# Ferguson Protesters proposed "Rules of Engagement" opinions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003 "2014-11-18T21:59:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/21 "2014-11-20T01:19:28Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I think the whole very specific water bottle example is strange. Throw an empty water bottle and it doesn’t really matter. Throw a full bottle and it is much more dangerous. Throw a bottle of frozen water and it’s even more dangerous. Or you could fill it with bodily fluids. Or gasoline. Or bleach. A water bottle isn’t necessarily a harmless object. Can poor, downtrodden protesters afford bottled Perrier? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/22 "2014-11-20T18:01:04Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’ve been trying to steer clear of posting on these threads, but I don’t think I’d be expressing a very extreme sentiment if I said that police should not have to put up with having garbage thrown at them while doing their job, nor should throwing garbage at policemen be tolerated as acceptable or lawful behavior. Nor should punching a police officer so hard it fractures their skull after committing a strong-arm robbery be considered acceptable behavior. Nor should police be expected to not use deadly force when a 300 lbs criminal does this. I’m sorry, actually, no I’m not sorry in the least. This is so cut & dry as to not even needing to be discussed. Not only did he commit robbery he committed attempted murder of a police officer to avoid arrest. In states that have it, that is a capital offense. What is their side? We hate whites and cops, so white cops especially. These animals need to be slapped down. Hard. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/23 "2014-11-20T19:25:16Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Can poor, downtrodden protesters afford bottled Perrier? > :dubious: Who said Perrier? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/24 "2014-11-20T20:02:43Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Who said Perrier? I was being sarcastic. Are the protesters stocking up on bottled water from Walmart? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/25 "2014-11-20T20:19:39Z")
Those “Rules of Engagement” sound like something a really stupid terrorist would try. Actually, maybe that’s exactly what this is. Seriously, it’s already been determined that there will be protests, regardless of the verdict, so what conclusion am I supposed to form other than that these guys are terrorists? As an aside, let’s say it can be proven that certain “community activists” really are trying to setup conditons that will lead to rioting. What sort of crime would this be? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/26 "2014-11-20T20:38:55Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > As an aside, let’s say it can be proven that certain “community activists” really are trying to setup conditons that will lead to rioting. What sort of crime would this be? Inciting to riot? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/27 "2014-11-20T20:42:39Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I was being sarcastic. > Are the protesters stocking up on bottled water from Walmart? Who knows. It was those talking on behalf of the protestors that mentioned water bottles specifically as if that was a good example of something harmless. I’m not even particularly devious and I could come up with a bunch of ways to make water bottles dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/28 "2014-11-20T20:47:14Z")
Defensive lineman:\* “I request that quarterbacks not wear protective helmets when I sack them; repeat, quarterbacks are not to wear protective helmets when I sack them!!!”\* ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/29 "2014-11-20T20:55:54Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Those “Rules of Engagement” sound like something a really stupid terrorist would try. > > Actually, maybe that’s exactly what this is. > > Seriously, it’s already been determined that there will be protests, regardless of the verdict, so what conclusion am I supposed to form other than that these guys are terrorists? I don’t know how you could _possibly_ come to a conclusion like that from a list of demands saying we’re allowed to throw stuff at cops and they can’t arrest, and they’re not allowed to wear protective gear or riot equipment, and can’t use any crowd control tactics, and can’t order us to disperse, and also even if we do commit a real crime they’re not allowed to arrest us if we’re on base, and they can’t arrest anyone wearing a special hat. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/30 "2014-11-20T21:06:38Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I don’t know how you could _possibly_ come to a conclusion like that from a list of demands saying we’re allowed to throw stuff at cops and they can’t arrest, and they’re not allowed to wear protective gear or riot equipment, and can’t use any crowd control tactics, and can’t order us to disperse, and also even if we do commit a real crime they’re not allowed to arrest us if we’re on base, and they can’t arrest anyone wearing a special hat. “General Custer, you guys have to stand in a circle while me and all the Indians in the world ride down on top of you.” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/31 "2014-11-20T21:48:03Z")
The Best Rule of Engagement would be bitterly cold weather. Which we had up until today. Cold weather keeps people home and off the streets. Only the most determined protesters would show up. The Grand Jury took too long. Wunderground forecasts highs in the mid 50’s beginning Sat. It will be raining which might discourage some. A shame because smaller crowds could save lives if this thing erupts into full scale rioting and looting. > **[Local Weather Forecast, News and Conditions | Weather Underground](https://www.wunderground.com/)** > > Weather Underground provides local & long-range weather forecasts, weather reports, maps & tropical weather conditions for locations worldwide ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/32 "2014-11-21T17:04:56Z")
I’m on record as being very sympathetic towards Ferguson. But this is the absolute wrong message to be sending. There’s some legitimate ideas buried in here, but they are overwhelmed by the idea that there will be violence. The whole problem right now is the typical problem where the rioters are being lumped in with the protestors. Protestors need to be pushing the narrative that they aren’t the violent thugs. That those who do violence are bad. You can request that only those who actually commit crimes be prosecuted. You can request that the police don’t escalate things. You can even request that they use discretion and not try to punish everyone. You can request that riot tactics be held in reserve, and that crowd control tactics be used only in the most dire of situations. In another context, I could see the idea of water bottle throwing being a legitimately low-level offense, one that doesn’t really need a military strike response. But, in this context, it reads more like “We’re going to throw water bottles at you, and if you react, we’ll just make things worse.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/33 "2014-11-21T23:39:12Z")
Apparently, police and the protesters [have agreed](http://news.yahoo.com/police-protest-groups-announce-conduct-pact-180301255.html) on the “rules of engagement”. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/34 "2014-11-23T21:20:16Z")
I guess the New Black Panther Party members didn’t get the memo that demonstrators have reached an agreement with the police. Or maybe they just don’t care what the demonstrators and residents think? I suggest that all LEO’s show up in the latest riot gear, just in case. I wonder if potential demonstrators know that members of groups like the NBPP will be carrying bombs and standing next to the demonstrators? Oops, we didn’t know the bombs could kill demonstrators also. \*Against this backdrop of heightened tensions, according to a law enforcement source, two men described as reputed members of a militant group called the New Black Panther Party, were arrested in the St. Louis area in an FBI sting operation. As initially reported by CBS News, the men were suspected of acquiring explosives for pipe bombs that they planned to set off during protests in Ferguson, according to the official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the case. The official said the two men are the same pair named in a newly unsealed federal indictment returned on Nov. 19 charging Brandon Orlando Baldwin and Olajuwon Davis with purchasing two pistols from a firearms dealer under false pretenses. Both men were arraigned on Friday in federal court, the law enforcement source said.\* > **[FBI arrests 2 New Black Panther members in Ferguson bomb plot](https://nypost.com/2014/11/22/fbi-makes-explosive-ferguson-bust/)** > > FERGUSON Mo. – Two men suspected of buying explosives they planned to detonate during protests in Ferguson, Missouri, once a grand jury decides the Michael Brown case, were arrested on Friday… ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003/35 "2014-11-26T04:10:43Z")
Things have gone pear shaped in Fergie. Guess everyone should have signed on to the rules! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-protesters-proposed-rules-of-engagement-opinions/705003.md?page=1)