# How to stop someone from jaywalking: punch them in the face. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557 "2010-06-17T15:33:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/61 "2010-06-17T21:13:12Z")
From that clip, the girls were being far more than “verbally antagonistic”. They were mobbing the officer two on one. I’d say that his punch pretty effectively broke up the resistance with the minimum amount of damage to all parties. And it wasn’t much of a punch, either – enough to shock and startle the girl, but she wasn’t on the ground. Not an ideal solution, perhaps, but not uncalled for. If you’re going to lose your shit over a jaywalking ticket, you probably have to be prepared to suffer the consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/62 "2010-06-17T21:45:18Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > The first girl can “effect” an escape–she is the one being arrested. The second girl can “affect” the escape by giving the first girl assistance. She cannot “effect” an escape because she’s not arrested–she has nothing to escape from. In the context of this article, girl #2 is attempting to \*\*effect \*\*the escape of girl #1–she is attempting to **bring about or make the escape possible** –by restraining the arresting officer. You’re wrong. \*Everyone here \*is saying you’re wrong. \*Hundreds of thousands of examples \*on the internet are saying you’re wrong. \*Dictionaries \*are saying you’re wrong. \*Style guides \*are saying you’re wrong. Grow a fucking pair of testicles and admit it already, before my labia start descending out of sheer embarassment on your behalf. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/63 "2010-06-17T21:48:23Z")
Deleted. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/64 "2010-06-17T21:54:43Z")
Are you having fun dying on that hill? Meanwhile, I’m more surprised at the cameraman running in yelling “Are you serious? Are you serious?” Lessee, there’s a bunch of cranky teenagers and a police officer who is frustrated enough that he just punched someone and you’re going to now involve yourself in this clearly dangerous escapade? Do you think your questioning of the officer is going to de-escalate the situation? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/65 "2010-06-17T22:01:21Z")
Uh, that seemed perfectly justified to me. I sure a punch hurts a lot less than getting tazered or pepper sprayed, both of which i would have felt were fine also. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/66 "2010-06-17T22:05:12Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Punching _a teenage girl in the face_ over _jaywalking_? What the fucking fuck is wrong with you, dude? That’s not why he punched her, and you know it. She attacked him and interfered with an arrest being made. I’m surprised he didn’t either mace her or use a Taser, but his response was justified. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/67 "2010-06-17T22:18:01Z")
She sure was not expecting to get clocked! What is wrong with people? Where I live (NYC) people have gotten shot and brooms stuck up their assholes for less. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/68 "2010-06-17T22:19:51Z")
Is it usual for one policeman to be on patrol? That strikes me as dangerous. At one point, and the camera was lowered, the two girls were all over him. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/69 "2010-06-17T22:21:39Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > In the context of this article, girl #2 is attempting to \*\*effect \*\*the escape of girl #1–she is attempting to **bring about or make the escape possible** –by restraining the arresting officer. And it doesn’t support the usage of “effect”–to actually make something happen. The second girls actions are facilitating (changing, modifying, affecting), not causing (doing, accomplishing, effecting). And you keep ignoring the main point: it’s impossible by definition to cause someone else to escape, you can only give them the opportunity. If the second girl had successfully forced the police officer to let go of the first girl, the second would not have caused the escape. Only the first girl can make her own self escape, by moving away from the police officer; the second girl can merely facilitate that escape. > [@](#): > > You’re wrong. \*Everyone here \*is saying you’re wrong. \*Hundreds of thousands of examples \*on the internet are saying you’re wrong. \*Dictionaries \*are saying you’re wrong. \*Style guides \*are saying you’re wrong. Cites? Note that I am not saying that “effecting an escape” is always wrong, but that it is in this particular circumstance. > [@](#): > > Grow a fucking pair of testicles and admit it already, before my labia start descending out of sheer embarassment on your behalf. Ah, yes, very convincing (and rather sexist) argument there. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/70 "2010-06-17T22:30:07Z")
Guys, this is a _really stupid_ argument. _Neither_ word is right. Now go to your corners and think about the pedantic mess you’ve made. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/71 "2010-06-17T22:30:09Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Cites? How about the Criminal Code of Guam? > [@](#): > > (b) A person confined within a detention facility is guilty of providing > escape implements if he knowingly makes, obtains or possesses any escape > implement with intent to **effect an escape of himself or any other person**. Clearly the law–at least in a particular U.S. territory–recognizes that one can effect another person’s escape. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/72 "2010-06-17T22:32:49Z")
I just like to say I don’t give a rat’s ass whether it was a-ffect, e-ffect, De-ffect, Seven of Ffect, or any other kind of -ffect. That’s not what the thread is about, and the continued hijack is damned annoying. All of you bitching about it kindly shaddup already. Or pit each other in another thread. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/73 "2010-06-17T23:26:53Z")
CNN said the cops were in a big crackdown on jaywalking. We all know what a threat it is to society. But the first girl was getting a ticket for jaywalking and the group was wondering what the hell that was about. No tickets are cheap any more and the girl was upset. The cop did not defuse the situation when he got physical and decided to arrest the girl. Others came in . That is when he punched a girl in the face. It becomes a big mess over nothing. No ,the cop should not have punched the girl in the face. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/74 "2010-06-18T00:00:53Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > CNN said the cops were in a big crackdown on jaywalking. We all know what a threat it is to society. But the first girl was getting a ticket for jaywalking and the group was wondering what the hell that was about. No tickets are cheap any more and the girl was upset. The cop did not defuse the situation when he got physical and decided to arrest the girl. Others came in . That is when he punched a girl in the face. It becomes a big mess over nothing. > No ,the cop should not have punched the girl in the face. What should he have done after she pushed him? Do you think further discussion would have helped? If a cop is giving you a ticket for a minor infraction you don’t get to just walk away right? You also don’t get to walk away from pushing a police officer unless he’s feeling very generous. Maybe, big maybe, if he had remained calm he might have convinced them that accepting the ticket was a better alternative to making things worse. Often when people get fired up and have someone on thier side that’s not gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/75 "2010-06-18T00:02:07Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Stupid is as stupid does. > > I hope some was yelling “call the amber lamps” Epic Beard Man was the arresting officer? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/76 "2010-06-18T00:03:43Z")
> [@descamisado](#): > > To whom is this addressed? anybody who wants to respond. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/77 "2010-06-18T00:08:08Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Epic Beard Man was the arresting officer? 😃 He was back up. I know I would walk the beat secure in the knowledge he had my back 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/78 "2010-06-18T00:25:32Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > CNN said the cops were in a big crackdown on jaywalking. We all know what a threat it is to society. Actually, it is. As a poster upthread said, I wish the cops around here gave a shit about it, because I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to slam my feet through the floorboards to avoid mowing down some clueless piece of shit who \*saunters \*out into the path of my car because they don’t feel like humping their dumb ass to the perfectly functional crosswalk a few dozen feet down the road. A little enforcement and maybe I wouldn’t live in constant fear that tomorrow’s front page will feature a full-color splash of the tear-streaked faces of five orphans whose virtuous and loving day laborer father was cruelly struck down by the careless, clearly Caucasian, soon-to-be-bankrupted (or worse) **Vinyl Turnip**. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/79 "2010-06-18T00:34:27Z")
I’d say she got off lucky. Next time, she might end up as road kill. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557/80 "2010-06-18T00:35:13Z")
Hilarious, but only partially agreed. It would be a mad world were cops to start ticketing everyone who jaywalked anywhere, at any time, no matter what. Agreed that if you’re a total shit-for-brains who “saunters” out in the middle of the street, with no apparent regard for traffic or safety, you should be strangled, or failing that, ticketed. If there’s no one around, and you’re not at some weird angle, or in front of a parking ramp or something, where cars could be coming out at any second, and you decide to cross at some place other than a designated crosswalk, jaywalking isn’t really that big of a deal. Pedestrians (theoretically) are smart enough to know when they’re being careless or endangering others, and cops (theoretically) are smart enough to recognize same. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-someone-from-jaywalking-punch-them-in-the-face/543557.md?page=5)