# How could a police officer be this wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759 "2012-06-30T00:54:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/281 "2012-07-28T19:57:13Z")
Leave aside the arrogance momentarily to consider that your advice may not be as valuable as you think it is. A person can decide that for themselves when they hear it. I think reading old threads is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard, but I thank you for being “helpful” and “nice”. Being on different sides of an issue doesn’t have to lead to putting the other person down. You and I are neither one wrong or right. This is a matter of opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/282 "2012-07-28T20:00:40Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Leave aside the arrogance momentarily to consider that your advice may not be as valuable as you think it is. A person can decide that for themselves when they hear it. I think reading old threads is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard, but I thank you for being “helpful” and “nice”. > > Being on different sides of an issue doesn’t have to lead to putting the other person down. You and I are neither one wrong or right. This is a matter of opinion. This message board, like totally, isn’t for you. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/283 "2012-07-28T20:02:11Z")
I give people a new chance every day. Oh, I keep my eyes open but if two years ago there were a bunch of threads where some guy was an asshole, well, I’ll check him out himself. I don’t need your opinions to form mine. Seriously, do you think there is some revelation in the old threads that you’re all not telling me right now. I’m not a moron. I get that there has been a history. What’s been so strikingly different from this thread? ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/284 "2012-07-28T20:03:26Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > This message board, like totally, isn’t for you. Isn’t that an interesting thing to say? Am I supposed to leave now? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/285 "2012-07-28T20:07:16Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > I give people a new chance every day. Oh, I keep my eyes open but if two years ago there were a bunch of threads where some guy was an asshole, well, I’ll check him out himself. I don’t need your opinions to form mine. Seriously, do you think there is some revelation in the old threads that you’re all not telling me right now. I’m not a moron. I get that there has been a history. What’s been so strikingly different from this thread? Nothing, that’s the thing. People are just asking you to glance at the old threads rather then explain something for the 10th time. What happened to Jamie just now with the old man has happened several times before. We’ve gone back and forth over this situation many times in the past. Rather then get all heated up about it again, wouldn’t you agree it might be easier to just to read an old discussion about an incredibly similar situation. Well, no, you said that was a stupid idea, but most people might find it easier. Also, it would show you that over the years, Jamie hasn’t changed at all. Same shit, different gym. I infer from your question that you understand that there’s not much difference between this thread and his old ones…so why not just read an old one instead of making us retype it? Why should we do your homework for you? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/286 "2012-07-28T20:13:58Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Leave aside the arrogance momentarily to consider that your advice may not be as valuable as you think it is. A person can decide that for themselves when they hear it. I think reading old threads is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard, but I thank you for being “helpful” and “nice”. > > Being on different sides of an issue doesn’t have to lead to putting the other person down. You and I are neither one wrong or right. This is a matter of opinion. I tried to get you up to speed on the Jamie subject and you called my advice one of the stupidest things you’ve ever heard. You then followed that up by saying “Being on different sides of an issue doesn’t have to lead to putting the other person down” That…doesn’t even make sense. You called yourself out on putting me down. I’m taking myself out of the tapu argument. It shouldn’t have even been an argument. I was just, honestly, trying to get you up to speed, but you had no interest in learning about the situation. If anyone else wants to tag in…go nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/287 "2012-07-28T20:15:23Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I simply can’t believe that he’s just pointing out to people that they’re parked illegally. Doing that, while possible annoying people, doesn’t make them violent, it doesn’t make them yell at you, it doesn’t make them call you dickish. Actually, it can and does. I’m not in a wheel chair, but have asked people could they move their cars when they’re parked on the pavement (sidewalk) blocking it so that I can’t get by. Both pre-baby, and nowadays with the buggy (the main reason I can no longer squeeze through whatever gap they’ve left me) I’ve had drivers react with verbal aggression, and threats. It seems car drivers feel entitled to park where they feel like, and heaven help you if you dare to question them on it. Or maybe its that the kind of arsehole who parks blocking the pavement or a handicap space, is the same kind of arsehole who’ll have a go at you defending his right to do so. So although I’ve had my problems with Jamie in the past, I can believe these stories of his. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/288 "2012-07-28T20:16:46Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > I don’t need your opinions to form mine. Then go read the old threads and go form your own then. Obviously we can’t do that work for you. And again, don’t dismiss ours based on that, especially if you can’t be arrssed to do that for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/289 "2012-07-28T20:32:44Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > Actually, it can and does. > > I’m not in a wheel chair, but have asked people could they move their cars when they’re parked on the pavement (sidewalk) blocking it so that I can’t get by. Both pre-baby, and nowadays with the buggy (the main reason I can no longer squeeze through whatever gap they’ve left me) I’ve had drivers react with verbal aggression, and threats. > > It seems car drivers feel entitled to park where they feel like, and heaven help you if you dare to question them on it. Or maybe its that the kind of arsehole who parks blocking the pavement or a handicap space, is the same kind of arsehole who’ll have a go at you defending his right to do so. > > So although I’ve had my problems with Jamie in the past, I can believe these stories of his. I actually thought about that while I typed it. People don’t like to be told they’re doing something wrong while they’re doing something wrong. (Snitches get stitches). I didn’t want to get into it but…On the one hand yes, the person that’s parked illegally is very much in the wrong (let’s just assume they’re able bodied, no grey area here). OTOH, right or wrong, it’s annoying to ask people walking by if it’s their car and tell them it’s parked illegally and most likely the person that actually does own the car isn’t going to park somewhere else next time just because Jaime pointed it out to them. Just like I’m not going to quit smoking just because someone told me it’s bad for me…like I’m not fully aware of it. The person in the handicapped spot is almost always\* fully aware of where they’re parking. Being called out on it likely won’t change anything and Jamie just makes an ass of himself and puts his safety in jeopardy…and makes people think he’s a dick. \*Once or twice I’ve parked in one by accident, but it’s usually been in winter or it was poorly marked and I didn’t realize it until later. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/290 "2012-07-28T20:36:51Z")
I don’t think it is fair to tell a poster they have to look at old threads. This thread is here now, and one should be able to opine on the OP without doing doper research. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/291 "2012-07-28T20:55:12Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I don’t think it is fair to tell a poster they have to look at old threads. This thread is here now, and one should be able to opine on the OP without doing doper research. As I said earlier, if she chooses not to peek at the old threads, she’ll (likely) come to the same conclusion in a few months as she would have now. No one was forcing her to, we we’re just trying to save everyone (including ourselves) some time. But she was simultaneously telling us it’s stupid to read old threads, asking us to tell her what’s in the old threads and requesting that we ignore the old threads. She also said we shouldn’t put each other down, then she called my idea one of the stupidest things she’s ever heard. She want’s us to leave Jamie’s personality out of the discussion, but asks how he could have posted differently. C’mon. She just want’s to be on the side that’s winning…but she’s stacking the deck. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/292 "2012-07-28T20:56:53Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Oh, I keep my eyes open but if two years ago there were a bunch of threads where some guy was an asshole, well, I’ll check him out himself. Nobody is calling him an asshole. Maybe his is, maybe he isn’t. That’s not what is being asserted. However, his other threads are related to this one. That’s why you were asked to read them. > [@tapu](#): > > I don’t need your opinions to form mine. Seriously, do you think there is some revelation in the old threads that you’re all not telling me right now. Nobody is asking you to form your opinion based on theirs. You’ve been asked to read the older threads to understand the nature of this one. > [@tapu](#): > > I’m not a moron. I get that there has been a history. What’s been so strikingly different from this thread? nobody called you a moron. You are however, less informed than you could be. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/293 "2012-07-28T21:00:47Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I don’t think it is fair to tell a poster they have to look at old threads. This thread is here now, and one should be able to opine on the OP without doing doper research. I disagree. The older threads are related to this one. They provide information that changes the nature of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/294 "2012-07-28T21:15:47Z")
You know, these threads get old and I’m a dummy for continuing to read them; however, there are stories on this site everyday about people acting like assholes. It’s not that uncommon for people to be total cunts just because they can get away with it. Ignoring for a moment if Jamie is an a-hole or not (I kind of think not - strident and outspoken perhaps) I think there’s a real possibility that where he lives there are a shit load of fuckers that think it’s ok to park in handicap spots. I’m not even on the lookout for this type of thing and saw some cunty woman do it last night. She saw me looking at her and then looking at the cop car parked ten feet away with two cops in it (seriously, cunty AND stupid) and pulled out and parked further away. If I actually needed to use the spot I bet I’d notice a lot more. It’s just really a dick move to park in a handicap spot if you don’t need it and I can understand why Jamie gets pissed and speaks up. It may not make him popular here or IRL, but it seems perfectly justified to me. Now, I may think that he would get further spending time focused in advocacy rather than enforcement, and I also think he would get more out of pursuing athletics, rather than body building and I’ve posted as much, but it doesn’t change the fact that him flipping his lid about assholes illegally parking in handicap spots is justified. Not productive, perhaps, but justified. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/295 "2012-07-28T23:38:07Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > who said I had sympathy for them? Do you also need it explained to you that people have no great love of someone obsessed with parking space violations? No, I get that people who flout parking laws have no great love for someone who points out their poor behavior. And I also understand there are a number of people who don’t steal handicapped spaces themselves, but are uncomfortable at the ones that do being singled out for criticism. I just don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/296 "2012-07-29T01:12:48Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > No, I get that people who flout parking laws have no great love for someone who points out their poor behavior. And I also understand there are a number of people who don’t steal handicapped spaces themselves, but are uncomfortable at the ones that do being singled out for criticism. > > I just don’t know why. While I tend to drive slower than the speed limit in residential neighborhoods and always come to a complete stop even at yield signs I don’t get worked up enough to call the police over those who don’t. With that, I know why people don’t appreciate a self-anointed parking lot cop. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/297 "2012-07-29T01:34:49Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And I also understand there are a number of people who don’t steal handicapped spaces themselves, but are uncomfortable at the ones that do being singled out for criticism. > > I just don’t know why. > [@Magiver](#): > > I know why people don’t appreciate a self-anointed parking lot cop. I think this is the issue. It’s not that people are uncomfortable with people “being singled out for criticism” for flouting parking rules. They are annoyed by a self-appointed busybody who repeatedly confronts people in parking lots and causes scenes. If you observe a violation, call the cops. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/298 "2012-07-29T01:47:12Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’ve always felt that on message boards (like these, not other more anonymous ones) that the way you conduct yourself carries over from how you act in real life. You can attempt to have a certain persona online, but once you’ve been around long enough, your IRL attitudes, personality, gripes, hobbies etc come through in your writing. Hell, it’s one of the ways the mods ferret out socks. > > What I’m getting at is that when ever a situation like this comes up you swear up and and down that _you_ acted like a perfect gentleman and it was the other guy that started the argument. Yet in the last few pages alone in this thread, I’ve seen this… **Joey** I’m still waiting on your answer to my question. See, no one likes to answer any question I pose. And you know as well as I do that I could cherry-pick nasty stuff that various people have said throughout this thread just like you did with me here. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/299 "2012-07-29T01:52:35Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > If you observe a violation, call the cops. Uhh, is this the Twilight Zone?? 😕 Calling the cops is _exactly_ what I do and _exactly_ what I get reamed out for here on a consistent basis. Or if not that, reamed out for _any_ sort of reaction other than complete ignoring of the trangressions. Like I have asked _repeatedly_, what about my behavior, specifically, was ‘dickish’ in the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/300 "2012-07-29T01:56:19Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > **Joey** I’m still waiting on your answer to my question. See, no one likes to answer any question I pose. And you know as well as I do that I could cherry-pick nasty stuff that various people have said throughout this thread just like you did with me here. What was the question? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759.md?page=16)