# 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:** 16
**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, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/301 "2012-07-29T01:57:29Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I also think he would get more out of pursuing athletics, rather than body building While I appreciate your other words in your post, **this** is not for you to say. Bodybuilding, and working out in general, has done more positive good for my life than anything else I have involved myself in, in any capacity, in my life as a paraplegic. I don’t understand why you feel qualified to say such a thing regarding my life. You know very little about either my life or bodybuilding. ---
**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, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/302 "2012-07-29T02:03:18Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I disagree. The older threads are related to this one. They provide information that changes the nature of the thread. Yeah, I was kicked out of my former gym for blocking an unruly asshole into his (illegally obtained handicapped) parking spot while I got out of my car to go retrieve the security guard inside the gym; _after_ he refused to move. This is the only relevant info that any of my other threads contains. This is what the older man in this thread was referencing when he made his rude, disrespectful comments to me. But that info does NOT change the nature of this thread. I would like to have you explain to me how it does. But I know how you roll… ---
**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, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/303 "2012-07-29T02:07:40Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Jamie just makes an ass of himself and puts his safety in jeopardy. Can you _please_ point out _anything_ that I’ve done here that qualifies as “making an ass out of myself” and “puts my safety in jeopardy”? _ **Please?** _ I really tire of these baseless accusations being thrown out, then when I ask for an example to back them up, I hear crickets. So please, back up your assertations. ---
**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, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/304 "2012-07-29T02:09:16Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > 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? You are displaying an incredible amount of tunnel vision here, and perhaps a good deal of self-deception. If all you did was to call cops when you saw someone parked illegally, we would be having a very different conversation. It’s also disingenuous of you to keep asking what specifically was dickish in the OP. This latest incident might not necessarily indicate dickishness, but if you have any self-awareness at all, you would know very well that someone that had heard about your prior run-ins at gyms could very well fit this latest incident into a pattern of dickishness. The fact that you find this oh-so-mysterioso is almost unbelievable. ---
**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, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/305 "2012-07-29T02:15:58Z")
The only question I see that you asked me is “What do you mean” but to answer that, we’ll have to go back a bit"… Guin mentioned that when you do something now (online or IRL), people will take it into context with things you’ve done before… > [@Guinastasia](#): > > The problem is, people are going to form their own impression of you, based on former interaction. And if you keep doing the same thing over and over, people ARE going to judge you on that, and say, “wait a minute, didn’t you do this before?” “No, no, it was DIFFERENT this time!” > > Like it or not, jamie, you have a reputation. You can’t ask people to “not carry over past resentments”, because you’ve already established that reputation here, and people are going to judge you from what they know about you. It happens to everyone, like it or not. > > “SMH” all you want, but that’s just how people interact with one another. You replied by saying that, yes, it happens, but it’s not fair since you’ve been changing your ways. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Except this is my very point; my _initial_ posts and threads here may have come across in somewhat of a confrontational, boisterous manner but I have NOT continued in that respect since. Despite this change, I have continued to get flogged mercilessly for those earlier transgressions whenever I even attempt to discuss the _subject matter_ that was the focus of those earlier threads.; even when the tone and attitude of those discussions (on my part at least) are markedly more civil and respectful. You are perpetually beating me up for long-past dust-ups that are not central or germaine to the current discussion whatsoever. I then came in and said that maybe it’s possible that this person was doing the same thing. You said something neutral to him, but he looked at the bigger picture, thought about things that you’ve done in the past (or that he’s heard about you doing in the past) and reacted to them that way. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Taking everything you’ve said at face value (since I truly have no interest in getting into a dust up with you and I just want to put this idea out there)…Is it possible the subject of your current story was simply doing exactly the same thing? You asked me to clarify, but I didn’t really feel like it. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > What do you mean? You asked me again and as I was putting this together, on preview, I see that you answered your own question which means you knew the answer so I’m not sure why you were badgering me for it. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Yeah, I was kicked out of my former gym for blocking an unruly asshole into his (illegally obtained handicapped) parking spot while I got out of my car to go retrieve the security guard inside the gym; _after_ he refused to move. This is the only relevant info that any of my other threads contains. This is what the older man in this thread was referencing when he made his rude, disrespectful comments to me. But that info does NOT change the nature of this thread. I would like to have you explain to me how it does. But I know how you roll… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/306 "2012-07-29T02:17:09Z")
Speaking of bad coppery, the other day a local guy walked in on a robbery in progress at a drug store. He backpeddled out, starts to dial 911 and sees a cop at the intersection. He goes over to the cop’s window and tells him about it; the cop says “I’m off duty; you should call 911”, rolls up his window and drives off. WTF? You’re not a cabby, asshole; you’re in uniform, in a cop car, with your weapon. Apparently the police department feels that way too, as they are investigating. ---
**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, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/307 "2012-07-29T02:19:11Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > You asked me again and as I was putting this together, on preview, I see that you answered your own question which means you knew the answer so I’m not sure why you were badgering me for it. That wasn’t even directed at you! 😕 That was a response to **Magiver.** I’m still waiting for you to tell me just how I behaved like an ass and put my safety in jeopardy. Still waiting. ---
**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, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/308 "2012-07-29T02:22:33Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Can you _please_ point out _anything_ that I’ve done here that qualifies as “making an ass out of myself” Threatening to sue a gym for doing nothing wrong even after we explained that they weren’t in violation of any laws. > [@](#): > > and “puts my safety in jeopardy”? Considering that you’ve been literally thrown out of your wheelchair by someone, it seems pretty clear to me that playing parking lot cop puts your safety in danger. Besides, you’ve had enough verbal altercations…can you honestly tell me that you don’t think another one is going to become physical? Do you really think that another person isn’t going to think ‘screw it, I can take this guy’? There’s a reason that a cop will often keep his hand on his gun when he approaches a car. People don’t like to be told they’re doing something wrong and it can escalate very quickly. ---
**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, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/309 "2012-07-29T02:23:41Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > 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. Well apparently your fellow gym members don’t appreciate your efforts. ---
**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, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/310 "2012-07-29T02:24:38Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > That wasn’t even directed at you! 😕 That was a response to **Magiver.** What wasn’t directed at me? “Joey I’m still waiting on your answer to my question” or the part where you quoted me and said “What do you mean?” ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/311 "2012-07-29T02:25:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Apparently the police department feels that way too, as they are investigating. Ohh, thats just amazingly bad and funny in a sad way. Please let us know when that jackass gets fired. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/312 "2012-07-29T02:31:44Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Threatening to sue a gym for doing nothing wrong even after we explained that they weren’t in violation of any laws. Jamie getting pissed at a cop that was actually trying to enforce handicapped parking laws because the cop didn’t think he looked handicapped at first glance was also a classic. Heck, you’d think Jamie would have been in heaven that somebody in power finally gave a shit, but no he was pissed and thought about complaining to the cops about it. Dayum. Personally, thats when Jamie jumped the shark for me. ---
**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, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/313 "2012-07-29T02:33:32Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > You are displaying an incredible amount of tunnel vision here, and perhaps a good deal of self-deception. If all you did was to call cops when you saw someone parked illegally, we would be having a very different conversation. > > It’s also disingenuous of you to keep asking what specifically was dickish in the OP. This latest incident might not necessarily indicate dickishness, but if you have any self-awareness at all, you would know very well that someone that had heard about your prior run-ins at gyms could very well fit this latest incident into a pattern of dickishness. The fact that you find this oh-so-mysterioso is almost unbelievable. So because of my prior incident at my former gym, any _mention_ on my part of an illegally parked car is reasonable grounds for someone to think I’m being a ‘hot-head’? Is that what you’re saying? I return to my car to find an illegally parked car in the handicapped spot next to it. As I’m sitting between the two cars, an older man from the gym with whom I’m somewhat friendly comes walking up to the parking lot. As he is an elderly, somewhat hobbled man, I thought it a reasonable possibility that the car parked without a permit was actually his and he had forgotten to put it up (or something). So I ask him if the car belongs to him. He tells me “no” and asks me “what’s the problem?”, to which I replied, “Oh, it’s just parked illegally.” Even given the fact that this man _was_ aware of my prior gym fallout, how do those above words continue any sort of ‘pattern’ of behavior that was established in that initial Hurley gym banning incident? Other than continue to show illegal parkers in my presence, irrespective of my actions (or inactions)? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/314 "2012-07-29T02:35:27Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > I’ve followed this discussion from the beginning and I still wish to discuss principles. So guess they’re not discussed to death objectively speaking. > > I am no longer interested in discussing some guy’s personality or the personal reactions of some others. I find it repetitious and childish but knock yourself out if it’s what YOU want to talk about. > > That brings us back to discussing both aspects, which you claim is the case anyway. We can both talk about what we want to, now. > > (As a personal aside to you only, please cut it with the condescension. It’s obvious and tiresome.) Oh, the fucking irony. On another note, July 2012 is going to live in infamy on this board. ---
**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, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/315 "2012-07-29T02:56:40Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > So because of my prior incident at my former gym, any _mention_ on my part of an illegally parked car is reasonable grounds for someone to think I’m being a ‘hot-head’? Is that what you’re saying? Do you really not understand the significance of having a reputation? ---
**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, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/316 "2012-07-29T03:03:13Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > So because of my prior incident at my former gym, any _mention_ on my part of an illegally parked car is reasonable grounds for someone to think I’m being a ‘hot-head’? Is that what you’re saying? > > I return to my car to find an illegally parked car in the handicapped spot next to it. As I’m sitting between the two cars, an older man from the gym with whom I’m somewhat friendly comes walking up to the parking lot. > > As he is an elderly, somewhat hobbled man, I thought it a reasonable possibility that the car parked without a permit was actually his and he had forgotten to put it up (or something). So I ask him if the car belongs to him. He tells me “no” and asks me “what’s the problem?”, to which I replied, “Oh, it’s just parked illegally.” > > Even given the fact that this man _was_ aware of my prior gym fallout, how do those above words continue any sort of ‘pattern’ of behavior that was established in that initial Hurley gym banning incident? Other than continue to show illegal parkers in my presence, irrespective of my actions (or inactions)? From the perspective of the hobbled old gentlemen who knows you did this before and finds you doing it again. You’ve become “Invalid Man” in his eyes. The super hero crime fighter who rids the gyms of the world from illegal parking. ---
**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, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/317 "2012-07-29T03:07:14Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Do you really not understand the significance of having a reputation? > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Even given the fact that this man _was_ aware of my prior gym fallout, how do my words in the OP continue any sort of ‘pattern’ of behavior that was established in that initial Hurley gym banning incident? Other than continue to show illegal parkers in my presence, irrespective of my actions (or inactions)? Even if I had a reputation; all I did was point out a car. I didn’t block it in, or do _anything_ yet I was somehow “continuing” something nefarious that would ultimately get me expelled from the gym. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/318 "2012-07-29T03:13:46Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > This has been my repeated point: I absolutely do _not_ go out of my way to “sniff out wrongdoers”. This shit is what I just face on a daily basis. Jesus Christ. “Trouble-maker”? Aren’t those usually the law-breakers? I am utterly confused as to what I am doing wrong or how I am being an “asshole” in the slightest. Dude, you’re all up in the CVS parking lot (or wherever) asking people if they have permits and getting butthurt when they tell you to fuck off. You’re just oh so casually glancing into windows and happening to notice there’s no placard. Every time you see a car parked in a handicapped spot, you make it your duty to determine if they have the right to park there, and even if they do, you hassle them about whether or not their permit is displayed to your satisfaction. You go sniffing out trouble, and you find it. I hope you get kicked out of this gym too because of your douchery. ---
**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, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/319 "2012-07-29T03:17:29Z")
No, not “even if” you have a reputation; “because” you have a reputation. A reputation results in observers adding context, assumptions, coloring to your actions, whether or not it might be deserved in any particular situation. Why do you think people try to protect their reputations? Why do you think you can bring an action in court if someone has defamed your reputation? A bad reputation can stain any interaction you have with people who are aware of it. Is this really news to you? ---
**Author:** ![Kobalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/41988e/32.png) [@Kobalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobalt)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759/320 "2012-07-29T03:18:14Z")
I’ve lost track. Is this the third or the fourth gym that Jamie’s joined since he started posting here? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-a-police-officer-be-this-wrong/626759.md?page=17)