Okay, let's review:
Alcohol is an inhibitor. That is to say, it alters your state of mind by numbing your senses, including your personal inhibitions (that little voice that says "No, that is wrong"). Alcohol does not MAKE you do something, it only lessens your cognitive ability to think rationally... It is not a crutch that can be used to justify or rationalize actions. And the "I was drunk" defense does not hold up in court.
With parties you mix ONE brain numbing chemical with other brain numbing chemicals... teenage / early 20's testosterone... then multiply that by group peer pressure. Remember the person is smart, but people (in groups) are stupid. It's not easy to be a voice of reason among a situation that is spinning out of control. But if you are laughing, cheering, shouting, or even just "hanging out" while the crime is going down, you are contributing and are just as accountable as the others who are throwing the bottles. Once the police give an "Order to dispurse", and you disobey that... you're arrestable. There are specific criteria that the police follow when dealing with riots. If you were there after the police showed up to take control, and you chose to stick around... that was pretty stupid.
As a human being you should know that damaging someone elses property is wrong. At least, you know when someone else damages YOUR property it's wrong. And you know that hurting people is wrong. Ignorance is also not an excuse. Not in court, and not in my book. Saying that The Police made the people riot is probably the most ignorant statement I have read on the board. It is not the first time I have heard that excuse, but that's all it is... an excuse. In America we live in a Blameless Society. Ever since the advent of the law suit, people have grown accustomed to placing blame on someone else and refusing to take responsibility for their actions.
In terms of a Riot, let's talk about how this goes down. There are usually several groups of "peaceful partygoers", with a sprinkling of testosterone laden / alcohol charged idiots (usually male). The police will monitor the situation, and as long as things stay peaceful they will let the partying continue. At some point drunk male idiots grab girls, start fighting other people, damaging property, etc. Other idiots see these crimes happening and nothing's being done (500 people, 10 cops... can't catch 'em all) The sheep get some courage and start to join in. Eventually the crowd "Turns", and mob mentality takes over. Usually if the police can intervene and pull out the "leaders" (the ones who are vocal, inciting others to continue breaking the law) that visual is sobering to the crowd and they will become peaceful again. The problem is, you have to time it and coordinate it JUST right, and that is NOT easy to do.
If order is restored, then partying continues and a few people go to jail. If others join in and start attacking the cops, the situation spins quickly and reinforcements are called in to FORCEFULLY restore order. The cops arrive, they will make announcements from a bull horn stating that they are going to take control of the area and everyone is ordered to leave. If you disobey those announcements... well, you're in for trouble.
The bottom line is, there are consequences for our actions. If you cross the line and you get caught, then you pay the price. Don't go blaming the cops, judge, the government, the school, mommy and daddy for something that you knew all too well and good was wrong.
As mentioned before, when you deal with an officer and you think the officer has done something wrong, you MUST obey the officer's lawful order AT THAT TIME. If you do not obey the order, then you are arrestable... end of story. Later, you may go and contact the department's watch commander and file a complaint. However, if you disobeyed the officer, then your complaint loses quite a bit of merit.
Grow up. Stop blaming the cops for YOUR mistakes.
Alcohol is an inhibitor. That is to say, it alters your state of mind by numbing your senses, including your personal inhibitions (that little voice that says "No, that is wrong"). Alcohol does not MAKE you do something, it only lessens your cognitive ability to think rationally... It is not a crutch that can be used to justify or rationalize actions. And the "I was drunk" defense does not hold up in court.
With parties you mix ONE brain numbing chemical with other brain numbing chemicals... teenage / early 20's testosterone... then multiply that by group peer pressure. Remember the person is smart, but people (in groups) are stupid. It's not easy to be a voice of reason among a situation that is spinning out of control. But if you are laughing, cheering, shouting, or even just "hanging out" while the crime is going down, you are contributing and are just as accountable as the others who are throwing the bottles. Once the police give an "Order to dispurse", and you disobey that... you're arrestable. There are specific criteria that the police follow when dealing with riots. If you were there after the police showed up to take control, and you chose to stick around... that was pretty stupid.
As a human being you should know that damaging someone elses property is wrong. At least, you know when someone else damages YOUR property it's wrong. And you know that hurting people is wrong. Ignorance is also not an excuse. Not in court, and not in my book. Saying that The Police made the people riot is probably the most ignorant statement I have read on the board. It is not the first time I have heard that excuse, but that's all it is... an excuse. In America we live in a Blameless Society. Ever since the advent of the law suit, people have grown accustomed to placing blame on someone else and refusing to take responsibility for their actions.
In terms of a Riot, let's talk about how this goes down. There are usually several groups of "peaceful partygoers", with a sprinkling of testosterone laden / alcohol charged idiots (usually male). The police will monitor the situation, and as long as things stay peaceful they will let the partying continue. At some point drunk male idiots grab girls, start fighting other people, damaging property, etc. Other idiots see these crimes happening and nothing's being done (500 people, 10 cops... can't catch 'em all) The sheep get some courage and start to join in. Eventually the crowd "Turns", and mob mentality takes over. Usually if the police can intervene and pull out the "leaders" (the ones who are vocal, inciting others to continue breaking the law) that visual is sobering to the crowd and they will become peaceful again. The problem is, you have to time it and coordinate it JUST right, and that is NOT easy to do.
If order is restored, then partying continues and a few people go to jail. If others join in and start attacking the cops, the situation spins quickly and reinforcements are called in to FORCEFULLY restore order. The cops arrive, they will make announcements from a bull horn stating that they are going to take control of the area and everyone is ordered to leave. If you disobey those announcements... well, you're in for trouble.
The bottom line is, there are consequences for our actions. If you cross the line and you get caught, then you pay the price. Don't go blaming the cops, judge, the government, the school, mommy and daddy for something that you knew all too well and good was wrong.
As mentioned before, when you deal with an officer and you think the officer has done something wrong, you MUST obey the officer's lawful order AT THAT TIME. If you do not obey the order, then you are arrestable... end of story. Later, you may go and contact the department's watch commander and file a complaint. However, if you disobeyed the officer, then your complaint loses quite a bit of merit.
Grow up. Stop blaming the cops for YOUR mistakes.
Comment