you're a real hero. By the way, where were you on 9/11? Why didn't you go run into the building and die?" He was so taken aback by it, he lost all effort towards his normal being-an-asshole routine.
So in the end, importance is knowing where you stand at all times and keeping a level-head. I take a lot of crim courses, and it's not cuz I'm interested in the psychological theories on criminal mindsets or hope in a criminal justice future. It's so I know what I can do and not get in trouble for it. It used to be rumored around me that a cop can do absolutely nothing to you if you flip him off, curse him off, and spit in his direction for no reason, cuz of some free-speech. That was until my friend tried it, then the cop turned and walked in his direction, so he ran away. Then I got to see my friend thrown to the ground and "talked to" (heavily berated) Guy was nice enough to let him off though.
