# Controversial encounters between law-enforcement and civilians - the omnibus thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942 "2014-10-10T07:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 315
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6281 "2015-09-15T21:27:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > _From you, Dad! I learned it from you!!_ Won’t your real Dad accept you? That’s so sad. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6282 "2015-09-15T21:30:19Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Bravo. That’s another word that can be found in a dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6283 "2015-09-15T22:24:16Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > so sad. \ ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6284 "2015-09-16T00:33:26Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > Are dictionaries banned in your world? Other worlds find them quite useful. Indeed. For example: con·no·ta·tion ˌkänəˈtāSH(ə)n/ noun an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning. “the word “discipline” has unhappy connotations of punishment and repression” ---
**Author:** ![Grsz11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grsz11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grsz11)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6285 "2015-09-16T00:43:04Z")
I saw a Facebook post of two black kids in handcuffs supposedly in Troy, NY because they “fit the description” of robbery suspects. Not only were probably no older then ten, they were wearing sandals. Anybody know if this story is legit? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6286 "2015-09-16T07:45:10Z")
> [@Grsz11](#): > > I saw a Facebook post of two black kids in handcuffs supposedly in Troy, NY because they “fit the description” of robbery suspects. Not only were probably no older then ten, they were wearing sandals. Anybody know if this story is legit? Link? What does them wearing sandals have to do with anything? Loathe as I am to side with doorhinge, he’s right about the word thug. It might have gained some racist connotations very recently, but that doesn’t mean that’s the _only_ meaning. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6287 "2015-09-16T08:00:12Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Loathe as I am to side with doorhinge, he’s right about the word thug. It might have gained some racist connotations very recently, but that doesn’t mean that’s the _only_ meaning. :smack: There was obvious sarcasm to test whether **D’Orange** was another replicant or bot. Don’t tell us you’re just a computer program too? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6288 "2015-09-16T08:39:23Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > :smack: There was obvious sarcasm to test whether **D’Orange** was another replicant or bot. Don’t tell us you’re just a computer program too? 😕 Does not compute. \ **Author:** ![bosbfdsfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@bosbfdsfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bosbfdsfd)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6289 "2015-09-16T09:27:13Z") > [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Unfortunately “Thug” has turned into a racist code-word in some circles, supplanting “Urban.” Usually you can tell from the context the way it’s intended. No, it hasn’t, it’s just one of many words that hysterical liberals have attempted to change the definitions of because of their chimpanzee-like inabilities to argue in English. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6290 "2015-09-16T09:53:17Z")
[Deputies Shoot Man Recording His Neighbor’s Arrest, Say They Thought Phone Was A Gun](http://huff.to/1KQJahh) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6291 "2015-09-16T11:14:54Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Deputies Shoot Man Recording His Neighbor’s Arrest, Say They Thought Phone Was A Gun](http://huff.to/1KQJahh) Upping the ante? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6292 "2015-09-16T12:19:47Z")
> [@bosbfdsfd](#): > > No, it hasn’t, it’s just one of many words that hysterical liberals have attempted to change the definitions of because of their chimpanzee-like inabilities to argue in English. OK. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6293 "2015-09-16T12:45:41Z")
It’s like when the liberals changed “gay” from meaning happy and carefree, to meaning homosexual. Control the language, you control the world. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6294 "2015-09-16T13:17:57Z")
I’m pretty sure homosexuals took back the disparaging term “gay” and have effectively made it a neutral term. Or your post could be parody or satire - at this point I can’t tell anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6295 "2015-09-16T14:17:42Z")
Congratulations! Some of you have discovered that words change meaning over time! I’m sure it’s quite the shock, and your minds are a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6296 "2015-09-16T14:48:55Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > I’m pretty sure homosexuals took back the disparaging term “gay” and have effectively made it a neutral term… So when I hear kids saying “it’s so gay that I got homework”, it doesn’t actually mean anything? Words are so confusing. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6297 "2015-09-16T14:52:13Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > Words are so confusing. The truth always comes out. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6298 "2015-09-16T15:52:42Z")
I watched _Lethal Weapon_ for the first time in decades last night. The zany antics of police officers abusing their authority and risking the lives of others is less amusing now. **Super Troopers** is still good though. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6299 "2015-09-16T16:04:47Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > I watched _Lethal Weapon_ for the first time in decades last night. The zany antics of police officers abusing their authority and risking the lives of others is less amusing now. I feel the same about cop shows that i (used to?) love. I think that NYPD Blue was a groundbreaking network TV series, featuring some excellent writing and great performances, especially over the first half of its 12-year run. But even on that show, violence and intimidation towards suspects was nearly always excused on the theory that a good cop will only violate the rights of a suspect he knows is guilty. There were occasions where they attempted to deal in a slightly more nuanced way with the issue, but generally the only time they criticized violence against suspects was when a dumb cop (almost never one of the main characters) went rogue on an innocent person. I still think the show is great, but i do get annoyed with the way that it constantly glosses over or excuses the cops violating citizens’ rights. We, the audience, are supposed to know and accept that these are the “good guys,” so whatever they do to solve the crime is considered acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942/6300 "2015-09-16T16:11:48Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Won’t your real Dad accept you? > > That’s so sad. That’s o.k.-nobody expected _you_ to be able to get it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=314) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-encounters-between-law-enforcement-and-civilians-the-omnibus-thread/700942.md?page=316)